I’m Mean Because I Grew Up in New England, A Collection of New England Photos Inspired by Noah Kahan’s Album 'Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever)'
In light of Noah Kahan’s ACL appearance, Afterglow photographer Natalie Anspach captured the aesthetic of the New England singer’s album Stick Season on 35mm film. These photos reflect the feelings of despair and longing described in the album while also examining the beauty, charm, and unique comfort this corner of the United States offers.
Photos by Natalie Anspach
“If the sun don’t rise ‘til the summertime” This line in “Northern Attitude,” the opening track of Stick Season, encapsulates the breath of fresh air that northern summertime brings.
“As you promised me that I was more than all the miles combined'' Kahan references driving frequently in his recent works. This photo captures the unexpected beauty of New England highways and visually represents the opening lines of the album’s title track “Stick Season.”
“Kept on driving straight and left our future to the right” The uncertainty expressed throughout “Stick Season” is reflected in the blurriness of the photo. The subject is continuing ahead even when the contents ahead are not clearly defined.
“I was too afraid of livin’ life in your footsteps” This line in “She Calls Me Back” amplifies the feelings of dread and worry depicted throughout the album. The movement of the subject on a breezy Massachusetts beach represents someone’s decision to break free and craft their own path in life.
“And my house was designed to kinda look like it’s crying / The eyes are the windows, the garage is the mouth” Unique historic houses and towns, like this one in Boonton, New Jersey, contribute to the New England charm. While these locations are full of personality, much of the time they can be run down. This build of resentment Kahan expresses towards himself and his surroundings is described in this line in “Come Over.”
“I said ‘Love is fast asleep,’ on a dirt road / With your head on my shoulder” The song “Strawberry Wine” is a slower, acoustic ballad on Stick Season. This quiet moment during my New England journey stood out to me as a depiction of this song, as there was nothing surrounding us besides trees and trails, which allowed the worries of the world to fade away. The song expresses similar feelings of peace and appreciation for moments when life seems simple.
“I’m sailin’ away to a place I’m afraid of” The song “Halloween” describes the moments of calm following a conflict or a decision to walk away from a relationship The colorlessness and hopelessness of this image illustrates how those memories can haunt you long after the fact.
“Every photograph that’s taken here is from the summer” This photo collection was taken in early June of 2023, proving Kahan’s point. While the liveliness and sharp colors of this photo accurately represent my experience in New England, this only holds true about 12 weeks of the year.
“I’m mean because I grew up in New England” This photo captures the ultimate charm of one of the major New England cities, Boston. Track 12, titled “Homesick,” explores Kahan’s frustration with New England: he wants to leave but can’t seem to “find a reason.”
“The past coming back with the light in the morning” This line in “Still” describes how the quietness of Kahan’s surroundings forces him to face painful memories. Taken from the perspective of peering out the back of a New England home, this photo evokes peace and reflection.
“You miss something that you can’t place but you can’t deny it” Also from “Still,” this lyric captures the feeling of emptiness that follows after losing a loved one. I paired this photo with this line specifically because you can almost feel the life lived in this space. The chairs are empty, but the area surrounding appears to be worn down so you can imagine it held comfort and conversation at one point in time.
“A minute from home but I feel so far from it” This line from “The View Between Villages - Extended” embodies the feeling of returning home after being away but not feeling at home when you return. The surroundings almost swallow the individual in focus to reflect how you can be surrounded by the same things and the same people, but still feel detached from what you used to know.
“Left at the graveyard, I’m driving past ghosts” Placed in the final chorus of the closing track of the album, this line in “The View Between Villages - Extended,” is particularly devastating as it touches on the complicated feelings of revisiting the place you grew up. Kahan is experiencing years of memories flashing before him and expresses the panic of running out of time, which is reflected in the motion blur of the image.
“This place had a heartbeat in its day” I paired this photo of a family gathering on an old boat dock with this line from “Paul Revere” that compares this liveliness to a heartbeat. The high contrast in the photo mimics the high contrast of good and bad times described in the song.
“This is good land, or at least it was” The song “You’re Gonna Go Far” acts as a love letter to an individual that has chosen to part from this home. Kahan wishes the best for this person and reassures them that they will always have a home to return to. This photo conveys a feeling of being left behind as the viewer only sees the backs of people walking away, similar to how Kahan embraces the perspective of watching someone special leave as he chooses to stay.
“Four years, they’re driving across the country / For empty seats at their shows” This line from “Youngblood'' on Kahan’s debut album, Busyhead, reflects the feeling of pursuing what you love and not receiving the recognition you seek. This lyric is paired with a photo of Radio City Music Hall located in New York City, which Kahan sold out on his 2023 Stick Season tour, showing how he is finally reaching great successes in his career.