*Warning: Spoilers Ahead*
Kiwi Busyheads have had a very exciting week with two massive announcements in recent days: Noah Kahan is officially coming to New Zealand on October 9, and the Netflix documentary Out of Body has finally been released as of April 13. Marketed as a candid and intimate look into the life of this much-loved star, it’s hard to come out of viewings not choked up.
We’ve summed up the best parts and explained the moments we found most impactful. Read more below!
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10) The importance of speaking about mental health
As mentioned above, this one is a tear-jerker, so tissues are undoubtedly required. Out of Body touches on subjects like body dysmorphia, anxiety and family difficulties (all of which are often referenced in Kahan’s music). But seeing it play out on screen, and the raw honesty with which Kahan faces it in front of the cameras, is something different. There’s no doubt that mental health is one of the causes he’s most passionate about (exemplified by the existence of The Busyhead Project). We hope that through this documentary, even more people feel like they’re not alone in their struggles.
9) Some unreleased song snippets!
There’s no doubt that this is the perfect release time, right before our ears are blessed with The Great Divide. Kahan sings a lot throughout, and fans closely listening will recognise lyrics from unreleased songs like ‘Doors’ (confirmed to be on TGD). The hype is REAL!
8) He almost gave up music
Before the release of his much-loved EP Cape Elizabeth, Noah considered quitting music entirely. While fans knew that release was pivotal in his career, I don’t think any of us knew just how much until now. Moving home during Covid gave Noah a new perspective, ‘creatively waking him up’ and inspiring him to create ‘some kind of story’ in the music.
7) He and his wife want to move home from Nashville
Noah reflects on his feelings about Nashville in the documentary, admitting it led to burnout and an inability to switch off from the pressure of his career. With music feeling like an escape for him, it lost its impact when every conversation revolved around it.
This realisation leads to a beautiful full-circle moment at the documentary’s close, with Kahan and his wife Brenna returning to Vermont with their dogs. At the end of a viewing session that’s been FULL of feelings, this is the most hopeful note it could have ended on.
6) A fair bit of his music is inspired by his family’s ‘dirty laundry’
Out of Body opened the door for some meaningful but at times difficult conversations between members of the Kahan family, with Kahan admitting he should have checked in before being so honest on the project.
But by the end, while they sit and watch home videos, Lauri (Kahan’s mother) says that the exposure of their familial experiences in Stick Season makes those experiences feel human. There’s no doubt that this fact is part of why people connect so strongly to his lyrics – so many topics feel universally relatable.
5) At the highest point of his career, Kahan was going through it
Out of Body was originally supposed to be about the ‘boring’ reality of touring when it was first discussed in 2021. But then Stick Season exploded, and everything changed. Overnight, Kahan went from modest performances to stadium-level fame, and with that came a lot of pressure, including when he played Fenway Park. While Fenway was a highlight for both his life and career, he was struggling mentally with the intensity. We fans can only hope he’s doing better now, as he’s now been cemented firmly as a folk megastar.
4) His post-show routine is relatable af
Early in the documentary, Kahan is asked what he does immediately after a show. He responds that he occasionally checks Twitter to see what the response was, and if it’s not positive, he “barricades himself in his room and orders Taco Bell.” Of course, this results in a follow-up question: what does he do when it IS great? He’s still barricading himself in the room and ordering Taco Bell. He’s just like us, actually.
3) The day he got engaged was “the best day of his life”
Family is the documentary’s central theme, and viewers get a much-wanted, rare look at his relationship with wife Brenna. One particularly heartwarming moment shows Noah holding up a photo of the day the pair got engaged, describing it as “the best day of his life.” Brenna and Noah have been together a long time, with her being by his side throughout his entire career arc thus far. She’s hugely supportive of him in Out of Body (and no doubt daily), featuring in a number of interviews during which she reflects on both his successes and challenges from her unique perspective.
2) This project wouldn’t have been possible without his childhood friends
Asher Brown and Henry Allison are two Utah-based filmmakers – and friends from Kahan’s childhood. All three went to the same public school in Hanover, keeping in touch since. Their hometown relationship allowed them to make up for two members of the core filming team (alongside director Nick Sweeney and producer Samantha Mustari). In terms of integrating into Noah’s life in a format that felt authentic and built on a foundation of connection, this was the perfect scenario.
1) It took a long time to make the documentary
The film took nine months to make, with the team joining Noah at the absolute height of his ‘We’ll All Be Here Forever’ tour. It was a mammoth undertaking for Kahan and the team – he’d basically been on the road for two and a half years straight.
At its core, Out of Body is about the places and people that make Noah Kahan the guy we all love. From his family, to Brenna, to the locals of Vermont, everything comes back in this documentary to how Noah became the star and what continues to influence him. On tour, his stage is a replica of his mum’s living room, and the interviews and scenery touch on one of his core musical themes – what it’s like to be a proud New Englander.
It also beautifully captures his artistic journey: from inspiration, to creating art, to finding success and navigating that in the best way you can, to finally coming home to his roots. Overall, Out of Body is a perfectly formulated emotional piece of work, and we cannot recommend it enough to any Kahan fan.
Out of Body is available to watch on Netflix now.
