takin' a walk – Music Discovery with Jonah Kagen

Podcast: takin' a walk
Host: Buzz Knight | Guest: Jonah Kagan
Date: September 16, 2025

Overview

This episode of "takin’ a walk" dives deep into the personal and musical journey of rising singer-songwriter Jonah Kagan. Host Buzz Knight explores Kagan’s inspirations, songwriting philosophy, and the remarkable, often unpredictable adventures that shaped his latest project, Sunflowers and Leather. The conversation offers listeners an inside look at how Jonah crafts authentic music rooted in Americana and folk traditions—blending historical reverence, modern storytelling, and poignant self-discovery.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Dream Walks and Artistic Inspirations

• Opening Warmth: Buzz emphasizes the "conversational" and honest feel of Jonah’s music.
• If You Could Take a Walk With Anyone
  • Jonah chooses Matthew McConaughey, citing his book Greenlights as a significant influence on both his personal and musical journey.

    “His book actually inspired a lot of this, the journey that I took in making this album.” (05:48, Jonah)

• On Musical Roots & Folk Traditions
  • Jonah discusses his immersion into American folk music, particularly inspired by Alan Lomax’s cataloging of roots music and the legacy of Townes Van Zandt.

    “I was deep in the Alan Lomax ... cataloging of Americana music and folk music and the origins ... and then somebody told me about Townes Van Zandt ... I found so much beauty and also pain and just power and emotion ... he lived just this really troubled life and never got to see, you know, he had, like, little moment with Poncho and Lefty ... but he never got to see the fruits of his labor.” (08:07, Jonah)

  • Emphasizes the emotional authenticity in music:

    “Do I believe what somebody's saying? ... That’s what folk music, Americana music is ... Every word this guy says is—I believe what he’s saying.” (10:36, Jonah)

Songwriting Influences and Style

• Childhood and Early Influences
  • Jonah recounts being first and foremost a guitarist, inspired by fingerstyle artist Andy McKee:

    “Andy McKee ... he was a fingerstyle guitar ... using the guitar in a way I’d never seen before ... I got rid of all the electric guitars that I had and bought one acoustic and started messing around with it.” (12:15, Jonah)

  • Names modern songwriting influences: Jason Isbell ("more of a songwriting inspiration"), Adrianne Lenker, Drew Holcomb.

    “I’m drawn to people who have something to say and who really have something to say. So that’s what’s always been ... Andy was that on the guitar.” (14:12, Jonah)

The Breakout Moment: "God Needs the Devil"

• Jonah reflects on the career-changing single and the difference between digital statistics and direct human connection:

  “The wildest thing is that it's still ... kind of actively happening ... It went to number one on the radio ... it was a slow burn to get there ... I'm just witnessing like kind of right now the impact of that. ... I decided kind of when that was happening ... there are real people here. This is like an opportunity ... my passion is not in music, it's in people, and music is the vehicle...” (16:00, Jonah)

• Stresses the communal core of Americana:

  “Americana is like music in service of people. It's somebody trying to find connection with real people and going and meeting them.” (18:34, Jonah)

The Story Behind Sunflowers and Leather

• Origin Story

  • Jonah’s new album grew out of a deliberate, adventure-filled road trip—buying a new truck and Airstream, hitting the road post-breakup, only to immediately crash and total his vehicle.
    • “Almost immediately ... I was towing it and totaled it. I got in an accident, totaled my truck, did major damage to the Airstream.” (24:08, Jonah)
    • Reflects on embracing the unexpected:

      “There’s always something that goes wrong ... what would it be like to just intentionally go do something, knowing in my head ... something's going to go wrong ... But what if I just went out and lived that way, knowing that's going to happen and just see what happens?” (25:40, Jonah)

  • After the crash, buys used vehicles, renovates a mobile studio, and resolves to chronicle his experiences through music.

• Introspection and Solitude

  • Jonah traveled solo at first, later joined by his dog, Mars. The introspective tone of the album reflects long hours of alone time, often in challenging circumstances.

    “I had my dog. I got Mars about halfway through, so it was just me for a bit. And then Mars joined the party.” (29:30, Jonah)

In-Depth Songwriting Insights

• "My Ash Is Turning White"

  • Written as an emotional prologue but became a full song; speaks openly of existential fears:

    “Basically the message in that song was just like, I’m not afraid of dying ... I’m terrified ... that when I do die, I won’t last for a while ... and there’s just a lot of sadness in that.” (30:07, Jonah)

    • On legacy and emotional transparency:

      “When I die, don’t—just don’t let me die, please ... don’t stop listening, don’t stop feeling, don’t stop ... surrender to the music and to the experience.” (31:55, Jonah)

• "The Reaper"

  • A more literal, autobiographical track:

    "I woke up, decided I was cooped up ... I’m going to Montana, I’m buying all this new stuff ... Bang. Totaled my car ... The universe saying, ‘Slow up, child, you’re going to get burned... you’re going to live a long, long life. You don’t have to do everything right now.’” (33:02, Jonah)

• Songwriting Process

  • Prefers writing alone, starting with guitar and words, often after emotions have ‘aged’:

    “I cannot be in the emotion that I’m writing about when I write it ... Once it’s aged a little bit, I’ll be thinking about a certain thing. ... It really is just me just doing random stuff and talking with one sort of theme in the middle.” (34:14, Jonah)

Looking Ahead & Closing Thoughts

• Jonah plans to take Sunflowers and Leather on tour, excited to connect with audiences and share the stories in context.

  “I’ll be on the road for pretty much the rest of this year and then hopefully all of next year ... I’ll be out as long as they’ll have me.” (36:53, Jonah)

• Buzz closes with praise, calling the new album “masterful” and “brilliant,” and reminds listeners of the power of musical and personal journeys.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On authenticity in songwriting:

  "I think one thing that I really listen for now when I'm listening to music is, like, do I believe what somebody's saying?... Townes, I was like, every word this guy says is—I believe what he's saying." (10:36, Jonah)

• On the role of music:

  “My passion is not in music, it’s in people, and music is the vehicle by which I get to kind of fulfill that passion.” (17:36, Jonah)

• On embracing the unpredictability of life:

  "There's always something that goes wrong or something happens and it's a story... but what would it be like to just intentionally go do something, knowing in my head ... something’s going to go wrong..." (25:40, Jonah)

• On legacy and mortality:

  “I’m terrified of ... not doing enough while I am on the earth. ... When I die, don’t—just don’t let me die, please. ... Don’t stop listening, don’t stop feeling.” (31:55, Jonah)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Influences & Townes Van Zandt: 06:49–11:27
• Childhood and Early Musical Influences: 11:53–14:32
• "God Needs the Devil"—Breakout Moment: 16:00–19:33
• How the Road Trip Inspired the Album: 24:08–29:26
• Deep Dive: "My Ash Is Turning White": 29:59–32:40
• Deep Dive: "The Reaper": 32:40–33:57
• Jonah's Songwriting Process: 34:14–36:51
• Touring & Closing Thoughts: 36:51–38:04

Tone & Atmosphere

Casual, warm, and deeply reflective. Both Jonah and Buzz speak candidly, with affection for music’s history and enthusiasm for storytelling. The episode feels conversational and personal but reveals profound insights about craft, risk, vulnerability, and artistic growth.