Jonah Kagen Talks Debut EP "georgia got colder"

We caught up with the 22 year-old Savannah, Georgia native and learned all about the inspiration and process behind creating his debut EP "georgia got colder."

Photo: Lauren Wade

Your debut EP “georgia got colder” was just released (Dec2). Where did you draw inspiration for this project?

I drew inspiration from so many different life experiences to create this EP but, if I had to generalize, I would say that the primary inspiration for this project is the wide spectrum of the human experience. It taps into different sides of human emotion – missing someone, being missed, being there for someone, needing someone to be there for you, etc. Some of these experiences were directly mine, and some were those of people close to me or that I observed at different points in my life.

Your music has a great energy to it. What is the creative process like when working on new music and who are some artists you admire?

My creative process honestly varies with each song. Sometimes it starts with just the music and the way it makes me feel dictates what the story will be. Other times I have a feeling that I need to put into words and I built the music around that. Sometimes my songs come from poetry I’ve written or thoughts I’ve jotted down.

You have a great way of telling a story and conveying emotions through your songs. Which song off the new EP are you most excited to share with your fans?

It's impossible to pick a favorite from the EP because each song has a distinct story that resonates with me. That being said, I think I'm most excited for people to hear "georgia." I have such a deep connection to that song and I hope that other people can connect with it in many different ways too.

Photo: Lauren Wade

You are from Georgia and named your EP “georgia got colder." How did growing up in Savannah influence your style of music?

I think growing up in Savannah really influenced so much of my personality. It's the reason why I love nature, community, family, and haunted stories. That said, I'm not sure if it had a direct effect on my music, but I do believe that my music is a direct reflection of my mind and my personality, which was largely shaped by Savannah.

As the year comes to a close, what are you looking forward to as we enter 2023? What are some of your goals for the new year?

I'm so excited for 2023 for so many reasons. I feel like I'm closing out the first chapter of my music career with the release of the ‘georgia got colder’ EP and I've been so inspired to move into a more defined sound in this next chapter. I'd love to put out my debut album next year, release a duet, write for other artists, and go on another tour!

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Listen to "georgia got colder" by Jonah Kagen on Spotify and all streaming platforms. Make sure to follow MUD on Instagram for the latest conversations with your favorites.