Noah Kahan Talks ‘The Great Divide’ While Playing Pool at Highland Park Bowl | Takes Us Out

Noah Kahan takes Billboard out to Highland Park Bowl in Los Angeles for pool, drinks and real talk. In this episode of Takes Us Out, Noah Kahan opens up about touring stadiums, songwriting and protecting his privacy.

He also talks about his favorite ways to unwind on the road, why it’s important to carve out non-music time to manage anxiety and what he’s most proud of on The Great Divide. He breaks down how a song changes from writing to recording to performing, shares his funniest crowd moments and is candid about setting boundaries — especially after writing about family on Stick Season.

Plus: “Line ’Em Up” gets chaotic fast, from an unforgettable house party story to ranking his albums and a rapid-fire round over beers and pizza:

Delisa Shannon: Oh. Oh, let’s play some pool.

Noah Kahan: I’m sorry. Yeah, this feels like s–t.

Delisa Shannon: OK, cool. Ooh.

Noah Kahan: Let’s do it. [upbeat music] Oh. Hey, good to see you. 

Delisa Shannon: How you doing?

Noah Kahan: How are you?

Delisa Shannon: Good to see you.

Noah Kahan: Long time no see.

Delisa Shannon: I know, it’s been a little minute. I think the last time was South By, I believe.

Noah Kahan: Yeah. 

Delisa Shannon: And you’ve been doing a lot since then.

Noah Kahan: Yep, but I’m ready to play some pool.

Delisa Shannon: I’m ready to play some pool.

Noah Kahan: Have a drink. It’ll be great.

Delisa Shannon: I have to let you know, I’m very, very bad.

Noah Kahan: Oh, me too.

Delisa Shannon: OK, cool.

Noah Kahan: It’s me. It’s, we’re gonna be horrible. People are not gonna wanna watch this.

Delisa Shannon: OK, great. Can’t wait. The longest game of pool starts right now.

Noah Kahan: Right now, yeah. [Laughs]

Delisa Shannon: Alright, let’s go-

Noah Kahan: It’s gonna be tough to watch.

Delisa Shannon: Let’s go ahead and head on in.

Noah Kahan: Yeah. We’ll have to make a miniseries.

[upbeat music]

Delisa Shannon: So we are here at Highland Park Bowl.

Noah Kahan: I love the Bowl, and I heard that it was an old medicinal whiskey dispensary. Like, they would give you, back in the day when, like, they were just like, “Yeah, just have a shot of whiskey and, like, rub some dirt on it. ” So pretty cool. Old school. Don’t do that now, obviously. Take medicine. The medicine of bowling, the healing powers of bowling and pool.

Delisa Shannon: That’s so s- wow. Thank you, Highland Park Bowl.