Four Famous Artists From New England And Their Impact
Comprising six states, New England is home to several well known musicians, some of which have shaped music to be what it is today and some are rising stars. From giving back to their communities to winning Grammys, here are four artists from New England.
Known for his hit album Stick Season, folk-pop singer Noah Kahan has taken over the music scene. Born in Massachusetts and raised in Vermont, Kahan often sings of seasonal depression and his love for his home state. Kahan had a spike in listeners when he collaborated with fellow musician Post Malone for his song “Dial Drunk”. Prior to the collaboration, fans often called Kahan “Folk Malone”, which is one of many nicknames they have given him. However that wouldn’t be the last time an artist joins Kahan on one of his songs; he later works with artists like Hozier, Gracie Abrams, and Kacey Musgraves.
In the summer of 2024, Kahan played two sold out shows at Fenway Park which then birthed his first live album. Over the span of both nights, he was joined by many surprise guests like The Lumineers, Mt. Joy, and even the whole Kahan family. The year before Kahan also played a show in Gilford, New Hampshire and had invited his former music teacher and all his students to join him on stage for a song.
The Busyhead Project is a non-profit mental health foundation that was created by Noah Kahan. Busyhead comes from the title of his debut album and the foundation focuses on providing information and resources needed to end the stigma around mental health. Since being created in 2023, the foundation has raised millions of dollars. There’s no denying that Kahan has so much love for his home state and cares deeply for the people there.
Massachusetts is home to many great musicians including famous rock band Aerosmith. Steven Tyler, Tom Hamilton, Joey Kramer, Joe Perry, and Brad Whitford formed the band in 1970 and later became one of the greatest rock bands in history.
Over the next ten years, Aerosmith toured relentlessly and had their music chart various times with hits like “Dream On” and “Sweet Emotion”. However the success came to a halt when two members of the band were struggling with addiction and later left the band. In 1984, all the original members of Aerosmith got back together and did a comeback tour which then gave them the boost they needed to get back into things. They then went on to collaborate with Run DMC with their song “Walk This Way” and suddenly, Aerosmith was back.
Hailing from Lowell, Massachusetts, Pvris, which is now consisting of only lead singer Lynn Gunn, formed in 2012 but had a rocky start. From legal issues with the band name and parting ways with band members, Pvris is now better than ever. Their fourth record, Evergreen, contains songs about female empowerment, reflection, and being your own worst enemy.
image via Instagram @thisispvris
Pvris just announced a tour to celebrate the ten year anniversary of their album White Noise. Pvris stated on their Instagram that the tour set is two parts, one being all the songs from White Noise and the second is a set with more recent Pvris songs. They will also be joining Linkin Park for some tour dates this summer.
Founded by Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden in 2002, MGMT comes from Middleton, Connecticut. The rock band has garnered quite the achievements over the years, from working with Kid Cudi to winning a Grammy, they continue to pump out hits. MGMT has become a staple in festivals over the years, playing alongside big names at Coachella, Bonnaroo, and Firefly music festivals.
All these artists are still active except for Aerosmith who recently announced they will be retiring after being a band for 54 years. But you can find Noah Kahan, Pvris, and MGMT on their websites and catch them at a show this year.
