Jake Kohn is giving fans what they want: new music.
The next big name out of Appalachia is back with a brand new single, “Hard As Stone,” which cuts deep as the sixteen-year-old sings heartbreaking lyrics about seeing someone you love turn into an unrecognizable figure.
Once again, Kohn is showing fans that his musical talent is well beyond his years as he chatted with Whiskey Riff about the song, noting that it’s been in his back pocket for a while.
“I wrote that song on my 15th birthday. And that’s always fun to tell people. Like, ‘Yeah, I wrote that song when I was 14, almost 15.
When I was writing it, that song was kind of intended to be anthemic. That song was intended to be structurally anthemic, but I always played it slow and sad like the rest of my songs. It was always meant to be a kind of in-your-face, powerful song.”
While Kohn feels that he plays the song slow and sad, it still has in-your-face elements as his booming vocals powerfully deliver the lyrics of a heartbroken man.
“This nightmare’s unending, flowing like the blood in my veins
Those hands that you once lended, now for another’s embrace
You take on another, lover to take my place
What did I ever do, but hold onto you in your darkest days…”
From the jump, the guitar riff after the chorus was instantaneously stuck in my head and gave the song a unique sound, wanting the listener to come back for more.
“That (part) has always been in there. That was the first part of the song that I wrote. I do try to write a melody first because it gives the song something to differentiate itself from others.”
Kohn noted when asked about how that portion came to be.
Coinciding with the release of “Hard As Stone” is a killer acoustic video version of the song from a beautiful lush field. The video perfectly captures Kohn’s raw talent but keeps true to his Appalachian roots. As Kohn went viral on Radio WV for his first single, “Frostbite,” I love that Kohn continues to highlight his powerful vocals in the setting that got him started while he has now secured a record deal with Atlantic Records.
“I’m very proud of this song and the work we put into recording and releasing it, and I’m also proud of the personal connection it evokes for the people who enjoy the lyrics.”
“Hard As Stone” goes hard. As a sad country music lover himself, Jake Kohn is championing a new sound for sad country music and hit the nail on the head with this powerful track.
If Jake Kohn is not added to your playlists after hearing this one, you are missing out on what is primed to be one of the next big names in the genre. He’s well on his way there.
Jake Kohn Tour Dates
The end of 2023 brought enormous waves for Kohn, and 2024 is on the track to do the same. With tour dates coming up supporting Sierra Ferrell and 49 Winchester, Kohn is turning the heads of some of the biggest names in country music.
“Getting on that Sierra tour was a holy sh*t moment for me. We were all in the car and were like, ‘What! That’s crazy.’
It’s all been really quick; like two years ago, I was not even close to what this is…it’s pretty crazy.”
2024 also will hold some more announcements from Kohn:
“More music and more shows coming for sure.”
Check out the cities you can find Kohn in coming up:
JANUARY
24-25 – Key West, FL @ Mile 0 Festival
APRIL
4 – Prestonsburg, KY @ Mountain Arts Center *
5 – Louisville, KY @ Mercury Ballroom *
MAY
9 – Atlanta, GA @ The Eastern #
10 – Charleston, SC @ Charleston Music Hall #
11 – Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz #
12 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore Charlotte #
14 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer #
22 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club #
* Supporting 49 Winchester
# Supporting Sierra Ferrell
