Noah Kahan Reveals How Phoebe Bridgers' 'Punisher' Influenced His Songwriting
Noah Kahan credits Phoebe Bridgers' 'Punisher' for inspiring him to be more specific in his songwriting, as Bridgers returns to the stage after a long absence.
In a recent interview for his Rolling Stone cover story, Noah Kahan opened up about how Phoebe Bridgers' Punisher influenced his music.
Bridgers recently returned to the stage on Friday for her first solo performance in three years. Held at The Liberty, a small club in Roswell, New Mexico, the singer-songwriter debuted four new songs – presumably from her new album, which fans have dubbed "PB3."
Bridgers has maintained a low profile since wrapping her tour with boygenius—her supergroup with Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker—and announcing their hiatus in February 2024. The excitement for her return is palpable, including among fellow songwriters like Kahan. On X, when a fan asked Kahan if he was ready for Bridgers’ new era, he replied, “I am leaving an imprint in my chair that will be studied by paleontologists for hundreds of years.”
Kahan has been vocal about his appreciation for Bridgers’ music, especially around the release of her 2020 breakthrough, Punisher. Speaking with Rolling Stone for his June 2026 cover story, he discussed how the album influenced his own songwriting—specifically Bridgers’ knack for specificity.
"Punisher was the first album where I’m like, ‘Whoa, she’s really talking about things that I wasn’t there for and that I wasn’t privy to, but that draws me in more,'" he said. "And then I started listening to it, and finding that own person in my life that I might have had that experience with, or connecting more of those lyrics. I started to give myself permission to be more specific. Phoebe does that so brilliantly, and I can’t wait for whatever she does next, because she’s amazing."
When asked who he’d love to collaborate with, Kahan didn't hesitate: "I think working with Phoebe would be insane," he said. Fans are already speculating about how this might happen—whether Kahan releases a deluxe version of The Great Divide featuring Bridgers, or something else entirely. Until then, we’ll be wishing hard on a Chinese satellite.
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