James Kahn

Of all the things I've written, music and songwriting are the closest to my heart. I've been able to reveal my deepest self through this process, and touch others most deeply as well. There's something about the combination of words and music that cuts right to the soul for me, and recording these CDs has been one of the most rewarding creative experiences of my life. I'm a longtime physician, novelist and screenwriter, but I've also produced 6 albums of story songs, dealing with all aspects of the human condition. My latest, By the Risin' of the Sea, is a collection of original shanties and other seafaring airs - musically traditional, but concerning contemporary crises such as climate change, species die-offs, covid-19, existential angst, and refugee struggles. Shanties were sailors' worksongs as they grappled with survival against the elements - in the same way we must work to survive our own elemental disasters. My work as a doctor guided me helping individuals through their personal crises. As a musical storyteller I hope to touch people's hearts, moving them to help save our collective ship from sinking. You can see my music videos on my Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesKahnEntertainments