Whether you’re nursing a hangover or just feeling nostalgic about the passage of another magical Treefort Music Fest, we’re taking the post-party Monday to enjoy something a little longer-lasting: Some of our favorite songs written in or about Idaho.
Boise’s isolation is one of its defining characteristics, and artists often don’t know what to do with it. Sometimes the Gem State gets referenced with awe, and sometimes with disdain — but the best cases occur when musicians who live here reflect on our state in their art. That’s why we’re starting with local artist Youth Lagoon.
‘Idaho Alien,’ Youth Lagoon
Trevor Powers (with the stage name Youth Lagoon) is the rare case of a musical artist who has found success outside Boise for years, all while calling Boise home. That’s partially been facilitated by Youth Lagoon’s inward focus on psychology, spirituality, and on family in his February 2025 album “Rarely Do I Dream.”
“Idaho Alien” was the lead single on 2023’s “Heaven Is a Junkyard,” an unforeseen return for Powers to the Youth Lagoon project after seven years away. Pitchfork called it “avant-pop,” with Powers’ unique vocals painting a picture of drug use and self-harm in the Gem State. For something a little sweeter, try “Football,” “Lucy Takes a Picture,” and “Mercury.”
‘Idaho,’ Gregory Alan Isakov
Contemporary folk musician Gregory Alan Isakov is one of many artists to be inspired by Idaho while passing through (another honorable mention is the possibility that Lizzo wrote part of “Truth Hurts” while leaving Treefort Music Fest in 2017). For Isakov, “Idaho” serves as the landscape upon which the memory of someone is dissipating.
‘Ketchum, ID,’ boygenius
Screaming the words “let’s dissolve the band / move to Idaho” along with the entire Outlaw Music Field crowd at boygenius’ show in the summer of 2023 was a magical moment as the supergroup was capturing the adoration of the country with “The Record.” “Ketchum, ID” is from their 2018 self-titled EP, but I’m still glad they humored us by playing that song.
‘Idaho,’ Slow Pulp
I’d pay good money to learn why this song is titled “Idaho,” because it doesn’t reference Idaho at all. Instead, it’s a soft-spoken but emotionally discordant song for the emotional avoidants among us. Was it written in Idaho? Is one of the people it’s about from here? I need to know!
