Noah Kahan: The Great Divide

For the past three years, fans of Noah Kahan have been patiently waiting for a new album. Luckily, on April 24, 2026, the fans are finally getting their wish. Kahan has been teasing new music ever since his team made a TikTok account titled “thelastofthebugs,” where he posted hints and teasers for the new album. Kahan announced his fourth album, titled The Great Divide, this past January and released the lead single “The Great Divide” in February. 

“The Great Divide”

Named after its own album, “The Great Divide” had a very interesting rollout compared to other Noah Kahan songs. Kahan first played this song back in 2024 when he was on tour, but it was never perfected until recent years. He teased the lead single with TikTok videos where he sang snippets of the finalized song. What fans didn't expect was the fact that they would get a surprise music video played during the 2026 Grammys. The music video helped paint the picture Kahan wrote about. Fans initially believed that the song was about a past lover, but the music video confirmed that it was actually about losing a friend and all the emotions that come with it. Kahan expresses themes of anger, friendship, growth, and regret. The beginning verse contains the lyrics “But I've never seen you take a turn that wide.” The wide turn suggests a drastic shift in behavior, which likely led to the end of their friendship.

“Porch Light” 

Fans are hooked, waiting for the release of the album as Kahan draws listeners in with his two singles on the album. The second single of the album “Porch Light” has gained popularity rapidly, and along with the catchy tune, the lyrics offer vulnerability and some insight into Kahan’s relationships as well as his life. After interviews with the artist, it has been found that this isn’t a typical Noah Kahan song. “Porch Light” is actually written from his mother’s perspective. According to a press release, “Porch Light” was influenced by difficulties Kahan feels he put on his family by exposing their lives over his last album, Stick Season. The perspective taken from his mother exposes the feelings and concerns a parent would have while their child is engulfed by media and fame. This take on Kahan's single demonstrates the variety he is capable of creating through his music.

In the weeks leading up to Kahan's fourth album, he released a documentary on Netflix and performed an NPR Tiny Desk concert. His documentary titled Noah Kahan: Out of Body came out on April 13, 2026. The documentary delves into Noah Kahan's life and what it's like to have such a quick rise to fame after so many years. The film primarily focuses on Noah’s family and his struggle with body dysmorphia. If fans want to have a deeper understanding and connection to Noah, the documentary is worth watching. The NPR Tiny Desk is also worth watching if you’re a fan. Noah played four songs: “American Cars,” “The Great Divide,” “Orange Juice,” and “Paid Time Off.” 

Thursday night was a long one for fans anticipating the album as it was released at midnight, and as expected, the album did not disappoint. Seventeen total songs, and all of them filled with emotion, lyrical complexity, and beautiful vocals. The album kicked off with the first track, “End of August,” offering a newer sound for Kahan as the piano was heavily incorporated into the song. This surprised us personally because we are used to Kahan’s use of the guitar; however, we absolutely loved everything about the song. We have already fallen in love with this entire album and have found that a couple of songs have really stuck out. Our favorites after a couple listens include “Dashboard,” “End of August,” “Deny Deny Deny,” and “All Them Horses.” Prior to the new music release, we had heard snippets of “All Them Horses” and “Dashboard,” which made us extremely excited for their full release. 

We feel so drawn to this album; Kahan really used his vulnerability in his songs, allowing for an immediate attachment to form between listeners and the music. No matter what genre is your favorite, this new album is a beautiful experience that everyone should take the opportunity to listen to.