Folk musician Noah Kahan sails back into familiar territory April 24 with his new album, "The Great Divide." This time, he has more experience under his belt.
Kahan is mastering what he does best. His lyrical storytelling and honest self-talk take his listeners along for a journey of introspection.
The folk act who rose to stardom in 2023 often puts his mental health at the forefront of his music and lays it all out on the table for his fans. This rawness helps to connect him with his fans and create a deep, open relationship with them.
Contrasting the cover of his last album, "Stick Season" (2022), that transformed his career and depicted Kahan outside with his two dogs, "The Great Divide’s" cover photo was taken from inside and focuses on two children playing in the yard. A clear divide — per the name — separates them outside from the onlooker inside the house.
The album’s titular song and its lead single, "The Great Divide," shows the literal divide between Kahan and his subject. The lines like "I hope you settle down, I hope you marry rich," in combination with the frustration in his vocals illuminate the clear separation between the two. A much lighter and cheerful instrumental helps to carry the emotion held in Kahan's gloomier lyricism.
Although this exploration can be raw and emotional, he gently guides his audience with a "Porch Light," the album’s second single, as a reminder of home. It carries the theme of the entire album with strings such as a banjo and overall melancholy. In the chorus, he first refers to his subject as "poison," yet welcomes them in, saying he’ll "leave the porch light on."
"Porch Light" developed an internet presence in December 2025, three months before it was formally released. It happened when Kahan posted a voice memo clip of the song to his Instagram story, leading fans to use the sound on TikTok.
This grounding point is not a new metaphor for Kahan. His 2020 EP "Cape Elizabeth" features a lighthouse — a common symbol for guidance and safety — in its cover. Kahan’s voice and lyricism have matured throughout his nearly 10-year career, but he still holds the use of humming, passionate vocals and folk-style guitar strumming near and dear to his heart.
The ride begins with delicate piano keys and a willing acceptance of the temporariness of life in "End of August." Another area of acceptance for Kahan comes with accountability in tracks such as "Doors" and "Deny, Deny, Deny," where he grapples with his own faults.
Never shying away from hard thoughts and self-blame, he is still willing and able to call out others in his songs, such as "Downfall" and "Dashboard." However, he can be more than forgiving when wishing on his subject’s downfall, he still hopes for reconciliation with them, stating he’ll be "keeping the house the way it was," waiting for them to come back.
