It’s already been 4 years since the release of Stick Season in 2022, a breakthrough album that changed the atmosphere for pop-folk culture and marked a turning point in Noah Kahan’s career. Releasing his deluxe version in 2023 and 2024, which featured artists like Gracie Abrams for “Everywhere, everything” or Hozier for “Northern Attitude,” Kahan became a well-known artist in the music universe, making Billboards Hot 100.
After the commercial success brought by Stick Season, Kahan went quiet in 2025 working on “The Great Divide,” his fourth album released April 24. With 17 tracks on it, the album became his highest-ranking album, reaching No. 6 on the Spotify chart a few days after the release.
In an interview on the Tonight Show, Kahan reveals how the album is based around the transition of life and relationships before fame, as well as a tribute to his hometown in Vermont (a common theme in many of his songs). Kahan’s writing within this album does not just merely explain what it’s like leaving Vermont to move to Nashville, but with his diaristic-like songwriting, he brings listeners into moments of big transitions, allowing them to undergo the emotional catharses and conflict that accompany his spiritual journey.
From the minute the first track started playing, listeners instantly knew it was the unfiltered, authentic and real Noah Kahan. The dynamic contrasts- from the quiet verses to the choruses that feel like release, or the layered vocals in certain parts embodying that crisp, folk feeling- illustrate feelings of emotional clarity and comfort.
When the albums lead single, “The Great Divide,” was released in January, it echoed the same emotional foundation seen in previous songs like “Orange Juice” but broadened the scope to reflect strained relationships and distance between people. Lyrics like “I hope you settle down; I hope you are rich” give listeners a chance to understand the bittersweet experience of growing apart from a friend yet still wanting the best for them. Still wanting some sort of rekindling of the emotions they once had.
And it’s not just the popular songs that hold meaning. Conversely, songs like “All of Them Horses” traced back to when he left his old home, leaving all the people he loves, and yet his feelings of guilt despite his need to leave. His songwriting allows so many people to feel touched by similar circumstances that happened to them in their town, allowing them to fully grasp the emotional depth the lyrics hold.
While some say that his songs feel “repetitive” and “disconnected,” they seem to miss the depth behind the album. The so-called repetitiveness makes his music distinct. The themes convey isolation and a very disoriented feeling many have not dealt with before. This album serves to present how you can get everything you have ever dreamed of, yet still feel empty inside.
“The Great Divide” is the kind of album that’s going to keep Noah Kahan in the charts for months to come. The album carries a heavy meaning to Noah Kahan, a meaning that resonates deeply with fans. It’s the emotional honesty that keeps listeners reuniting, finding a new meaning in each listen.
