GOSHEN, Ind. — A holler reverberating, a sad story spun into a catchy melody. What draws fans to Noah Kahan’s music? Is it those special moments Kahan has made into his trademark sound, or is it the unending creativity of Kahan’s musicianship.
Either way, everyone who follows Kahan’s music is sure to love “The Great Divide,” the highly anticipated new single. A sad song, as must Kahan songs are, it begins with a tale of longing and remembrance for times that have already come and gone.
Noah Kahan’s signature blend of folk, rock, and pop haven’t gone anywhere on this latest single, as Kahan’s guitar playing at the beginning emphasizes the longing in his voice with a chord progression that barely changes. The intro guitar is eventually joined by more guitar, bass, and drums, but only after Kahan establishes his rebellious past with the main subject of the song.
Based around the phrase “I hope …” the song turns itself from a story of sadness and regret, into a story of wishing for the best. Where the narrator is probably wishing that the subject of the story got everything they wished for in life, there’s still a tinge of sadness laced throughout the song’s longing melody. The narrator wishes the subject never moved on to better things, and remained with the narrator, despite the subject’s current happiness.
Interwoven with the sadness of the quintessentially “Kahan-esque” style is, of course, those hollers and yells that every fan has come to love. While Kahan isn’t expanding or exploring his style with this new single, he’s sticking to what works, and is sure to be rewarded by the fans who have already come to love his music.
An album titled the same as his new single, “The Great Divide,” is set to be released on April 24th, 2026 and will feature 17 tracks, including the titular single already released. Also, beginning Jun 11, Kahan is setting off on a stadium and festival tour, coming to Chicago on July 14.
– Griffin Eash, Music Director
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