American singer-songwriter Noah Kahan’s newest album has exploded in popularity this past year, particularly on our very own campus. With the album, The Great Divide, Kahan has already enthralled a wide audience and elicited different responses and thoughts on the album as a whole.
Caleigh Feng (Class III) said, “I feel like all his songs sound pretty similar to each other, but I thought it [the album] was really depressing.” Kahan placed particular emphasis on mental health throughout his songs, exhibiting more somber themes. Co-Director of the Putnam Library Talya Sokoll, said, “I think the thing that he talks about the most, and that he’s most well known for in his music writing and in his messaging, is the conversations that he has around mental health.”
Kahan’s transparency and authenticity in his music draw many listeners. Sokoll said, “I think what initially attracted me to his music was the realness of what he was singing about: his own experiences and the experiences of the people that he loves.” Even with a sadder tone in some songs, his music also possesses an inspirational undercurrent. “There’s definitely a lot of regret, but there is also a lot of hope,” Feng said.
In addition to mental health struggles, Kahan’s new album also explores an authentic fear of coming-of-age. Izzy Kittredge (Class II) said, “Songs like ‘Doors’ and ‘The Great Divide’ were really interesting about growing old and getting scared of the realities of the real world.”
Noah Kahan: Out of Body was also a recent Netflix documentary, released about Kahan’s life, giving context to newer songs. “I’ve seen his documentary on Netflix about his life and struggles growing up with divorced parents, and I think that kind of connected to the lyrics in his songs,” Kittredge said. The album has additionally been transparent in portraying the real experiences Kahan has faced. Feng said, “I feel like it kind of just shows a lot of the struggles that he’s gone through, and [the album] kind of just tells the story of this time period in his life.”
Some say that Kahan’s new album gets better with each listen, making it more enjoyable. Sokoll said, “I think as I’ve listened to it more and more, I’ve liked it more and more. I listened to it when my husband and I were on a road trip, so we were able to listen to the whole thing through. It was cool, because we got to experience it all at once.”
What makes Kahan’s music even more special is the interpersonal connections it creates. Sokoll said, “Something that’s so special about his music that I find as an adult is that people across all generations like him. I saw him at the Xfinity Center in September of 2024, and it was an incredible concert. But what was even more special was that there were tons of Nobles kids there, and I ran into all of them, and seeing how much the students here connect with his music is really cool.”
With widespread admiration for his music, his message, and his character, Noah Kahan has inspired strong connections among fans, transparency about mental health, and good vibes.
