How Two Producers and One Smart Decision Shaped Noah Kahan's The Great Divide

Noah Kahan’s The Great Divide didn’t come together in one straight line. He worked with Aaron Dessner and Gabe Simon on separate tracks, then made the call to bring both producers together at Dessner’s Long Pond studio last spring. That decision, according to Dessner, was what pulled the album into focus. The pair first met at the 2024 Grammys, and their Long Pond sessions with Kahan produced“Downfall,”“A Few of Your Own,”and“Lighthouse.”

The pressure was real. Stick Season took three years to peak, so following it up meant living in a very long shadow. Simon says the producer pairing gave Kahan the push he needed after a frustrating phase of writing with outside collaborators. And the album’s whole perspective shifted along the way. Stick Season was rooted in a place. The Great Divide is rooted in people. Simon described it as being about culture, humanity, and society as a whole.

With 21 songs including the deluxe edition and a stack of darker material that didn’t make the final cut, there’s a lot to dig into. The record is the cover story of Billboard’s Oct. 3, 2026 issue.

Which track off The Great Divide has hit you hardest so far? Tell us in the comments.