Noah Kahan and corook, both TikTok sensations, released new tracks on January 30. Kahan's 'The Great Divide' topped Spotify charts in the US, while corook's 'Scooby' quickly gained popularity. The releases highlight their returns to the spotlight amid viral anticipation.
On January 30, Noah Kahan released 'The Great Divide,' the lead single from his fourth studio album of the same name, marking his first solo comeback after nearly three years. Co-written and produced by Gabe Simon, the song was recorded at Guildford Sound Studio in Vermont. It debuted at No. 1 on Spotify's Top Songs in the USA and No. 3 globally, achieving Kahan's highest streaming launch. The track had been previewed live during his Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever) Tour in April 2024, building demand. In mid-January 2026, Kahan shared a 36-second TikTok snippet, and on January 20, he announced the single's release and the album's arrival on April 24 via Instagram, stating, “anything great is worth the wait.” Two days later, the music video premiered during a Grammy Awards commercial break.
Kahan described the song's inspiration in an iHeart Radio interview with Sarah Tate: “A lot of my life recently has been realizing the things I wish I could have said to people and the things I wish I could have done differently. This song is kind of just an expansion of that.” Themes include mental health, friendship, distance, and regret.
Simultaneously, corook released 'Scooby,' produced by James Allan, which became their most popular track. It follows their 2023 TikTok viral hit 'if i were a fish,' a self-acceptance anthem that inspired a children's book co-written with partner Olivia Barton. The 'Scooby' teaser garnered millions of views, with comparisons to comedian Bo Burnham for its witty cultural critique. Drawing from the US political climate, corook told Melodic Magazine, “think it is an incredibly weird time to be the level of artist that [they are]. Like somebody that obviously has a fan base but also can’t avoid the ease of interacting with the internet.” They noted creating internet boundaries for better interactions, despite the urge to speak out. Unlike Kahan's single, 'Scooby' is not tied to an upcoming project.
