There’s something beautifully timeless about the way Canadian singer-songwriter Kaleb Hikele approaches music — every note feels lived-in, every lyric shaped by years of heart, craft, and quiet devotion. His new single “Slowly” is no exception. Marking the debut of his upcoming fifth solo and thirteenth independent studio album Storytelling, the song stands as one of his most personal works to date — a slow-burning love letter wrapped in lush folk-rock warmth and emotional honesty.
Written back in 2016, “Slowly” was born in the moment Kaleb fell in love. Unlike the countless love songs he’d penned before, this one felt different — assured, vulnerable, and destined. The refrain, “Slowly moving one side to the other, I go,” reads like a prophecy of a love that would withstand time. Nearly a decade later, that story has unfolded beautifully; the song he wrote for Jess now echoes through the home they share in Toronto, alongside their dog Bear and the independent studio where his musical world comes to life.
Recorded in the iconic Catherine North Studios — a converted church in Hamilton — “Slowly” captures the intimacy of solitude. Over two intense days, Kaleb played every instrument himself, from guitar to drums to piano, channeling the full scope of his artistry. The track’s organic production feels both nostalgic and cinematic, marrying his folk-rock roots with touches of soul and jazz-inspired phrasing. It’s a sonic reflection of the Storytelling album’s essence: deeply human, spiritually reflective, and rooted in life’s simplest yet most defining moments.
Kaleb Hikele’s ability to connect emotion with craft has long defined his career. From early beginnings as The Sun Harmonic to touring Ontario and sharing stages with Devan (Wild Rivers), Julian Taylor, and Royal Wood, he’s built an impressive catalog of over a dozen albums — many celebrated on Netflix, CBC Radio, SiriusXM, and by Canada’s Walk of Fame. But “Slowly” feels like something more — a turning point where his songwriting becomes an open diary, raw and resonant.
This isn’t just a song about falling in love; it’s about the quiet miracle of staying in love — the slow, steady rhythm of two lives intertwining and evolving.
‘Slowly’ is a tender, full-hearted love song that captures the quiet power of devotion with stunning emotional depth
