Tacoma Folk-Rocker Kye Alfred Hillig Takes The Long Way Home With Advance Single “On Small Wings”
Over the last decade, Hillig has quietly built one of the Pacific Northwest’s most distinctive songbooks, earning praise for emotionally honest songwriting that embraces hard truths rather than easy answers. The former Destruction Island and Pistol For A Paycheck songwriter has spent years refining a sound rooted in vulnerability, finding beauty in life’s rougher edges through thoughtful storytelling and warm, understated arrangements.
His latest single, “On Small Wings,” may be his most hopeful work yet. Drawing from the weathered grace of The Jayhawks, the humanity of Damien Jurado, and the melodic warmth of Wilco, while channeling the indie-folk spirit of artists like Kevin Morby and The Shins, the song balances reflection with optimism, offering a quietly powerful reminder that hope can emerge from even the most uncertain moments.
Tacoma songwriter Kye Alfred Hillig returns with “On Small Wings,” the first single from his upcoming album Widowmaker Express, due August 5. Written as a reflection on love, vulnerability, and patience, the song pushes back against the idea that meaningful connection happens instantly. Instead, Hillig explores the quieter reality that the most important relationships are built over time through trust, perseverance, and a willingness to stay open despite disappointment. Rooted in his trademark emotional honesty, “On Small Wings” offers a hopeful reminder that the things worth having rarely come easy.
Like much of Hillig’s work, the single is deeply tied to the Tacoma landscape that shaped him, drawing inspiration from the city’s weathered waterfront and the everyday resilience of the people who call it home. Recorded at Harmann Audio Labs with longtime friend and producer Daniel G. Harmann, the track serves as the first look at Widowmaker Express, a record born from personal upheaval and what Hillig describes as “a wrestling match with God.” While the album grapples with grief, faith, and survival, “On Small Wings” points toward something equally important at its center: hard-won hope.
Make sure you check out “On Small Wings” on YouTube below and over on Spotify!
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