Hayden Everett’s “Killer Whale” is the kind of indie-folk track that will live rent-free in your head. It’s soothing, gentle, and quietly confident, built on an acoustic guitar that feels like it’s been right there with you for years. Everett’s voice does most of the heavy lifting, and he makes it look easy, gliding through the melody with a sweet, mellow tone that stays expressive and consistent.
The song’s real charm is how it progresses. It starts small, then gradually lets in more light as the strings come in and the arrangement opens up. Nothing is rushed, nothing is dragged, and the pacing stays steady even as the track shifts from hushed to subtly upbeat. It’s a polished production, but it still feels human, like you can hear the fingers on the strings and the breath between lines.
Lyrically, “Killer Whale” is Everett leaning fully into the rush of early love, specifically that first-week energy where everything feels unreal and you’re ready to drop your schedule, your plans, and maybe your entire personality for one person. It’s a love song, but it’s not trying to impress anyone. The ending is especially strong, slowing down into a close-up moment that lands on the line “I will love you, but I just can’t love you slowly.” It’s direct, a little reckless, and very hard to forget once you hear it.
“Killer Whale” follows the recent single “Angela,” the first taste of Everett’s upcoming debut album “So The Sun Can Pour,” arriving in April. With the album mixed by Tucker Martine and more singles on the way, Everett is clearly building a release that’s meant to unfold over time, not just spike for a week.
Everett is a Seattle-based indie-folk songwriter with jazz-trained chops, a love for expansive production, and a habit of writing songs while backpacking solo in the woods. He’s already crossed 50 million streams, released the “Friends & Family” EP in 2025, and toured with acts like The Paper Kites and Hazlett. If “Killer Whale” is any indication, “So The Sun Can Pour” is going to be the kind of debut album people keep returning to.