Self-proclaimed cottage core rockstar Kari Lyn unveils “Killing Time (the Fish Song),” a hopeful, theatrical folk-country rocker that marks the beginning of a brand new era. The first single from an upcoming six-song EP, the track embraces spontaneity, adventure, and the joy found in life’s in-between moments. Equal parts playful and reflective, “Killing Time (the Fish Song)” feels like driving into the sunset with the windows down; cinematic, pulsing, full of possibility.
The song was written during a summer spent back in Kari Lyn’s hometown of North Rustico, PEI, where she challenged herself to write as much as possible while soaking in the fresh air, familiar landscapes, and temporary freedom from day-to-day work. “I believe I finished 11 songs that summer that I was willing to share,” she explains. “Killing Time (the Fish Song)” was one of them. Being home stirred deeper reflection too. “I was thinking about how proud little Kari Lyn would be and how I’ve become someone she would have looked up to.”
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Though initially written as a playful experiment with chord progressions and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, the song quickly took on a life of its own. After performing it casually for friends, fans, and at a few live shows, one thing became clear: people wanted “the Fish Song.” “They’ve been asking for it for almost two years now,” Kari Lyn says.
At its core, “Killing Time (the Fish Song)” is about embracing the moments that quietly shape who we become. “Life is all about the moments in between,” Kari Lyn explains. “The moments we are ‘Killing Time’ are what make us who we become.” That idea is woven throughout the song’s freewheeling spirit, capturing both the rush of adventure and the clarity that often arrives when you least expect it.
The track’s production leans fully into that sense of fun. Built around a descending chorus progression that became the song’s anchor, “Killing Time (the Fish Song)” moves with full-band energy, anthemic momentum, and a touch of mischievous theatricality. One of the standout additions came just two days before entering the studio, when Kari Lyn unexpectedly recruited a fiddle player she ran into at an afterparty. “A few beers deep, I asked if she was available that Thursday and wanted to hop on the song,” Kari Lyn laughs. “She agreed and now we have a killer fiddle part.”
The accompanying lyric video ties Kari Lyn’s past and present together. Using footage shot on her video camera during last summer’s Home tour, the visuals trace an 18-show run across the East Coast with her sister. “We were having fun, killing time and making waves,” she says. It’s a fitting bridge between the introspective tone of her last chapter and the more playful, unguarded energy of this one.