Philadelphia-based Americana project The Hill has released a new single, “Accidental Love”, now available on all digital platforms in South Africa. The track arrives shortly after the release of the Noble Station album, which dropped in late 2025 and has since gained growing traction with South African radio audiences.
“Accidental Love” was recorded during the Noble Station sessions and produced by Mike “Slo-Mo” Brenner, who also contributes lap steel guitar and bass on the track. According to The Hill founder Jon Kowit, the single features the same circle of respected indie rock musicians who helped shape the album’s warm, textured sound.
Brenner, whose recent production work on Susan Werner’s Halfway to Houston earned the Folk Alliance’s Best Folk Album of 2024 accolade, is currently touring the United States with Magnolia & Johnson Electric Co., playing to sold-out venues.
“We were fortunate with the timing,” says Kowit. “We managed to complete the track before Mike went out on tour, and we also brought in John Anthony from Solas and The Brothers McMullen to engineer the single. It’s a deeply personal, slightly autobiographical song.”
The Hill is built around the songwriting of Kowit, who spent years working behind the scenes in indie music through Brooklyn-based Ascend Records before stepping forward as a recording artist in his own right.
The project’s debut album, Get In Line, released in 2024, quickly developed a dedicated following and led to features such as a WXPN Spotlight Artist selection, a 45-minute interview on WWUH’s Modern Twang, and steady radio airplay across the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa. The follow-up album, Noble Station, has expanded that reach, earning even stronger radio support in South Africa.
Describing the project’s sound, The Big Takeover’s Dave Franklin notes its “delicate Americana textures, country pedal steel tones, and intimate, ballad-driven songwriting,” highlighting its drifting atmospheres and subtle rhythmic pulse.
Kowit cites the influence of classic Laurel Canyon songwriters and traditional country music, while emphasising that his approach remains personal rather than nostalgic. “I’m not trying to sound like anyone,” he explains. “But the songs are rooted in music from another era that still feels honest and timeless.”
More info about The Hill
The Hill is an Americana project founded by singer-songwriter Jon Kowit, an indie label partner and former record store employee. After reconnecting with renowned steel guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Mike “Slo-Mo” Brenner – known for his work with Jason Molina, Wild Pink, Marah, and Susan Werner – what began as a planned single evolved into a full creative partnership.
This collaboration resulted in the 12-track debut album Get In Line, released in April 2024, followed by Noble Station in September 2025, marking a steady and compelling rise for The Hill on the international Americana scene.
Watch this space for updates in the Music News category on SA Music Zone.
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