Built slow, meant to last
Moody, melodic, memorable
Keeping the SLOW legacy for Stian. Still here. Still slow.
ABOUT SLOW
SLOW started as Me & Stian.
Stian left us on September 6, 2025. I’m still here — still SLOW. Our slowness was legendary (not always by design). We acted like time was infinite; turns out it isn’t, so the songs are getting their turn.
Sometimes the songs started with Stian throwing a pile of quick “finishes” at me—bad drums, braver ideas, on purpose. I’d sift, strip to acoustic, rearrange, and chase the melody that stuck. That was the dance: his flood, my sieve. It made more good songs than we’ll ever admit.
We didn’t so much form SLOW as grow into it. Years of late nights turned ideas into drafts and drafts into songs that asked to be finished. Every time we met, something moved forward — a tighter arrangement, a clearer lyric, or a riff that finally showed where it wanted to go. In 2017 we released “Monster.” There was some blog love, a few radio spots, and talk of an EP that almost happened and then didn’t. Life moved. The lesson wasn’t to go faster; it was to protect the work and finish it properly.
Where we are now. SLOW is still SLOW — on purpose. I’m finishing the catalogue one piece at a time and releasing each song on its own terms. “NowFade” is mastered and up next. After that comes a run of finished tracks that mostly need a fresher mix/master. A few favorites will get new vocals (those late-night takes were - erm “late-night” takes...) Some songs want small arrangement tweaks. And there’s a pile of leftovers that will grow into new SLOW.
For Stian — time well spent, songs well kept.
In memory of Stian Vilming - (02.03.1962 - 06.09.2025)
The work was never just mine or his. The magic lived in the space between us — the shared patience, the longer calls sparked by hundreds of short mails (“don’t let the crash go bang before the bridge,” “turn up my vocals — haha”), the tiny choices that turned into songs. I’ll keep releasing them, not to prove a point, but because what we made together deserves daylight. We used to joke we were “the best out there that isn’t out there.” Maybe that’s true, maybe not. What is true: the songs don’t blink. What we built together holds up, and you’ll hear it one by one.
Friend had a first life back when Obama and MySpace gave hope — we passed it around and called it “out.” About seven years ago we re-recorded it: tuned down, softer, more acoustic. We’ve been tweaking it ever since — typical SLOW fashion, never quite 100% satisfied — so it never got released. (Yes, the player still says Mixdown and Kevin Thon — on brand. It’s all SLOW.)
It wasn’t written for memorials — and it wasn’t even about real lost love. I wrote it ages ago just to carry a line I liked; the verses are slightly generic, overcooked and sentimental. The refrain — “Where are you, my friend…” — is the part that lasts.
For all those that slipped away — friends, memories, loved ones (Shonene!) , missed turns.
Hvil i fred, gamle ørn!
One of Stian’s favourite songs was “Starless” by King Crimson. He wanted it played at his funeral. It didn’t happen, so I´m stamping it here—just as he asked.
Taster Mix
While I finish the next releases, here’s a short mix—ten quick snippets from finished tracks and works-in-progress.
Time well spent, songs well kept.
See you at the next one.
Who we are
Kevin Thon — Vovals, guitars, melodies, arrangements, lyrics
Stian Vilming (02.03.1962 - 06.09.2025) Bass, guitars, arrangements, mixing/mastering
Friends who have joined in
Bettina Flater — Guitarist/Vocalist - Kevin´s spouse and mother to their two boys. Backing vocals on Friend
Lars Welle — Heavy Metal Drummer - Drums on Last-one
Steven Thon — Kevin Brother - lyrics on Monster, Angel Face, Lonely Roads, Friend
Bjørge Eide Martinsen - Drum prog on Nowfade / Old Times
Sondre Vilming (Stian’s Son) Drum suggestions Old Times