Rock/Review Highet - Time is What I'm Wasting

Highet is the father-son songwriting duo of Nikolas and Thomas Erl, who collaborate to write and produce contemporary songs that they record with professional local session musicians in Vancouver, Canada. The band’s name originates from “Highet Creek,” a long, winding creek deep in the northern Yukon wilderness, where their ancestors operated a placer mine for decades, searching for gold. The authentic, guitar-centric sound of Highet’s music is inspired by artists such as Dire Straits, The Church, and Crowded House.

With their third single, “Time is What I’m Wasting,” emerging duo Highet embrace a softer, more contemplative side of their artistry — a striking shift from the punchy rock urgency of their previous release “Your Eyes Don’t See.” Here, the band trades distortion and drive for warmth and weightlessness, crafting a slow-burning ballad that feels like drifting into a daydream you don’t want to leave.

Built around a hypnotic, almost meditative rhythm, the song moves with an unhurried confidence, mirroring its central theme of patience — waiting for the right person, the right moment, the right connection. Highet lean into that emotional stillness with understated but expressive vocals, delivering lines that are tender without tipping into sentimentality. The performance feels lived-in, intimate, and honest.

What truly elevates the track is the delicate interplay of guitars: gentle harmonics, layered tones, and subtle textures that shimmer without overwhelming the mix. The instrumentation blooms gradually, giving the listener space to settle into the atmosphere before unveiling its richer emotional colors. It’s a “chill” vibe, as the duo describes it, but one wrapped in intentionality and crafted with sophistication.

“Time is What I’m Wasting” shows Highet expanding their sonic palette with conviction. Rather than staying confined to one lane, they’re illustrating their range — from high-energy rock to a tranquil, heart-forward sound that hits just as deeply. This single isn’t simply a pause between louder moments; it’s a quiet revelation of what the duo can do when they let the music breathe.