Japan-born, Canada-raised artist Justin Maki shares “Wasting Time,” a slow-groove R&B ballad that transforms uncertainty into devotion. Hopeful and hypnotic, the track blends soulful textures with alternative pop sensibilities, exploring the idea that time spent with the right person can never truly be wasted. The latest single from his upcoming album, Technicolor Dreams, is set to be released on June 26th, 2026.
The song began during a winter 2023 writing session between Maki and his longtime friend/collaborator Josh Ellison. What started as a casual studio hang quickly turned into something more focused once a novel guitar riff sparked momentum in the room. “I was fiddling around with some R&B chords, and after a while it morphed into this concrete riff,” Maki recalls. “Josh and I quickly built a complementary production around it, and suddenly this dark, slow-groove R&B track started to take shape.”
At first, the song leaned toward self-doubt. As a full-time musician constantly on the road and living outside conventional routines, Maki imagined warning a potential partner away from the unpredictability of his lifestyle. “The original idea was me telling someone not to waste time on me,” he explains. “Being a musician means weird hours, lots of travel, and a life that isn’t always stable or traditional.”
That perspective shifted later when Maki revisited the song in the studio with JUNO Award-winning production duo VAŪLTS (David Mohacsi and Maïa Davies). Together, they reframed its meaning into something far more hopeful: the idea that time spent together, even aimlessly, can be deeply meaningful.
Built around a pulsing groove and layered vocals, “Wasting Time” carries a dreamy, almost weightless energy. One of its most distinctive moments arrives in the refrain, where a high-octave vocal line floats above Maki’s lead. “I was actually resistant to it at first,” he admits. “But after sitting with it, I realized it really assists with the song’s unique fingerprint.”
For Maki, the finished track evokes a sense of calm and surrender. “It feels like swaying on a comfy hammock in the dark under the stars,” he says. “I just think it feels good… really damn good.”
