B-Side Guys

In an era where productivity has become a quasi-religious pursuit, the simple act of doing nothing has acquired a transgressive quality. Amsterdam-based neo-soul artist Noa Lauryn confronts this paradox head-on with “Wasting Time,” a subversive anthem that transforms idleness from vice to virtue.

Released as the focus track from her EP ‘Always On Time’ (Vokall Records), “Wasting Time” operates as both personal manifesto and societal critique. Having grappled with burnout herself, Lauryn approaches the concept of deliberate inactivity not as indulgence but as preservation—a necessary counterbalance to the relentless acceleration that characterizes contemporary existence. What distinguishes her perspective is how she reframes the narrative: those seemingly unproductive moments aren’t “wasted” at all, but rather invested in the increasingly scarce currency of presence.

Musically, Lauryn draws from a rich genealogy of neo-soul pioneers while establishing her own distinctive voice. The daughter of musicians (her father, Manuel Hugas, performed with Liquid Spirits), she absorbed the sonic vocabulary of D’Angelo, Jazmin Sullivan, and Anderson Paak from an early age. This musical heritage manifests in her arrangements, which balance acoustic intimacy with electronic textures, creating a soundscape that feels simultaneously nostalgic and forward-looking.

What separates Lauryn from contemporaries exploring similar thematic territory is her philosophical background. Having studied Philosophy before committing fully to music, she brings an analytical depth to her exploration of time as both concept and lived experience. Rather than offering simple platitudes about “living in the moment,” she examines the structural and cultural forces that manufacture our collective hurry sickness.

This nuanced approach has garnered her significant recognition since her 2021 debut, including a “Best Talent” nomination in the Sublime Awards and collaborations with saxophone legend Candy Dulfer. Her debut album ‘coin collection’ has accumulated over 7 million streams, suggesting that her message resonates well beyond Amsterdam’s borders.

Contextualizing “Wasting Time” within her broader EP reveals Lauryn’s multifaceted examination of temporal pressures. From the title track’s tongue-in-cheek exploration of chronic lateness to “Please Don’t Make Me Choose,” which confronts the false dichotomy between career and family imposed on women, Lauryn consistently challenges normative assumptions about how we should allocate our hours and days.

As her upcoming release tour with her band The Incredibles takes her from Hilversum to London, Lauryn offers not just music but a methodology—a roadmap for reclaiming your calendar from the tyranny of perpetual motion, one deliberately wasted moment at a time.