Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-05-13
Creative Partners of Highway Wolf: Amber Morris, Mick Hellman, and Tal Morris. Photo Credits: Richlynn Group
Highway Wolf started the way a lot of meaningful musical projects do: with a shared love of the songs that shaped them, a creative spark between collaborators, and the instinct to see where the road might lead. What began through reimagined covers and a growing connection to classic rock storytelling has steadily evolved into something distinctly their own.
Now, with the release of their first original song and their debut comic book expanding the project’s world beyond the music, Highway Wolf is carving out a lane that blends sound, narrative, and visual storytelling into one larger experience. There’s a sense of momentum behind the project, but also curiosity, an openness to discovery that continues to shape where it goes next.
We caught up with Highway Wolf to talk about the origins of the band, the process behind releasing their first original music, and how the project continues to evolve with every new release.
Grateful Web: Tell us how Highway Wolf came to be. What inspired you to reimagine classic hits in your own style?
Highway Wolf: There was a track called “Persuasion” by Richard and Teddy Thompson performed as a father-son duet. The song was written by Richard Thompson, Peter Filleul, and Tim Finn, and released as a single in 1993. Mick brought this song into his voice lesson with Amber. Tal decided to produce the track as a Christmas gift for Mick. We were in the thick of the pandemic. Mick says, “When Amber joined in, the whole thing took off.” Our collective creative interests were piqued, and we couldn’t stop. Who knew that was to be the beginning of Highway Wolf.
GW: Your first original single, “No Time For Time,” is one of six songs on your upcoming EP. What was the inspiration for this song?
Highway Wolf: “Never really is goodbye,” the chorus lyrics from our original single, “No Time For Time,” were words to soothe a dying friend who was losing his battle with cancer. Amber had been consoling her sister, who had the painful task of saying goodbye to their cherished friend with only days left to live. This brought up the discussion: how do you say goodbye? ...and is it “goodbye”? or is it “see you some other time, on some other plane..”
This took us down the road of time as a fluid concept - classic tunes by Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. Tal had always heard a similar quality in Mick’s vocals to Roger Waters’; we ran with that.
GW: How did creating your first original song as a group change things for you, compared to when you were just starting out creating covers?
Highway Wolf: Transformational. It was a big step that meant a lot to us, and while it gave us a new level of freedom, it also held a high level of responsibility and accountability. Measuring up to the pedigree and iconic status of the cherished classics we had been re-imagining was definitely a high bar. It was also freeing to be without concern for what the original artist might think about the versions of their songs we were re-interpreting. We could take risks and go where we wanted without limitations, while still bringing elements of the classic 70s style sounds of Pink Floyd, open spaces, and Zeppelin feel. There is a lot of power in the creative flow that the three of us share. Our ideas are a faucet.
GW: Can listeners expect another original song from Highway Wolf in the future?
Highway Wolf: Yes! While we already have original song ideas in the works for this project, we still enjoy the reinterpretation process and will continue that as well. It’s hard to say what is more fun, the original songs or the re-imagined classics. Both offer a creative challenge that lights up our imaginations, so we are in it for whatever musical opportunity we can chase down.
GW: Beyond the music, Highway Wolf launched their debut comic book, Highway Wolf Comics #1. Can you tell us more about this project and what inspired your group to expand into the visual arts and storytelling?
Highway Wolf: The Call of the Wild was the original inspiration—the hero's journey through the lens of our characters, The Wolf, Purdie, and The Man.
On a road trip, we were inspired by the sunlight dancing through the trees and forests as we drove through Oregon. There was a lot of drama in the changing terrains. We imagined Purdie and the Man out for a drive, with Purdie jumping out of the car for an adventure into the wild, where he comes in contact with the Highway Wolf, who mentors him, and by the time the man finds Purdie, he is meditating on a tree stump, having reached enlightenment.
In the concept, there is always a pull between The Man, The Wolf, and Purdie, constituting 3 parts of the human spirit. (The creative, the sensitive, and the durable human.)
The duality of civilization vs. the wild. The songs on Purdie’s Dream mirror the hero's journey, and the comic book ties it all together. (“In the City” - speaks to following the Call of the Wild as Purdie and Wolf look out over the city—and “Silver Springs” speaks to the need for connection and love.)
GW: Highway Wolf also channels its energy into a purpose with a monthly spotlight to feature wolf and wildlife organizations. Can you tell us more about why you launched the Howling For A Cause series and what it means to you?
Highway Wolf: With the project launched and rolling along, our larger team began asking questions and learning about the wolf sanctuaries. Before long, we were inspired by these trailblazing nonprofit organizations that were saving wolves and educating communities on how we can coexist and better understand the needs of these majestic creatures. We really wanted to partner with these organizations to help spread awareness.
The name “Highway Wolf” also carries a theme: “Highway” (representing civilization) and “Wolf” (representing the Wild) establishes a boundary between Civilization and the Wild. These wonderful organizations are invested in addressing the problems that come when civilization and the wild are at odds. This becomes powerful knowledge to shine a spotlight on, and we are proud to partner with these organizations.
GW: You have a new single coming out on Friday, May 15. Can you tell us about Highway Wolf’s version of Steve Miller Band’s “Jet Airliner”?
Highway Wolf: Mick and Amber were excited to do the Paul Pena version of the song, which we had played in a rock setting, but Tal heard it as bringing together influences of Bluegrass and Country. In his mind, he saw people line dancing. Hopefully, we will get listeners up and dancing with this one; it is full of surprises, including some beautiful backgrounds sung by two of Mick’s daughters.
From their soulful reimaginings of classic rock to their first original work, Highway Wolf invites listeners into something deeply felt and carefully crafted. Stream their original single "No Time For Time" and keep an ear out for their cover of Paul Pena's "Jet Airliner," dropping May 15. You can also pick up a copy of Highway Wolf Comics #1 to dive deeper into the world of The Wolf, Purdie, and The Man. Follow along with Howling For A Cause to discover the wolf and wildlife organizations they're championing. With Lone, Never Alone, on the horizon and a creativity that shows no signs of slowing down, Highway Wolf is jetting off.
