The sweet sounds of indie-rock are unparalleled, and four-piece The Wrecks are crashing back onto the scene to prove it. With their sophomore album Sonder cruising towards a June release and promising to cause a stir in the indie scene, listeners will be quick to remember why the LA-based collection has been awarded some 100 million streams during their time together. With the release of “Where Are You Now” introducing us to their new album with ease, it is safe to say that The Wrecks are out to take 2022 by storm.

“This record feels more ambitious, aggressive and has a totally different tone than the first record,” explains Nick A of the band when discussing the album. “We are excited to do a full US tour with an album out. We are kind of touring two albums at once since we couldn’t tour the first record due to the pandemic.”

Ahead of the release of Sonder, The Wrecks’ Nick A took some time to sit down with Wonderland and talk the emotional highs and lows the band has experienced over the last year, the cathartic creation process behind the album and a future filled with tours. Head below to enjoy the interview…

Hey guys! How are you? How has this past year been for you?
It was a very difficult year getting over a breakup, and among the members of our band, we all experienced some trials and tribulations in our personal life. From that came an album that we are very excited about and a tour that will stand to be our biggest adventure yet. So currently, morale is high.

The pandemic was hard for everyone, how did it affect your creativity?
At first, it was awesome since I had so much time to work on music and become a hermit in my studio. But then it got lonely and felt difficult to feel inspired. I wrote a lot more music once things started going back to normal because I started feeling normal again.

Let’s start in the beginning, how did you all first meet? What sparked the interest?
I met our bassist Aaron Kelly on Facebook when I was like 15 because he was really supportive of the music that I was posting. And then we met the other two missing members in LA, our drummer Billy Nally and our guitarist Nick “Schmizz” Schmidt in 2017. And now we’re The Wrecks.

When making music, how do you go about collaborating all your influences?
They are just kind of deeply ingrained. When I’m lacking inspiration, I listen to music and go to the studio a few days later, carrying in what those songs made me feel. They’re like a sixth sense. It’s not something we do consciously.

And now you’re about to drop your sophomore album, Sonder, what do you think is the main difference between this album and your debut?
This record feels more ambitious and aggressive and it has a totally different tone than the first record. We are excited to do a full US tour with an album out. We are kind of touring two albums at once since we couldn’t tour the first record due to the pandemic.

Going into it, what was your mindset, did you layout any goals you wanted to achieve?
Yeah, I just wanted to get some stuff off of my chest. I was hopeful that working on the record would help me process my breakup, and would be a way to compartmentalise this into something I can hear back.

What do you hope people take away from it?
I tend not to focus on what people might take away from it because everyone’s relationship with music is different. My relationship is cathartic and therapeutic and allows me to tap into emotions that I typically put away. If other people can relate to that or take away something from that through the record, then that’s great.

Who would you say inspires you?
The fact that I can listen to something I made is the most inspiring thing for me. I have a sense of pride in that and it always feels like magic. To know every day I can create something else and learn how to create new things is very inspiring and motivating for me.

What is next for you guys? What are you most excited for?
The record is coming out and the Better Than Ever tour is this summer. It’s our biggest headline tour to date, and we are looking forward to selling out big rooms. We want to go on another US tour this fall and to the UK next year if someone will have us.