APR 08
THE WRECKS INSIDE: FROM ISOLATION TO INSPIRATION
BY LUNA CARDOSO
In a recent press conference hosted by 1824°, The Wrecks gave a raw and personal look into making their highly anticipated album, INSIDE. Reflecting on the creative process, the band revealed that the album took two years to finish, with the first year being particularly difficult. The title INSIDE, was chosen to reflect the album's introspective nature, as it delves into the band's personal struggles and self-discover. "I had nothing to say," frontman Nick Anderson confessed. "After our last album, Sonder, which was just about a breakup with someone who doesnt seem to understand that other people exist, that was cathartic, and I got a lot of things off my chest. But then after that, there wasn't much left in the tank as far as perspective."
Following the release of Sonder, Anderson felt artistically drained. As he explore artists with different perspectives, he began to question the worth of his point of view, which led to a prolonged period of creative inertia: "I was getting into all of these artists that I felt had a really interesting point of view, and suddenly I didn't think that mine was all that interesting," he expressed. Despite a natural need to create, Anderson discovered himself creating music without a message—a problematic paradox for someone who values lyrics above all else. "For me, lyrics come first, so it doesn't matter how cool the instrumentals or melodies are when I'm writing if I don't have a meaning or something real attached to it. I don't know what to do with it and can't get anywhere with it."
For a year, he struggled to break out of this cycle. Rather than adopting better habits or structured routines, he continued to push himself, unsuccessfully chasing inspiration. "Instead of maybe implementing a steady routine or getting out or maybe eating better or sleeping better, I just kept going. I just kept trying. It just kept not working until it did." It wasn't until he genuinely accepted the isolation and introspective chaos that followed that INSIDE began to come out. The record eventually became a study in self-exploration—a deep dive into the effects of prolonged solitude, self-analysis, and the distortions that might result from excessive introspection. This personal growth journey is something many of us can relate to. "I suddenly had a perspective and a point of view that was just based on the lack of that for a year or so, and then the lyrics started pouring in."
Conceptually, INSIDE represents the feeling of being locked away for so long that the outside world begins to seep through the crevices as if nature refuses to be overlooked. Anderson portrayed this with images of greenery creeping into the cracks. "The record is about being locked away for so long that the outside world eventually starts growing in through the cracks in the walls because Mother Nature is trying to set the score even or something," he said. "Like you could spend so much time indoors that it feels like foliage starts creeping in through the cracks and almost reaching out."
This visual represents the growing presence of the outside world and the band, friends, and family pushing him to step outside and break free from his self-imposed isolation. "There's artwork alluding to hands reaching through blinds, which represents the band and friends and family trying to be like, 'This thing that you're doing is stuff that we want you to do, and it's great, but maybe get some vitamin D."
In a comical yet heartbreaking finale, Anderson revealed that, in response to their concerns, he did take action—he took vitamin D pills and continued to work on the record. This scene captures the spirit of INSIDE: an extraordinarily intimate exploration of isolation, self-discovery, and the sometimes challenging process of regaining perspective.
