It is truly an honor to sit down with Sean Wrekless and Myrts Son to discuss the release of Interstate Soul 2, a project that feels much deeper than music alone. In a time where albums are often rushed, shortened, and created for quick moments, these two artists delivered something intentional. Every track on this album carries emotion, experience, growth, and authenticity, making it clear that this was created from a genuine place rather than simply following trends.
From the creative process to the risks of dropping a 19-track album in today’s climate, both artists kept it completely real during this conversation. It was a pleasure to hear them break down the story behind Interstate Soul 2 and give insight into the passion, patience, and soul that built this project.
Congratulations on the release, how are you both feeling now that the album is finally out in the world?
Sean Wrekless: For me personally I feel very happy and proud and I feel like I made something magical. I want the fans to experience this same feeling at the same time. It wouldn’t feel right for me to think I made something special and then keep it on the shelf for a year or two.
Myrts Son: I feel excited as hell that it’s finally out. These are thoughts and feelings I sat on for almost 2 years. So to finally share it is special. Also, as I reflect on the progression of the album, how it was built piece by piece, and to see it in its entirety, it’s like a breath of fresh air.
For people hearing your album for the first time, how would y’all introduce it in your own words?
Sean Wrekless: 1 MC and 1 producer teaming up to make an album straight from the soul.
Myrts Son: It’s definitely from the soul like Sean said. I would introduce it as a beautiful body of work by an emcee and producer, curated to feed your mind, body, and soul. An album not just to be heard, but felt.
What was the creative process like while making the album together?
Sean Wrekless: To me the creative process was life experiences. Every track on the album is something we both experienced.
Myrts Son: Me and Sean have so much in common. It was like a conversation throughout the whole process. Sean would make the beat, I’d respond with my rhymes, and then he would add his final thoughts by adding more instrumentation, breaks in the beat, features, or whatever he felt. It was a continuous back and forth.
Did y’all approach this album differently from your last project?
Sean Wrekless: It’s been 5 years since our last project (Interstate Soul 1). Back then I was basically just a beat maker. I would send out the beat and wait to see what he came up with. For this project I graduated into being a hands-on producer, involved with the concepts, the direction, and every aspect of each track.
Myrts Son: Like Sean said, it’s been 5 years since the first Interstate Soul. We both have grown in our lanes so much. This time I was more hands-off. I just wrote the rhymes and let Sean do the rest. He’d send back what he had done, and I’d give my thoughts, and we would go from there. It felt great not to do all the engineering this time around for sure. I’m truly grateful for the process. It taught me how to let go and let things happen as they should.
Which song do you both think fans will connect with the most?
Sean Wrekless: The intro track “A Better Day.” This track is a reprise version. The original version was on my Wrektify 3 album. That album was poorly promoted on my part because I was basically falling back from music and wanted to release it and be done with music as a whole. I loved the song so much, so when we started working on our album I asked him if we could make a different version of the record and add it to Interstate Soul 2. The song is so relatable to people, it was only right to make it the opening track.
Myrts Son: I would say “Liberation” and “Something Got a Hold on Me.” I hear people speak about the frustrations in their lives often while wanting to do better for themselves and their family. Sometimes it’s a constant battle between where you are and where you’re trying to go. I feel like these songs would resonate with people the most.
Working together creatively can be challenging at times, were there any disagreements or difficult moments during the making of the album, and how did the two of you work through them?
Sean Wrekless: Honestly there were no challenges, and if we had any disagreements we would meet halfway and come up with the best solution.
Myrts Son: There weren’t any disagreements that we couldn’t meet in the middle about. For example, I wrote to “Something Got a Hold on Me,” and Sean had an idea he felt was better for the hook. I really liked what I had for the hook, so we went with his idea, which turned out to be the best solution. But he still added my hook at the end of the second verse. We both were extremely satisfied.
During the recording process, were there any other musicians, producers, or collaborators who played a big role in shaping the album?
Sean Wrekless: Like I mentioned before, I was just a beat maker on the first album. On this album I had a few musicians, The Wrekless Band, come through and play instruments on 6 tracks. A bass line here, a chord there, trumpet, congas, even a flute. Anything that came to mind. I would tell them what I wanted but still give them the green light to be creative and play freely. They all played important roles to me.
Myrts Son: My mind was blown by the way Sean pulled the different musicians and artists together. He would have an idea and instantly find the artist to bring it to life. I would rap over a beat and when I’d hear it again, it would sound like a totally different record! Everyone that contributed played an important part in creating this masterpiece for sure.
With music being released so quickly now and listeners often having shorter attention spans, did either of you ever feel that a 19-track album was a risk, or was it important for y’all to tell the full story?
Sean Wrekless: I definitely thought it was a risk, but the ’90s hip-hop purist in me was like, “Nah, we need all these songs on the album.” We felt like the songs were good enough to keep the listener engaged.
Myrts Son: Me personally, at first I was like, this may be too long to hold people’s attention. But we were truly confident in this body of work and how well it flows. We were convinced that people would make it to the end and enjoy it in its entirety. After looking at the numbers at the end of the first week, it was true. People are making it to the end. I’m grateful we kept it this way. I feel like we’re bringing something iconic and essential back by dropping a full album in this fashion.
What’s something each of you really admires about the other person’s craft or creative process?
Sean Wrekless: It’s a lot of things I admire about my bro, but pertaining to music it’s his willingness to be experimental and open to new ideas. I worked with a lot of artists and most of them have that “my way or the highway” mentality to the point where I can’t give my input on anything. With bro, I will text him and say I have an idea and he’ll be like, “Let me hear it,” and then he’ll add onto it.
Myrts Son: I can go on all day about my brother, man. I admire so much about him. But to keep it to the music, I admire how quick he is to act on his ideas, and he works so fast! He’s a hell of a team player, and he has taught me so much about the importance of collaboration. He doesn’t stop until the vision is exactly how he sees it in his head, or better. Also, his ear for music stretches so far. He educates me on music and sound every time he brings me an idea or song to hear. Hands down one of the best artists I know.
Can fans expect an Interstate Soul 3 in the future?
Sean Wrekless: For me personally, I don’t know what’s next for me. With this album I took my production to new heights I didn’t think I could reach. This might sound crazy to some people, but I don’t have goals of working with a big-time industry artist like I did when I first started making beats as a 17-year-old kid in my mom’s 2-bedroom apartment. True, I’m not making the money like an industry producer, but I’m making my own albums, doing joint albums, and doing it at my own pace. We got a few remixes for this album, then I’m going to fall back, sip some wine with my wife in the backyard, and then get on the trampoline with my boys all summer.
Myrts Son: I’m always down to work with Sean. I don’t know if a Part 3 will come, but we have a lot in store to make sure this body of work is heard and felt by anyone and everyone that needs it. This album has definitely inspired me to do more. These are some of the best songs I’ve written. I’m all about things happening naturally though. If he ever hits me and says, “Let’s do a 3,” then y’all will know when we tell you.
