During a new episode of his radio show on SiriusXM, Morgan Wallen has opened up about what he has learned from Drake as a songwriter. Wallen's latest homage to the Toronto rapper comes amidst rumours that he'll be appearing on Drake's eagerly anticipated new album, Iceman, which arrives on Friday (May 15th).

While introducing Drake's ‘Feel No Ways’ on his radio station, Wallen reflects on getting introduced to the self-professed ‘6 God’s music early on, “I've been listening to Drake since...since he was putting out mixtapes, so late 2000’s, something like that?”

The ’More Than My Hometown’ singer-songwriter goes on, “I would most certainly say that [Drake] has influenced the way I try to write, the emotions I try to evoke”.

Wallen then touches on how Drake's ability to showcase both sides of a break-up, rather than simply conveying the narrator's perspective, is something he has sought to emulate throughout his career, “You know, I think I've said this before, but a lot of times - to me at least - something I've noticed in country music is people really like to paint one side of a relationship picture in their music, and I've never really understood that. I try to place the blame on both parties, because in my experience, that's the way it is. I feel like Drake, the way that I listen to his music and the things that he made me feel with those songs, helped impact that”.

It's undoubtedly true that, although deeply personal and vulnerable, many of the most popular country songs often provide a one-sided, and therefore skewed, account of heartbreak. Across his last studio album, I'm the Problem, Wallen makes a point of providing an unashamedly balanced assessment of broken romance, epitomised by the angsty turmoil of the title-track, the cold, despondent acceptance of ‘Smile’ and the frustrated yet honest accountability of ‘Kick Myself’.

Inevitably, of course, in both Wallen and Drake's catalogues, the portrait is still depicted in a way that is favourable to our protagonists. The blame is shared, but it's never a 50-50 split, with the culpability usually landing more decidedly with their respective exes.

Nonetheless, these multi-dimensional explorations of heartbreak make for a much more fascinating and rewarding listening experience than the typical ‘woe-is-me’ portrayals.

With Wallen widely expected to feature on Drake's long-awaited new album, Iceman, which drops on Friday, we're hoping we get to see these two prolific songsmiths linking up on a heartbroken anthem, following an array of high-profile link-ups.

It feels possible that the timing of this radio tribute from Wallen is yet another clue in a lengthy list of easter eggs and hints that the duo have been working on new music together.

We'll know more once the Iceman tracklist is finally revealed - potentially via another colossal ice sculpture in Toronto - but even if there is no collaboration in the works, Drake's style and lyricism can be heard throughout Wallen's discography, regardless.

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