Inhaler are making rock music, but on their own terms

When I meet Inhaler, I realize that I'm about to talk to one of the most compelling groups of recent years. Sitting in the lounge of their hotel in the center of Milan, frontman Elijah Hewson and drummer Ryan McMahon tell me all about their long-awaited comeback.
Our destinies cross a month before the release of their second album, 'Cuts & Bruises', a project that follows on from the success of its predecessor: 'It Won't Always Be Like This', which helped the band top the charts in the UK and Ireland in 2021.

Following the release of hit singles 'These Are The Days' and 'Love Will Get You There', Inhaler is certainly ready to raise the bar. That's why I immediately ask them what it was like to bring this album to life. "Making a sophomore album is always the toughest test, especially because all the people you work with keep reminding you of it. There is so much pressure. If 'It Won't Always Be Like This' had a longer gestation period, 'Cuts & Bruises' came to life more quickly and naturally. We feel that the short amount of time we had helped us find the right motivation to keep putting out more and more quality music".

While there is room on the record for sounds that straddle the line between pop and rock, where every instrument is perfectly balanced and at the service of the band, there is no room for references to their beloved Ireland, except for 'Dublin In Ecstasy', where Elijah sings: "I can see the city in the glass of your eye/And when you take your shot/I'll be there this time/Dublin in ecstasy".
They agree with me, underlining the fact that "Cuts & Bruises" is inherently optimistic and, above all, about love in all its many layers and meanings. Just think of the overwhelming tenderness of 'If You're Gonna Break My Heart' or the super-romantic "Valentine". " 'If You're Gonna Break My Heart' is probably the best story we've been able to tell. It was written while we were on tour in the USA, while 'Valentine' is the song we wrote in the shortest amount of time'.

Once again, the LP's production is a gift from Anthony Genn (Pulp, Elastica, Mescaleros), who had them record in an old Dublin convent.
"Ant set us straight by putting us under pressure. We tried to let the music breathe and focus much more on the meanings of our songs rather than their evolving sounds. We're in love with pop and we enjoyed going back to Inahler's roots and trying to come up with something that wasn't necessarily too structured. When we started working on the album, we had recently seen 'Get Back' (Peter Jackson's love letter to The Beatles, ed.) and it spurred us on and helped us understand where we wanted to go as a band", they say.
The cuts and wounds they refer to on the record come from this physical coexistence, unencumbered by technology and forced distance.

'Being in a band is like being in a marriage. The painful moments, which are the ones that stay with you, and the fun and carefree moments can fluctuate. Some scars remain even after certain wounds, just like the signs of time passing by'.
As we reflected on these joys and sorrows, we ended up mentioning Måneskin and their extraordinary rise to stardom.
'They are the biggest rock stars of the moment, aren't they? We've never met them personally, but we respect them. They're cool. They have the right music and they always have the perfect glam rock look. They remind us of T. Rex and The Rolling Stones'.
On the contrary, Inhaler's influences have their roots in Manchester, where the music scene was bursting with talent in the late 70s and early 80s. 'When we started this project we listened to a lot of Joy Division, The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, and The Smiths. Now we listen to pretty much everything and our artistry is the result of a fusion of ideas that are closer to the sound of Kings of Leon, Fontaines D.C., and The Strokes'.

In a few months, the band will be embarking on a US/European tour and the four Dubliners will also be landing in Italy for three concerts. "The last time we came to Milan we had a great time. As soon as we get back home we will start rehearsing for the upcoming dates, but we can tell you that we are still working on it. We want to bring something special to the stage".
Regardless of Elijah's surname, which can sometimes be a little cumbersome, expectations are high. It doesn't necessarily mean that you're going to live a life full of benefits and privileges. It's quite the opposite. You often have to work twice or three times as hard to secure your artistic credibility in the music industry.
One thing's for sure: Inhaler want to play this game, but on their terms.


Words: Alessia Bisini

Photo Credits: Press

Editorial Coordinator: Emanuele Camilli

Publicist (for Italy): Rossana Moro 

Disclaimer: The original version of this feature appeared on the Italian publication HeyJude Magazine on Feb. 14th 2023.