Inhaler Delivers Scenes Of A Destructive Pursuit In New Single “Your House”
Shot by Lewis Evans.
After a long drawn period of touring and press for their sophomore album Cuts & Bruises, the Dublin band Inhaler went on a much needed break. Although there was a certainty that the group would come back with new music when they were ready, the radio silence didn’t fail to make the fanbase antsy for more. On October 7th, a refreshed and relaxed Inhaler resurfaced with tricks up their sleeve, from an LP3 teaser down to a new look that prompted a cleaned-out Instagram page. While their previous album flooded their social media with solely black-and-white images, this new era carries splashes of vibrant blue and red hues into each post. Their first single “Your House” was hinted at in an Instagram carousel earlier this month, featuring images of the boys during jam sessions and inside recording booths paired with a caption that read, “Who’s going to your house tonight?”
Already holding two sonically distinct albums in their back pocket, childhood friends Elijah Hewson (lead vocals, guitarist), Josh Jenkinson (guitarist), Robert Keating (bassist), and Ryan McMahon (drummer) formed their band back in Ireland where other artists have also looked to break out of their suburb’s rather smaller musical sphere. The four-piece hit the ground running with their debut album It Won’t Always Be Like This which soared to Number 1 on the UK and Irish charts the week of its release in 2021. Cuts & Bruises soon followed suit in 2023, with the band taking it on the road for their U.S. headline tour, various festivals including Electric Picnic and Reading, and their supporting slots for acts like Arctic Monkeys, Sam Fender, and Harry Styles.
Since their return to the stage for their 2024 North American headline tour, the band wasted no time debuting their 70s indie-rock-inspired track “Your House,” which surprised fans with its addition to the setlist. Produced by Tom Hull, also known as Kid Harpoon, the band had fresh eyes peering into the window of their tight-knit circle. “Both sonically and musically, it covers a lot of different territories that we were exploring on the album while we were writing and recording it,” McMahon tells NME in an interview.
Its initial drum hits pound to kick the door down, with the first verse painting the image of a swaggering rockstar stumbling towards something they shouldn’t have: “Right around 6 or something / There I was barefoot in the street / Where I thought I’d float through your door.” Hewson’s rich vocals feel haunting, creeping in the shadows as if on the prowl. There’s a sweetness to the track’s grooviness, but the contrasting tinges of its striking lyricism and hard-hitting tempo contribute towards an overall anthemic, grandiose feel– something Inhaler is exceptionally skillful at executing. “Said ‘Oh, love / There ain’t a sharp enough knife / To cut me out of your life’” repeatedly rings throughout the song’s chorus, cementing the intoxicating addiction the singer has for the person that isn’t necessarily good for them.
Similar to the excitement a child feels when learning about their favorite sport or immersing themselves in their favorite fictional world, Inhaler’s desire for a childlike, exploratory approach to their future projects bleeds into the new track's flavorful elements. The shiny synths reminiscent of 2000s BØRNS tracks meld together with vocals from the House Gospel Choir, tapping into a whole new world the band has yet to unleash.
As Inhaler continues navigating how they want to express their identity next, their growth mindset glued together by their organic chemistry adds an irresistibly addictive charm to each decision they make in their career. They’re evolving into the band they have always wanted to be, and this single is a small taste indicative of an explosive album waiting in the wings.
The single’s release came hand in hand with a new music video written and directed by Jovan Todorović, which you can watch now on YouTube.
Inhaler’s third studio album ‘Open Wide’ is set to be released in February of 2025. In the meantime, stream the first single “Your House” out now.
