Josh Jenkinson

Inhaler
Inhaler performing in 2022
Background information
OriginDublin, Ireland
Genres
Years active2012–present
LabelsPolydor
Members
Websitewww.inhaler.band

Inhaler are an Irish rock band originating from Dublin. Formed in 2012, the band consist of vocalist and guitarist Elijah Hewson, bassist Robert Keating, guitarist Josh Jenkinson and drummer Ryan McMahon.[1][2][3] Their debut album, It Won't Always Be Like This, was released on 9 July 2021. It entered the Irish Albums Chart at number one, it also entered the top 10 and top 20 album charts in other European countries such as the Netherlands and Germany.[4][5][6] It entered the UK Album Chart at number one.[7] The band's second studio album, Cuts & Bruises, was released on 17 February 2023.

Career

2012–2017: Early years

Originally formed in 2012 at St Andrews College in Blackrock, Dublin, the band decided on the name Inhaler in 2015.[8][1] Jenkinson joined the band right after the band name was decided.

2018–2022: It Won't Always Be Like This

The group self-released their debut single "I Want You" in 2017. The single was featured on Garageland Volume 1, released on 14 April 2017.[9] This was later followed by three more singles in 2019, namely "It Won't Always Be Like This", "My Honest Face"[10] and "Ice Cream Sundae". They placed fifth on BBC's annual music poll, Sound of 2020.[11] On 21 January 2020, the group released their fourth single, titled "We Have to Move On".[12] In 2019 Inhaler toured with Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds as their opening act. On their 2019–2020 tours, the band released a self-titled debut EP featuring the singles "It Won't Always Be Like This", "Oklahoma" (Late Night Version), "My Honest Face" and "There's No Other Place".

For Record Store Day 2020, the band released their singles as limited-edition vinyl records.[13]

The band were one of the winners of the Music Moves Europe Talent Award 2021[14] and were also shortlisted for the MTV Push UK & Ireland 2021.[15]

On 17 March 2021, the band released a single titled "Cheer Up Baby" and announced that their debut album, It Won't Always Be Like This, would be released on 16 July 2021.[16] On 13 May 2021, the band announced on their social media that the album release would be pushed forward by a week, to be released on 9 July 2021.[17]

The band presented the album live on summer festivals in 2022 (including Glastonbury Festival) and did opening acts for some Kings of Leon shows on their When You See Yourself tour.

2022–present: Cuts & Bruises

The band released their second album Cuts & Bruises on 17 February 2023.[18] It reached number 2 in the United Kingdom album chart and number 1 in the Irish album chart.[19]

The band was selected by Pearl Jam to open their shows in Chicago, Indianapolis, and Austin in Pearl Jam's 2023 concert tour. [20] On 10 June 2023, the band performed at Slane Castle as the opening act for Harry Styles' Love on Tour show.[21] Earlier on in the year they toured with Arctic Monkeys as their opener and also opened for Sam Fender at his St James Park show.

After the release of cuts and bruises INHALER announced a world tour starting in November 2022 at the Olympia Theatre, Dublin The tour ended on the 11th of November 2023 at the 3Arena after many shows all across the US and Europe. They also played 6 extra London and Glasgow dates before returning home to Dublin. Ryan McMahon (musician) following their 3Arena show said on his instagram I didn't think we'd ever play this venue let alone play it so soon. Thank you for all of the love you've shown us and our songs on this chaotic journey. Now i'm gonna go and mend my fragile head while I try to figure out what's just happened to this little band of ours

Artistry

Hewson named 80s and 90s bands such as The Stone Roses, New Order, Joy Division, Happy Mondays,[22] Depeche Mode,[23] Echo & the Bunnymen, Talking Heads, and Oasis[24] as Inhaler's formative writing influences. Hewson also mentions new up and coming bands such as Frank On Tap from New Zealand as a breath of fresh air and still yet to be properly noticed. Jenkinson in particular was inspired by Kele Okereke of Bloc Party to pursue alternative and rock music.[25]

In 2023, Inhaler called The Strokes an "idol". While recording Cuts & Bruises, the band watched The Beatles: Get Back.[26]

Members

Guitarist Josh Jenkinson
Lead singer Elijah Hewson
Bassist Robert Keating
Drummer Ryan McMahon
  • Elijah Hewson – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (2012–present)
  • Robert Keating – bass guitar, backing vocals (2012–present)
  • Ryan McMahon – drums (2012–present)
  • Josh Jenkinson – lead guitar (2015–present)

Current touring musicians

  • Louis Lambert – keyboards, synthesizer (2017–present)

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
IRE
[27] 		GER
[28] 		NLD
[29] 		UK
[30]
It Won't Always Be Like This
  • Released: 9 July 2021
  • Label: Polydor
  • Format: Vinyl, CD, digital download, streaming, cassette
 1 13 7 1
Cuts & Bruises
  • Released: 17 February 2023
  • Label: Polydor
  • Format: Vinyl, CD, digital download, streaming, cassette
 1
[31]		 35 5 2

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Album/EP
BEL
(FL)
Tip
[32] 		JPN
Over.
[33] 		US
Alt.
[34] 		US
AAA
[35]
2018 "I Want You" — — — — Non-album single
2019 "My Honest Face" 24 — — — It Won't Always Be Like This
"It Won't Always Be Like This" — — — —
"Ice Cream Sundae" 15 — — — Non-album singles
2020 "We Have to Move On" 37 — — —
"Falling In" — — — —
"When It Breaks" 33 — — — It Won't Always Be Like This
2021 "Cheer Up Baby" 13 — 33 14
"My Honest Face" — — — —
2022 "These Are the Days" — — — 15 Cuts & Bruises
"Love Will Get You There" — 18 34 12
"If You're Gonna Break My Heart" — 19 — —
2023 "Just to Keep You Satisfied" — — — 17

Awards and nominations

Year Organization Award Result Ref.
2020 NME The NME 100 Included [36]
BBC Sound of 2020 5th [2]

References

  1. ^ a b "Everything you need to know about Inhaler, featuring Bono's son Elijah Hewson". Radio X. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b Youngs, Ian (5 January 2020). "BBC Sound of 2020: Bono's son and his band Inhaler tipped for success". BBC News. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  3. ^ Hunt, El (4 November 2019). "Inhaler are the Dubliners who want rock to rage again – and shake off those U2 comparisons". NME. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Inhaler debut at Number 1 with It Won't Always be Like This". Official Charts.
  5. ^ "Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl".
  6. ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Offizielle Deutsche Charts".
  7. ^ "Inhaler score Number 1 debut album: 'It means the absolute world'". Official Charts.
  8. ^ "Introducing Inhaler, a breathless new band with some power-pop prowess". Far Out Magazine. 21 July 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  9. ^ "Garageland. Volume 1 – Top 6". Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  10. ^ "Celeste tops BBC's Sound Of 2020 list". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  11. ^ "Sound of 2020 Shortlist". BBC. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  12. ^ Ehrlich, Brenna (21 January 2020). "Inhaler: How an Asthmatic Irish Band Went From Talent Shows to Interscope". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  13. ^ White, Jack (5 March 2020). "Christy Moore, Dermot Kennedy and Inhaler among Irish acts releasing limited edition vinyl for Record Store Day 2020". Official Charts. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  14. ^ "Inhaler Win At Music Moves European Talent Awards 2021". HotPress. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  15. ^ "MTV PUSH UK & IRE announce the 2021 shortlist". Music News. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  16. ^ "Inhaler talk debut album and new single 'Cheer Up Baby': "It's a love letter to all our fans who are feeling isolated"". NME. 17 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  17. ^ Kemp, Ella (8 July 2021). "Inhaler – 'It Won't Always Be Like This' review: defiance, optimism and plenty of guitars". NME. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  18. ^ Jacob, Lola (14 October 2022). "Inhaler announce new album 'Cuts & Bruises'". Coup de Main. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  19. ^ "UK: Inhaler top charts with new album Cuts & Bruises". BMG. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  20. ^ "Pearl Jam 2023 U.S. Tour Announcement". pearljam.com. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  21. ^ "Slane Castle is Harry's House for Styles' show". BBC News. 10 June 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  22. ^ Lash, Jolie (27 May 2020). "Inhaler's Elijah Hewson on Influences, Debut Album Prep and New Single 'Falling In'". Spin. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  23. ^ Potter, James George (9 September 2020). "Why We Love: Inhaler". Totally Wired!. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  24. ^ Murphy, Lauren (9 July 2021). "Inhaler: "When we came out of lockdown, we had a lot of things to get off our chest"". Entertainment.ie. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  25. ^ Russell, Ary (10 March 2023). "A conversation with Irish indie-rock sensation Inhaler". Washington Square News. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  26. ^ Green, Alex (15 February 2023). "Inhaler: Pressure made us better songwriters – we had to make hard decisions fast". Irish News. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  27. ^ "Discography Inhaler". irish-charts.com. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  28. ^ "Discographie von Inhaler". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  29. ^ "Discografie Inhaler". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  30. ^ "Inhaler > Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  31. ^ "Top 100 Artist Album, Week Ending 24 February 2023". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  32. ^ "Inhaler". ultratop.be (in Flemish).
  33. ^ Peaks on the Billboard Japan Hot Overseas chart:
  34. ^ Peaks on the Alternative Airplay chart:
  35. ^ Peaks on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart:
  36. ^ Smith, Thomas (3 January 2020). "The NME 100: Essential new artists for 2020". NME. Retrieved 8 January 2020.

External links