Inhaler: Who cares how good music is made?
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Inhaler, an Irish rock band formed in 2012, consists of Elijah Hewson on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Josh Jenkinson on lead guitar, Robert Keating on bass guitar and backing vocals, and Ryan McMahon on drums. This lineup has been the same ever since 2015, so it is safe to say that the group's harmony is going strong. What is interesting about Inhaler is that one of its members, Elijah Hewson, is the son of Bono—the famous lead singer of the rock band U2. I will not, however, discredit the band because of potential nepotism or industry plantation bias; Inhaler deserves this space for praise.
While Inhaler formed in 2012, their debut album was not released until 2021, nearly a decade after their creation. Yet, it is clear that the band used that long development time to master their craft. Starting in 2018, the band began to drop a few singles, including one that introduced me to the band “Cheer Up Baby.” Also, shortly after the release of their debut album, It Won’t Always Be Like This (2021), Inhaler came out with another one titled Cuts & Bruises (2023). With their new album, Open Wide (2025), anticipated to be released soon, I think it is safe to say that Inhaler is now here to stay.
One thing I appreciate about Inhaler is their energy. “Cheer Up Baby,” a single released in 2021. It is an energetic, pop-sounding track that takes me back to the sound of the early 2000s. Of course, that is not their only good song. “Falling In,” which has a more “classic” sound, a lot more serious and toned down —in the best way possible— is one I also recommend. It still has that energetic flair iconic to the band, but the song is a lot darker and subdued. Another track to highlight is “Slide Out The Window,” which greatly displays the band’s guitar skills.
Another great quality about Inhaler is that they understand the importance of variety; it seems simple, but many bands need to do better. Most artists only have one or two types of songs, meaning most of their music sounds the same. Inhaler’s debut album, however, showcased their ability to create incredibly fast, energetic songs alongside slower, darker ones. Due to this, I think it is a bit cruel to compare them to other popular bands, such as U2, or simply put them down because one of their members is privileged with nepotism. So what if Elijah Hewson’s connections to lead singer Bono helped Inhaler? It is good music at the end of the day. If they are making good music, why should we care?
Not every person in the music industry needs to be completely self-made. Take Jaden Smith, Miley Cyrus, Beck, Willow Smith, and others who also exist in the “nepo-baby” realm; they all make great music— which, I feel, is all that matters. To think that an artist is better because they happened to come from nothing or simply had fewer connections in the music industry does not make their music more “real” or “objectively better.”
Listen to those “nepo-baby”artists like Inhaler— they are better than you think. No one can stop you; do yourself a favor and listen to Inhaler on all your regular streaming services.