As Storm Eowyn continues to impact coastal cities, a second storm is forming in Ireland. This storm takes shape as Inhaler’s third studio album, ‘Open Wide’, anticipated to be a formidable presence following the band's rapid transition in musical style. This record retains their earlier indie sound while heavily incorporating pop elements.
‘Open Wide’ effortlessly combines various genres, maintaining an uplifting and pop-optimistic quality reminiscent of a recent Harry Styles release. Additionally, the album features a groovy synth-infused flair reminiscent of 70s singalongs found in tracks like ‘All I Got Is You’. This upbeat aspect of the four-piece's upcoming release, rich with pop melodies, does not overshadow the grungier 90s influences present on tracks like ‘Eddie In The Darkness’, evoking the raw essence of early 2000s Kings Of Leon, while ‘X-Ray’, designed with mosh pits in mind, channels the energy of Deftones’ ‘Around The Fur’.
It can be easy to overlook how an album that incorporates so many diverse influences could maintain such cohesion. However, by collaborating with indie-pop production juggernaut Kid Harpoon and pop songwriting powerhouse Amy Allen, Inhaler managed to achieve this. ‘Open Wide’ marks Inhaler’s shift from their established sound to a meticulously crafted auditory experience, reflecting the value of taking risks, which leads to artistic achievement.
CLASH spoke with drummer Ryan McMahon and guitarist Josh Jenkinson, amidst the backdrop of Storm Eowyn, about everything from blending influences to genre experimentation and the challenges of setlist selection.
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With less than two weeks until ‘Open Wide’ is released, how are you feeling about it?
Josh: Very excited!
Ryan: It feels pretty great; I think this is the least nervous we’ve been about releasing an album, which is a nice place to be. More than anything, we just want it out there for people to hear and hope they enjoy it.
You mentioned that this album was created from instinct, and there's a notable change in sound from your earlier work. How would you describe the sound of ‘Open Wide’?
Ryan: This album feels quite different compared to our last two because it’s our first collaboration with a new producer. Our previous producer had been with us since we were around 17 or 18, so it felt natural to explore something different. In some ways, this album feels lighter because our mantra was to trust our instincts and gut feelings, which is something Tom (Kid Harpoon) encouraged us to do. He kept saying, “Let’s capture something exciting and enjoyable,” and I think that definitely comes through in every track.
How did your collaboration with Kid Harpoon come about?
Josh: He was close with someone at our label, and I think they informed us that he was interested. We spoke to several people over the phone, which felt a bit like speed dating. It was fun, but we didn’t really connect with anyone until we met Tom, and we knew right away that we could spend a lot of time with him—and thankfully, we did!
You also collaborated with Amy Allen on this album. She is currently a major name in pop music and songwriting. What was it like to write with her?
Josh: She was fantastic—really cool. She came into the studio while we were in LA and served as a bit of a tastemaker, especially for the more pop-oriented songs. It was awesome; she listened to some of the heavier tracks like ‘X-Ray’ and ‘Eddie In The Darkness’ and expressed how much she loved them. Having someone of her caliber affirm that you're creating something special is incredibly reassuring. Plus, her voice was unbelievable; we were all amazed.
Your earlier albums have had a strong indie-pop influence, but with ‘Open Wide’, it seems the boundaries between genres are becoming blurred—was that intentional?
Josh: It felt quite natural for this record. For the first time, we made music without a specific intention. We always create music with live performances in mind, but on this album, nothing felt forced. We simply made what we liked at that moment, and it just came out that way. We expected Tom to come in with poppy chord changes, but he encouraged us to embrace darker sounds, urging us to explore the Deftones route.
Interestingly, there is a 90s grunge aspect to the album as well. Was there any music you were listening to that inspired that?
Ryan: I can’t think of any specific influences—some demos sounded reminiscent of lost Depeche Mode tracks, while others echoed T-Rex or Prince. We find it difficult to listen to music while writing or figuring out our songs. None of it was forced, which I think is why the songs feel distinct while still being a cohesive album.
What was the process for creating 'Open Wide'? Did you write before heading into the studio or did the writing
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While Storm Eowyn is effectively closing down coastal cities, another storm is developing in Ireland. This storm manifests as Inhaler’s third album.