The Dublin rock band talk Aussie music, spice bags and why the Irish are having a moment right now
Inhaler are backstage in Dallas, Texas. It’s the last show of their North American tour. They’re sitting on a small leather couch that can barely fit the four of them. The tiredness is evident; each of them sports slight bags under their eyes. Lead singer Elijah Hewson chews on the end of a cup. They’re far from the schoolboys they once were. The four now look like weathered rock stars.
Tomorrow, they fly out for South America—a week and a half of shows before finally heading home.
Home for Inhaler, of course, is Dublin. The four members—Hewson, Robert Keating, Josh Jenkinson, and Ryan McMahon—met at St. Andrews College in Blackrock, and their bond is woven tightly through years of friendship. They formed the band in 2012, but it wasn’t until 2015 that they decided on the name Inhaler.
“We played a show,” says Jenkinson. “Everyone came dressed in green. We didn’t wear anything.”
“We actually were like, ‘Fuck, is it St. Patrick’s Day?’” laughs Hewson.
“But I guess we’re Irish though,” says Keating with a grin. “We can’t be any more Irish than ourselves. And it was a great gig.”
I recount a recent experience of mine—having a spice bag for the first time on St. Patrick’s Day. At the mention of the beloved dish, I can almost hear their stomachs groaning in unison.
“We’ve just been eating cheeseburgers, pizza, and healthy bowls for two or three weeks now,” says Hewson. “So, a spice bag might be nice.”
“Oh, fuck yeah,” Keating chimes in. “With the sweet and sour sauce.”
“And some MSG,” Jenkinson adds. “I live off MSG.”
Their responses come as one, followed by a chorus of “oohs” that fill the space between us. It’s a small moment, but it speaks volumes about the bond they share—a bond forged in their schooldays and stretched over more than a decade of touring. Thirteen years of friendship of music- more than half their lives.
After their brief return to Dublin, the band will set off again—this time for a European and UK tour. By June, they’ll be back in Australia for their second tour of the country. Last year, they toured in support of Cuts and Bruises.
Though they’ll be arriving in the middle of Australia’s winter, they’re happy to leave the chill of Ireland behind. “Better than winter in Ireland,” says Hewson, the words slipping from his lips with a sense of resignation. It’s clear that the cold, grey skies of Dublin are not what they’re missing.
The upcoming tour is one they’re particularly excited about. “It was just one of those places you instantly love,” Keating recalls of their first trip to Australia. “Being Irish and going to Australia is almost like a rite of passage for so many people. It was strange, though, because it felt nothing like home, but also a lot like home in so many ways.”
“What do you mean by that?” I ask, intrigued by the contradiction.
Jenkinson, always quick with a response, offers up his observations. “It just felt like going back in time. There were stuff you guys have that Ireland used to have but doesn’t anymore. Like the charity dogs. We had those all the time as kids. And McDonald’s in Australia looks like how it used to look in Ireland.”
The conversation shifts to the many Irish expats now living in Australia—friends, family, and the deep sense of shared heritage that binds them all. But it’s when the subject of Australian music arises that the band comes alive in a way that’s both infectious and telling.
“We’re doing a festival with Royel Otis. They’re great,” says Hewson with a nod. “DMA’s, of course. We saw The Chats supporting Queens of the Stone Age. Amyl and the Sniffers, Confidence Man, Tame Impala. We could go on for hours.”
Their return to Australia is in support of their new album Open Wide, released on 7 February 2025. I had listened to the album on a run the day before the interview, and the strange synchronicity doesn’t escape me. When I mention it, Hewson laughs. “I wouldn’t have imagined that,” he says, a faint trace of amusement in his voice.
Given my history of dentist visits, I can’t help but ask about the album title. Open Wide evokes memories of sitting in a chair with a cold metal tray beside me, mouth stretched open under the blinding light. It’s a question that’s been on my mind.
“We did have those conversations,” McMahon laughs.
“First off, it’s the name of a song on the album,” says Hewson. “But we also felt very vulnerable while making this record. We always went with our gut instinct and tried not to overthink things. It brought us closer. So, we didn’t argue about anything on this album. The title just made sense because of the process.”
“I know I argue with my schoolmates all the time,” I admit.
“It’s so easy to,” Hewson laughs. The absence of bickering is a revelation for them, who have a reputation for passionate discussions and debates. “I think it’s good to bicker,” Keating says. “It’s good to care and be passionate.” Hewson reflects on how the band has grown into themselves. “Now we know what we’re doing.”
For Open Wide, the band worked with a new producer: Thomas Hull, better known as Kid Harpoon. The British producer, now based in Los Angeles, is behind some of the most critically acclaimed albums of recent years, including Harry Styles’ Harry’s House, which won Album of the Year at the 2023 Grammys.
I ask if they felt any pressure or intimidation working with someone of Harpoon’s calibre. They all shake their heads.
“He’s so chilled,” McMahon says. “At our first meeting, we just clicked. Our views on music aligned naturally, and he made us laugh a lot. His mantra was that he didn’t want us to search for a silver bullet. He just wanted us to make a record we could be proud of.”
So that’s exactly what they did.
As the conversation winds to a close, I ask the band about the Irish arts scene and why it is currently capturing the world’s attention. From Paul Mescal’s shorts to Fontaines D.C.’s growl, Sally Rooney’s novels to Kneecap’s no fucks attitude, something feels different. The world seems to be watching Ireland in a way it never has before.
As members of this particular cultural wave, Inhaler is well-positioned to offer their thoughts. The question sparks a lively discussion, but the answer is not yet unanimous.
“Good potatoes,” McMahon jokes.
“I think there are just more of us at this moment,” Keating says, the tone more serious now. “There’ve always been Irish artists, but they were often on their own. Now there’s a whole wave of us.”
“There’s also fascination with the language now,” adds Hewson. “Bands years ago, would just conform to the American market. But today, people are more interested in cultures. Irish culture hasn’t been explored in the mainstream, except in leprechaun clichés.”
“The light beam has been shone on our country,” Keating says, with a sense of quiet pride. “There’s something in the air.”
Inhaler are performing in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne from June 3. Tickets can be purchased here.
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