Indie rock band Inhaler has shared their recent cover of ‘You Power’, originally released by singer-songwriter Billie Eilish.
The cover was recorded for an Apple Music Home Session, a new idea launched by the digital music service last year. Within the session the band also promised to perform one of the group’s own songs, the group also performed the single ‘It Won’t Always Be Like This’, taken from their debut album ‘It Won’t Always Be Like This’. The original recording released by Billie Eilish was the singer’s third single to be taken from her forthcoming album ‘Happier Than Ever’ set to be released 30th July 2021 via Darkroom, a sub-label of Interscope records. Eilish rose to popularity in 2015 with the release of the debut track ‘Ocean Eyes’, which led to a meteoric rise through her first number-one single ‘Bad Guy’. Much like ‘Bad Guy’ and‘Ocean Eyes’, ‘Your Power’ was co-written with her brother Finneas O’Connor.
The cover sees the group provide a fresh approach to their version whilst projecting their popular Indie style onto the American singer’s recent single. The Inhaler’s reworking showcases lead singer and guitarist Elijah Hewson’s impressive vocal range and includes the conventional indie instrumentation of electric guitar, keyboards and percussion. The group’s version has been received well by fans, this is no surprise with the track’s atmospheric soundscape which perfectly reflects the lyrical theme and the powerful build up to an emotive ending.
The band which hails from Dublin consists of members, Robert Keating on bass, Josh Jenkinson on guitar, Ryan McMahon on drums and frontman and guitarist Elijah Hewson, son of music legend and philanthropist Bono. In 2020 they were up and comers within the industry and were included within the top 5 of BBC’s Sound off…, a yearly survey from professionals and critics to establish the ones to watch. After forming in 2012, the group released their debut single which was self-released. ‘I Want You’ was released in 2017 and was included within a compilation album.
Five more singles were released before their first studio album was announced earlier this month through record label Polydor. The group’s debut album was revealed on on 9th July 2021 and reached number one within the UK Album charts this week. In support of their debut album the band also performed the same set from their Apply Music Home Session during a BBC Radio 1 session, the session was performed at Maida Vale Studios located in London and was aired on 14th July 2021 at 6 pm.
Within the broadcast the group spoke to Annie Mac regarding the cover and the process taken to achieve the results, Hewson described how it took “months of training” to accomplish the vocal register heard in the cover, commonly referred to as falsetto. This vocal technique is obtained by the artist singing notes in which is abnormal for a typical voice to reach. Hewson also confirmed the group’s reasoning for picking ‘You Power’ to cover. “We wanted to do something that was popular. I think [Eilish] is a really good inspiration for people who wanna get into the pop world, When you hear her songs, you really know that it comes from her heart. And I think the song has a great message. I think we did a good job, and hopefully she likes it and we didn’t butcher her song. It’s a great song.”
The group’s debut has given the members a lot to celebrate, the album reached number one within the UK charts with 18,000 chart sales. On 16th July 2021, it was announced that the group clinched the top spot, the band took to Instagram to thank their fans.
The group’s win also marked an important record, the release is the first album number one win from an Irish band in 13 years. The last Irish group to reach number one was the Script’s debut album released in 2008 entitled ‘The Script‘. The quartet’s debut also broke a record on its Vinyl sales, the album became the fasted selling debut album on wax for a group since 2001.
Fans will be able to hear the band’s debut and potentially their recent cover live later this year. The group will hit the road this September, starting their tour in Sheffield and finishing in December with four hometown shows in Dublin.
Inhaler UK and Ireland Tour Dates
09/08/2021 – Colours – London
14/08 – Boardmasters – Newquay
15/08 – Pryzm – Kingston
16/08 – Deaf Institute – Manchester
18/08 – Blitz – Preston
19/08 – Colours Hoxton – London
23/08 – Old Fire Station – Bournemouth
24/08 – The Brook – Southampton
05/09 – Neighbourhood Weekender – Warrington
10/09 – Trnsmt Festival 2021 – Glasgow
17/09 – This Is Tomorrow Festival – Newcastle
28/09 – Octagon Centre – Sheffield
29/09 – O2 Academy Leeds – Leeds
01/10 – Keelesu (Keele University Students’ Union) – Newcastle Under Lyme
02/10 – O2 Institute – Birmingham
03/10 – O2 Academy Bristol – Bristol
05/10 – Rock City – Nottingham
06/10 – O2 Academy Forum Kentish Town – London
07/10 – The Adrian Flux Waterfront – Norwich
09/10 – Uni The Mountford Hall – Liverpool
10/10 – Barrowland Ballroom – Glasgow
12/10 – O2 Ritz- – Manchester
11/12 – The Workman’s Club – Dublin
12/12 – Limelight 2 – Belfast
14/12 – Limelight – Belfast
15/12 – Dolan’s – Limerick
16/12 – Cyprus Avenue – Cork
17/12 – INEC Acoustic Club – Cill Airne
19/12 – The Academy, Middle Abbey Street – Dublin
20/12 – The Academy, Middle Abbey Street – Dublin
21/12 – The Academy, Middle Abbey Street – Dublin
22/12 – Academy 2 – Dublin
