“We’re classic rock’s mutant son,” declares INHEAVEN frontman and all round rock revivalist James Taylor. “That’s a real ‘drop the mic’ moment isn’t it?”
Mutation and evolution is definitely the right way to picture INHEAVEN, but their impact could be far greater than any mic drop could ever comprehend. Their birth out of South London really masks a true origin – as an offspring of influences, styles and observations of the modern world. It’s an amalgamation and product of the musical landscape of the 21st century.
“Our story definitely wouldn’t of happened ten years ago,” ponders James. A true digital revelation, INHEAVEN are a gang who have a clear vision for the stages they want to fill. Forming with the pure ambition to create the band they’ve all been waiting for, it’s a refreshing blend of energetic post-punk, 90s Seattle grunge and a euphoric Joshua Tree-esque penchant for anthemic choruses. Yeah that’s right, not shit U2 – but fucking great U2.
“We try and keep a classic element of the bands we grew up loving, incorporating everything we love into one place and ensuring it’s all something we like,” James explains, and it’s this smorgasbord serving that has erupted a true connection with an array of young music fans, whose musical discovery network can now jump from an African jazz musician all the way to late 70s Louisiana blues in one click.
“It was quite hard to find bands before, like you’d have to read about one band to find out what bands they like and go from there, but now you can find out anything in like two seconds,” points out co-vocalist and bassist Chloe Little.
[sc name=”pull” text=”We really are a band of this era, a band of now.” ]
Speaking in the midst of a mammoth run of tour dates that has seen them jump from festival appearances, to support runs alongside Yak and Circa Waves as well as their own headline shows – the band have a clear vision for the type of shows and sounds they want to seize, and a firm grasp as to the scenes and shakers around them.
Thankfully, INHEAVEN have got that identity well and truly pinned down. A real original force for the internet age. The rest of the year will see them continue touring around the world, before a debut album tentatively aimed for “early next year”.
As they jump off their tour bus, a particular line of James’s sticks: “I think we really are a band of this era. A band of now.” [sc name=”stopper” ]