I walk into the Bowery Ballroom in Lower Manhattan and there is a squad of black-clothed people shuffling equipment in. With guitar cases in-hand, INHEAVEN has arrived. The London-based punk rock band is getting ready to perform later that night in support of fellow Brits Pale Waves. The four-piece alternative band initially gained recognition after releasing their first single “Regeneration” via Julian Casablanca’s label CULT RECORDS. Since then, they’ve toured with Sundara Karma, Jamie T and Blossoms. In late 2017, the band released their debut self-titled album that really catapulted them into the indie-music sphere, as well as their first North American tour. Band member James Taylor admits that since it’s their first time playing in America, it’s taking a bit of time to reach the audiences. “We’re a new band so people are being very open and kind towards us,” he says. “It takes a lot to enjoy a support band that you haven’t paid to see.” Vocalist Chloe Little adds, “Most people have never heard of us until they come see our show.”
The band’s latest single following their debut album, “Sweet Dreams Baby” offers an optimistic and anthemic vibe laced with grungy American influences, which is a trend for the band, on and off stage. “We love Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, The Cure; a mixture of British and American bands. I think our sound is a hybrid of the two sides of the Atlantic,” Taylor says. Little adds that the band will be writing their next album here in New York City and will definitely be exploring some of the music history they are already inspired by. “The Velvet Underground, CBGB’s, The Chelsea Hotel; there’s so much history here we want to absorb,” Taylor says. Though the band celebrates iconic rock bands like The Romones and Sonic Youth, they recognize that their sound does differ. “Fuzzy dream punk kind of thing,” the two simultaneously respond when prompted to describe their sound. “We’re from a streaming generation. We listen to everything and I think it comes across through our music,” Little says.
Ahead of writing their sophomore album, the pair reflect on the band’s debut album saying that London’s political climate played a huge role in lyrical inspiration. “With Brexit came such a generational divide in England and I think we were able to capture that in a lot of songs,” Taylor says. “I think we want to look outside and see how the world is reacting to different things,” he adds of the band’s new music. With a sophomore album in the works, listeners can expect the same “fuzzy dream punk” sound, with a strong influence from New York City and its storied musical history.
