Inhaler frontman Elijah Hewson has said that being the son of U2's Bono had opened "a lot of doors" but that his own band still had to prove themselves.
The young Dublin band have just released their debut album It Won't Always be Like This and it has debuted at Number One in both Ireland and the UK.
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Speaking about his famous father, Hewson told the PA news agency: "I don't blame people who are interested in it. I would be interested if I heard that some person was in the same position I was in.
It's hard to express how grateful we are that our debut record has gone to number one on home turf. Theres no better feeling than seeing our music resonate with people on this island we love so much. We owe more thanks than we can possibly express to everyone who has supported us pic.twitter.com/RPFlgR0LJJ
— Inhaler (@InhalerDublin) July 16, 2021
"It has definitely allowed a lot of doors to be opened but I think those doors shut just as fast because some people may have pre-biases to the band.
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"But we are OK with that as long as you come to see a show and you buy a T-shirt on the way out.
"But I think we have grown to accept it. It is what it is. I don't think there is much point deflecting. If people want to talk about it, they want to talk about it.
Take a deep breath: Inhaler release killer debut album
"We have definitely found our own fanbase in the UK who maybe don't know who U2 is or are."
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The Dublin quarter released their first single, I Want You, in 2017 and were recognised as up-and-coming talent after they were placed fifth in BBC’s Sound Of 2020.
The band consists of 21-year-old Hewson, bassist Robert Keating, drummer Ryan McMahon and guitarist Josh Jenkinson.
Hewson said suggestions that he sounds like his father, who has fronted U2 since 1976, are "not much of a surprise because it's just DNA, isn’t it?".
He added that the band "grafted" to reach their current level of success, despite the pandemic halting their career progression and delaying tour dates.
"It’s of course really, really handy to be able go to someone like that and ask for advice," he said. "But I think we have all discovered that we need to figure things out on their own.
"I am sure a lot of people would have expected us just to take the easy route and use connections and stuff, but we haven’t done that.
"We did all the grafting. We have done a lot of grafting. You need to do it yourself to build character and make sure that your band can continue."
It Won’t Always Be Like This is out now on Polydor.
Source: Press Association
