Meet INHEAVEN, the South London four-piece with a DIY ethic who are reinventing shoegaze and grunge for the 21st century.
Inheaven’s sound, equal parts grunge, Britpop and shimmering 80’s indebted dark pop, has already stirred up a buzz and caught the ears of The Strokes’ frontman Julian Casablancas. The smattering of singles they’ve released so far are exhilarating although 2015’s ‘Regeneration’ is the cream of the crop: garage grit, a thunderous chorus and Jesus and Mary Chain gloom.
“All those bands you grew up loving, the bands that changed your life – owning that t-shirt and buying that record, looking at the fanzines – you kind of owe it to them to carry it on. You want to do what all your favourite icons did,” explains singer and guitarist James Taylor. “Nirvana were a massive influence for me growing up, and the Clash for their ideology. Sonic Youth, the Cure.
Chloe Little, on bass and vocals, laughs: “I’ve tried to be clever before and ‘say something’ with lyrics, but it just came our awful. We’re better just going with how we feel.”
With a sound echoing some of the ’90s shoegaze and grunge they explored in their teens, INHEAVEN understand that semi-obsessive streak that fans experience. “Bands are so emotional,” says Little. “I used to grab hold of everything I could and just cling onto it, pour over it.”
Having released just four songs into the world, their own fans are already responding with excitement and INHEAVEN have just finished a tour with The Big Moon and VANT.
The Fat Angel Sings 