Culture
29 Dec 20

Vote Now: Irish band Inhaler nominated for the Music Moves Europe Talent Awards 2021

Dublin quartet Inhaler formed while at school, and have been rising steadily ever since – amassing a diehard fanbase and 25 million global streams of their tracks. Now the band are in contention for a major European prize, decided on a public vote...

Breakthrough indie-rock band Inhaler and Brighton post-punk band Squid have both been nominated for the Music Moves Europe Talent Awards 2021.

The Irish band consists of vocalist/guitarist Elijah Hewson (son of U2 frontman Bono), bassist Robert Keating, guitarist Josh Jenkinson and drummer Ryan McMahon. The band were hailed early on as one of Ireland's brightest new hopes by Hot Press and subsequently signed to Polydor. A victory in Music Moves would represent a further leap forward for a band that has got everything right thus far. However, the opposition will be strong, not least if larger countries than Ireland get behind their own artists.

Other nominees include hotly-tipped acts Squid, My Ugly Clementine and Crystal Murray, among many more.

The full list of nominees was announced at the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg, with the European Commissioner for Culture, Mariya Gabriel, present for the news.

The annual prize for popular and contemporary music celebrates emerging artists who represent "the European sound of today and tomorrow."

The winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony on January 15th, during the Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS) 2021 festival in Groningen, The Netherlands.

A total of sixteen outstanding artists are nominated for the Music Moves Europe Talent Awards 2021.

Inhaler are up against Alyona Alyona, Bratři, Calby, Crystal Murray, Julia Bardo, Lina_ Raül Refree, Lous and The Yakuza, Melenas, Mero, My Ugly Clementine, Nea, Rimon, Sassy 009, Squid and Vildá.

The voting runs until January 7th via the official Music Moves Europe Talent Awards website – music fans can vote for Inhaler here.

As well as prestige, the winner of the Public Choice Award 2021 also receive a cash prize of €5,000.

From the sixteen nominees, a jury of writers, broadcasters, journalists and critics will select eight winners. Each winner selected by the jury receives a separate prize worth €10,000 to be spent towards promoting their international careers.

2020 was a busy year the the Irish band. The outfit released 'We Have To Move On' in January of this year, as well as 'Falling In' in May 2020. Following the release of their new single in October, Inhaler returned with a trippy video for their anthemic rock track, 'When It Breaks'.

“I think being a young band on tour and seeing our music connect with audiences from different parts of the world has opened our eyes to the excitement and exhilaration of life. Being up on stage and feeling wanted and loved can be a very powerful drug," Elijah Hewson said in a press release on the band's progress.

“We're just beginning to encounter our own egos and becoming aware that allowing it to be in charge of who you are can be your downfall. You can cut yourself on its sharp edges and bleed to death if you’re not careful. We want to meet our egos head on, shake their hands and give them a hug. We are not afraid of them... we know we need each other. Your ego can be your friend, but you need your mates to make sure it doesn’t boss you around.”