After following up their much-loved 2023 debut EP 'Ludlow Street' with the brilliant comeback single 'Nothing More' earlier this year, Irish outfit InBetween Honey are back on the grind once again to deliver their anthemic new offering 'Your Eyes'.
Bringing back more of that bold and anthemic indie-rock energy they have been building for themselves, 'Your Eyes' makes for a dazzling return to form for them. Brimming with killer hooks and explosive riffs throughout, they return to the fold with one of their most impactful efforts to date here.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with the band's Dylan Hickey to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The first instrument that I fell in love with was the guitar, I remember getting a little toy guitar for Christmas one year when I was very young and being absolutely obsessed with it, my family still have footage somewhere of me putting on concerts in our living room even though I didn’t know a single chord on the guitar.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
When I was younger my music taste came as a result of listening to music with my dad. Bands like The Rolling Stones, Eagles, and U2 would be blaring on any road trips. It was because of this that I picked up a love of classic rock and guitar music.
What was the first album you remember owning?
The first album that I ever owned was a copy of The Joshua Tree by U2 that my dad gave to me. But the first album that I ever bought was The Script’s debut album, a debut album from a young Irish band at the time that came from a background very similar to mine was really inspiring to me, and I thought it was a great album.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
I wish I wrote Slow Dancing in A Burning Room by John Mayer. That is my favourite song, and I think everything in it is perfect, from the lyrics to the guitar lines and all the way to the overall mix of the song. I still find myself getting goosebumps when listening to this song, even though I’ve heard it thousands of times.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
When I’m writing new music it always boils down to just me and an acoustic guitar. Once I find something I’m happy with I bring it to the band, and they do the hard work of helping me mould it into a full band track! When it comes to lyrics, I like to tell a story. In our new single ‘Your Eyes’ the two verses are told as a story/experience from two parties in a relationship. I also find it very interesting to really listen to people and take note of how they say things, if I meet someone in a bar and they have a really interesting saying, or I just have a really interesting conversation with someone I will immediately think about how I can translate that into a story that can potentially help me write a song.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
At the moment, I have been really getting into a band from Cork called The Love Buzz. A power pop band with a lot of attitude and insanely catchy lyrics, their newest EP is full of absolute bangers. Candid have also been spun throughout all of my playlists, their recent single ‘The Feeling’ has absolutely been one of my favourite songs this year. The Native have also had a place in my playlists, ‘Leopard Hat’, their newest release is bound to be an all-time classic.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
My favourite band of all time has always been Catfish and the Bottlemen, I would absolutely adore opening a show for them. I would also love to open a show for U2, I think that would really make my dad proud!
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
When we play live, and we have crowds of people singing words I or the band wrote in our bedrooms back to us I have never felt happier. I think writing words and music that means something to even one person is the most rewarding thing about being a musician.
And what is the most frustrating part?
The most frustrating part about being a musician is that when we play gigs and the adrenaline takes a hold, they are over before you know it. Being on stage gives me a sense of escape and euphoria that I find nothing else gives me, and I’m always frustrated when it ends almost as soon as it begins.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
The best piece of advice I received was more criticism than advice. When I was younger, I was told by someone that I should give up, that my vocals weren’t good enough and that if I was singing that the band would never make it anywhere. I think that flicked a switch in my brain that helped me realise that I don’t need to focus on what other people think, if I spend my time trying to constantly better myself in my craft, trying to make sure that I’m happy and enjoy what I’m doing then eventually something might come of it. But all in all, this piece of “advice” helped me to realise that I can do music for the love of it and not because I want to impress people. Being told you’re not good enough can be a good motivator to help you realise what makes you happy.
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InBetween Honey's new single 'Your Eyes' is out now. Check it out in the player below.