Inoha Talks Viral Success, Life on Tour, and the Creative Process Behind Their Latest Album
Updated: 2 hours ago
For the band Inoha, viral success opened the door to new opportunities. But as the group continues to grow, its members are focused on making sure the music and the connections they build with fans remain at the center of everything they do.
How Inoha Got Its Name
Going viral can change a band's career, but turning that attention into something lasting takes more than one popular song. For Inoha, the focus remains on making music, connecting with fans, and continuing to grow as a band.
In a conversation with Too Recklss, members Keanu Bicol and Ricky Juarez talked about the meaning behind the band's name, the success of “7th Heaven,” and the process of making their latest album, This Might Be Useful. They also shared what touring is really like, how their songwriting has changed, and some of the unexpected moments they've experienced on the road.
The band, whose name stands for “In Need of Her Affection,” gained attention through its song “7th Heaven.” The song’s success brought new listeners, label interest and opportunities to tour. However, guitarist and vocalist Keanu Bicol said the band’s approach has remained the same despite the increased attention.
“I came up to him with two choices. It was Inoha, and the other choice was Ghost Mates,” Bicol explained. “Inoha obviously had a lot more meaning to it.”
Juarez picked up on which name Bicol preferred, and Inoha became the band's identity. Bicol said he connects the name to the feelings behind the group's music and its desire to reach people through its songs.
“I kind of take it as we write songs for people's affection, for people's, you know, love and everything,” Bicol said, explaining the meaning behind the band’s name.
That emphasis on connection carries over into the group’s live performances. Bicol said one of his favorite songs to perform is 7th Heaven because audiences sing along. He also enjoys playing Geshuou, which features a dramatic pause before the band launches into a riff that often prompts screams from the crowd.
Inoha’s rise has also been shaped by its commitment to authenticity. Bicol said the band does not rely on expensive equipment or elaborate production to connect with listeners. The original viral video for “7th Heaven,” he said, was recorded on an old Samsung phone.
“I think we maintain a lot of authenticity,” Bicol said. “We present ourselves as, like, a bunch of just normal guys.”
The band makes an effort to interact with fans after shows, signing merchandise and taking pictures. For Bicol, those moments reinforce the idea that Inoha is more than a band people encounter through their phone screens.
“We exist and we are real,” Bicol said.
(Inoha)
The Songs They Love Playing Live
For a band that gained attention online, performing in front of a live audience gives Inoha another way to connect with listeners.
Bicol named “7th Heaven” as one of his favorite songs to perform because of how much the crowd sings along. However, he also enjoys playing “Are We Cool?” from the band's newer material.
The song gives him a different experience on guitar and vocals compared with the faster tracks in the band's set. Juarez agreed, describing it as a more laid-back song that allows the music to settle into a different groove.
Bicol also highlighted “Geshu Out,” which features a dramatic pause before the band launches into a riff. He explained that he counts the band in before the music kicks off, often hearing the crowd scream as the riff begins. He even adds a big jump before the song gets going.
Those moments show what makes playing live exciting for the group. While “7th Heaven” may be the song many fans recognize, the band also enjoys giving audiences a chance to experience its other music.
Dealing With Attention After Going Viral
Inoha's success has not changed how the band wants to present itself. Bicol said the members see themselves as regular people rather than a group that needs a carefully planned image.
He pointed out that some bands have distinctive outfits and a recognizable look, while Inoha's appeal comes partly from its relatability. The members want fans to feel comfortable approaching them rather than seeing them as distant celebrities.
After shows, the band tries to meet as many fans as possible, signing merchandise, taking pictures, and spending time with people who came out to see them.
For Bicol, that connection matters just as much as the music people discover online.
The original viral video for “7th Heaven” also reflected the band's approach. Rather than using expensive equipment or an elaborate production setup, the video was recorded on an older Samsung phone.
Bicol recalled that the footage was so old-fashioned that the pixels were visible. Still, the song connected with listeners.
“Music has always been the most important thing for us,” he said.
The band's approach is a reminder that a song can reach people without a major production behind it. For Inoha, the music has always come first.
How the Band Approached "This Might Be Useful"
Inoha's creative process has also changed as the members have gained experience.
The band's debut album, Aloha Inoha, came together through a more spontaneous and collaborative approach. Members would bring guitar ideas to Bicol's living room, where they could combine parts, build on each other's ideas, and develop songs together.
For This Might Be Useful, the band took a different route.
Juarez said the group began seriously developing ideas for its second album around late November 2025. Instead of building every song together from the beginning, members started by creating individual demos, often around one to two minutes long. They then shared their ideas and decided which parts were worth developing further.
The process continued into the following months, with the band working on songs before heading out for its tour with Good Kid in April.
Even the tracklist took time to finalize. The members debated the order of the songs and continued listening to the mastered versions while on tour, testing different sequences in green rooms before settling on the final order.
The process reflects how the band has become more deliberate about making music. Instead of simply putting ideas together quickly, the members have spent more time figuring out how each song fits into the bigger picture.
The Pressure Behind “Figure It Out”
When asked which song felt the most personal on the newer album, Bicol chose “Figure It Out.”
He explained that the song uses the idea of a superhero who experiences fear and pressure despite appearing invincible. Although superheroes are often presented as unstoppable, Bicol said the song explores the challenges and doubts they might face.
That idea also connects to the band's own experience.
After the success of “7th Heaven” and the release of its debut album, Inoha faced the challenge of following up that momentum with another record. The expectations that come with a successful song can make the next step feel more difficult.
“Figure It Out is the most personally written,” Bicol said. “We feel pressure, you know, we feel the stakes.”
The song explores feelings that go beyond the band's own situation, giving listeners a way to connect with the pressure of trying to meet expectations.
Bicol also named “Are We Cool?” and “Burden” as his favorite songs from the album. Juarez picked “Are We Cool?” as well, explaining that recording the drums was especially rewarding because the song brought together several distinct musical ideas.
He said he was proud of how the different parts worked together, particularly in the pre-chorus and chorus. The song also stands out because it has a more relaxed feel than much of the band's other music.
The Reality of Life on Tour
Touring has become a major part of Inoha's growth, but life on the road comes with plenty of sacrifices.
Bicol described touring as a “very fun sacrifice.” The band went from playing a seven-day tour to spending roughly two months on the road, a significant change that forced the members to adjust to being away from home for extended periods.
The routine often involves late nights, early mornings, and drives of several hours to the next city. The band also has to find places to eat near venues to avoid spending extra money on transportation.
For Bicol, those experiences are part of proving that Inoha is more than a band people see on their phones. Performing live gives the group an opportunity to show audiences how it sounds in person, including the mistakes that can happen during a real performance.
Juarez said another important lesson has been learning how everyone functions in a touring environment. Spending nearly every day with the same group of people means each person needs to figure out how to recharge.
Sometimes that means going out to eat together. Other times, it means splitting into smaller groups, visiting a park, or spending time shopping and exploring.
Juarez explained that the things that help someone relax at home might not be the same things that help them during a tour. Learning what works for each person helps everyone maintain their energy and get through the long stretches on the road.
Over time, those experiences have helped the band and its crew develop a closer, family-like dynamic.
Golf, Good Food, and a Hotel They Wanted to Leave
Not every memorable tour experience happens on stage.
Juarez recalled a day off in Chicago when members of the band and their crew went to Five Iron Golf, an indoor golf simulator. After playing, they went to an Irish pub to eat before realizing there was another Five Iron Golf location across the street.
Instead of calling it a night, they returned for another two hours of golf.
The band also made time to try restaurants during its travels. Bicol recalled visiting a pierogi spot in Brooklyn and Kasama, a Filipino restaurant in Chicago featured in The Bear.
The group arrived shortly before the restaurant's daytime service ended, giving them just enough time to order.
Bicol said he went all in on the experience, ordering a meal that included a 20-ounce Wagyu ribeye with eggs. He described Kasama as his favorite meal of the tour.
Of course, touring also comes with less enjoyable experiences.
Juarez recalled arriving at a hotel room that had dirt, cobwebs, bugs, and other signs that it had not been properly cleaned. The band contacted its tour manager about finding another place to stay.
As everyone prepared to leave, however, Bicol decided to take a shower first. He explained that his room's shower was cleaner than the one in the other room, even though his own room had problems too.
It was a small but memorable example of the unpredictable situations that can come with spending weeks traveling between cities.
What's Next for Inoha?
Inoha's journey has taken the band from making music together in a living room to performing for audiences across the United States and parts of Canada.
The members have continued to develop their sound, build their live experience, and figure out how to manage the opportunities that followed “7th Heaven.” Their newer music also shows a willingness to explore different approaches to songwriting rather than simply repeating what worked before.
The band discussed upcoming shows across the West Coast, including stops in Arizona, Texas, and California. Bicol expressed excitement about returning to California, where Inoha was set to play its biggest headlining venue to date.
As its audience continues to grow, the group remains focused on its music and the people who support it. Viral success helped introduce Inoha to more listeners, but the band is continuing to build its career through songwriting, live performances, and the relationships it creates along the way.
For Inoha, the goal is not just to keep the momentum going. It is to keep making music that means something to the people listening.
Follow Inoha for updates on its music and upcoming shows, and stay tuned to Too Recklss for more artist interviews and stories from the music world.
