“We were simply engaged in our craft, creating art without any specific expectations for the outcome.”

Sean Ingram made a special appearance on Loudwire Nights on Friday, April 11, to celebrate the much-anticipated release of Idle Heirs’ extraordinary debut album, Life Is Violence. You can explore the full discussion in the audio player at the conclusion of this article.

The freedom from creative pressure in crafting this new music permitted Ingram to delve deeper into his personal experiences than ever before in his songwriting. However, it also led him to question whether he would ever share Life Is Violence with the broader public.

“This album was never meant for anyone beyond our close circle of friends,” Ingram confessed to host Chuck Armstrong during the interview.

“This truly is a deeply personal record for me. I often describe it this way: If you dislike this album, it feels like a reflection of your feelings towards me personally. There’s an inextricable connection between the two. That’s quite intimidating. The world can be an unforgiving place.”

Ingram, who is also recognized as the frontman for the influential mathcore band Coalesce, shared his concerns regarding how these vulnerable new tracks would be received by listeners.

“This album was not crafted with a protective emotional barrier,” he revealed openly.

“It was created from a place of vulnerability. It wasn’t until the team at Relapse [Records] expressed significant interest in my work that we began to ease those concerns.”

Ingram collaborated closely with producer Josh Barber throughout this creative journey. Their friendship had long been established, and they had always envisioned working together. However, it was only when Ingram embarked on the journey that would culminate in Life Is Violence that their collaboration truly took shape.

“We would start and stop, making progress in fits and starts, and eventually I felt we needed to either commit wholeheartedly or stop discussing it altogether,” Ingram explained.

“[Josh] I viewed it as a challenge, but for me, it was more about saying, ‘Either take action or stop bringing it up because my ability to write music hinges on this. I can only tell stories and pen lyrics. I need you to step up for me to express my creativity.’”

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Barber wasted no time; he quickly departed from Kansas City and made his way to the Pacific Northwest. While in this secluded environment, he began composing the music for Life Is Violence.

“He started sending me demo tracks, and I instantly fell in love with what he was creating. This was precisely the direction I wanted to pursue.”

Key Insights from Sean Ingram’s Discussion on Loudwire Nights

• How his wife inspired him to embark on new musical endeavors: “I found myself grieving and losing people one after another. It put me in a very dark emotional space, and I really struggled to navigate through that … It wasn’t until my wife pointed it out and said, ‘Look, I’ve never seen you happier than when you’re engaged in making music. No matter what it takes, you need to pursue that.’”
• The reasoning behind recording Life Is Violence at the renowned Ocean Sound recording studio in Norway: “We were seizing every opportunity that came our way because we weren’t sure if we’d ever have another chance to create and write music together again. So when Josh suggested, ‘Hey, I’ve always dreamed of recording here, can we just get the credit cards out?’ we jumped at the chance.”
• What lies ahead for Idle Heirs: “There is definitely a future for us, without a doubt. What that future entails remains uncertain, but I’m not actively chasing anything either. I also refuse to dismiss any opportunities that come my way. The chances to create music seem to be diminishing, so I value and embrace them seriously.”

Catch the Full Interview in the Podcast Player Below

Sean Ingram joined Loudwire Nights on Friday, April 11; the show replays online, and you can listen live every weeknight at 7 PM ET or through the Loudwire app. Additionally, check your local radio stations to see if the show is available and listen to interviews on-demand.