Bristol-based alt-Pop quartet Ålesund have released their third EP A Thread In The Dark alongside latest single Rhythm. We asked vocalist and lyricist Alba Torriset the BIG questions . . .
The follow up to 2020's All Hail To Your Queen, the EP is the first time a batch of songs have been written while the band were all in separate locations.
Speaking about the new tracks, Torriset says, "The usual hustle and bustle of life can drown things out, but with everything and everyone stopping, it brought a magnificent clarity. Hearing the birds sing, watching the trees blossom, following the cycles of the full moon.
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"Thinking more about what is real, what is important, human instincts, human interactions, the natural world and how we all work together within it."
Tell us three things about yourself?
I'm half-Norwegian and the band name Ålesund is the name of the Norwegian town my dad grew up in. It was nice to link it into the band in some way we thought.
I was trained in classical music when I was younger, but a desire to write and be a part of a band led me to popular music.
I help run a festival venue called The People's Front Room, it's a music venue like no other! Where the lines between performer and audience are dissolved and magic happens. We've had so many special gigs in that space.
How would you describe your music?
Atmospheric, alt-pop with LOTS of layers! Guitars, synths, bvs, strings, horns, bass, percussion, piano, keyboards etc etc. The more layers the merrier.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Florence and the Machine, Radiohead, Foals, London Grammar, Jeff Buckley.
What are you most looking forward to post-lockdown?
Aside from getting back gigging and playing live again - going to exhibitions! The V&A in London is one of my favourite places and I've missed it a lot . . .
What's your favourite song right now?
Fake Empire - The National. The drum beat and horn lines are so infectious, I listen to it on repeat!
Favourite lyric of all time?
"And it's peaceful in the deep Cathedral where you cannot breathe, No need to pray, no need to speak, Now I am under . . . "One of the reasons I'm so inspired by Florence and the Machine is her use of imagery and metaphor within her lyrics. I grew up by the sea and have always felt a strong connection to it, so when I heard these lyrics for the first time they really resonated and opened up creative possibilities for me.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I've decided to go slightly rogue and choose Richard Wagner's Liebestod for this one. I think it's one of the most moving and rich pieces of music I've ever heard, and I feel like there is so much to unpick and discover in every listen. So even a lifetime of listening wouldn't get boring.
Where can people find your music/more information?
We are available to stream on all platforms: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Play etc. And can be found on all socials via @alesundmusic.
