Interview with Rising Alma

Rising Alma recently released their second album, Cracking the Moment. We will take a closer look at this album and discuss the band.
Alan – Hi guys – let’s talk a little bit about you.
Alise – Hi Alan! Thanks for having us, happy to be here. Let’s do this! 

Alan – How are you doing? The band is from Germany, but are you international? Where are you from?
Alise –  We’re doing really well, actually. The year started strong for us. Last year brought a lot of important lessons to us as a band, but right now we feel focused, motivated, and in a really good place. Rising Alma is definitely international. The founders of the band are from Latvia and Uruguay. We met in Berlin, which became the meeting point for everything. Our bassist and drummer are both from Germany, so the band is a mix of different backgrounds coming together in one sound.

Alan – Who is in the band? Where is who from? And when was the band formed?
Alise – Our singer Alīse is from Latvia, and guitarist Máximo is from Uruguay, they met in Berlin. Later on, we found our bassist Bastie and drummer Finn, both from Germany. Rising Alma was formed in 2021 in Berlin.

Alan – You have one EP and two albums? Difference between the records?
Alise – Yes. Our first EP Ongoing Hope came together shortly after we started writing music as the core of the band. It was during the time when Covid was still very present, so we spent a lot of time experimenting, discovering our sound, and slowly building our home studio. That EP captures a very raw and searching phase of Rising Alma. When we released our first full-length album Awake, we already had a much clearer identity. We had written a lot of material by then, and that album felt like a real statement of who we are as a band. We were growing as songwriters, and Máximo was also developing strongly as the producer of the band. With Cracking the Moment, we knew things had to evolve again. We wanted to show more sides of Rising Alma, that’s why each song has its own character and atmosphere. We also wanted to keep the sound as natural and honest as possible, which might not be very common today. Every release represents who we are at that moment  and who we’re becoming.

Alan – Your musical focus?
Alise -  Our focus is to keep creating music we truly believe in and love. Authenticity is very important to us both in songwriting and in production. We don’t want to chase trends; we want our music to reflect who we really are. 

Alan – Who did you record the album Cracking the Moment with? Where did they do the mastering? And did anyone else help you?
Alise – We recorded everything in our home studio, so the album is completely self-produced. That gives us the freedom to work in our own way and at our own pace, which is really important to us. Máximo is responsible for the mixing and mastering. Of course, we listen and discuss everything together as a band, but he’s the one spending most of the time shaping the sound and production.

Alan – There is also a cover on the album. Why did you choose Laura Branigan? Otherwise great, thanks for reminding me of 1984.
Alise – We’re happy it brought back good memories! Actually, Laura Branigan isn’t the original songwriter, but her version was a big inspiration for us. That song had been floating around for quite a while during the band’s journey. Máximo mentioned several times that he really loves it, and when we started talking about possible cover songs, it just kept coming back. There’s something mysterious and powerful about it, both in the sound and the overall vibe, and that really resonated with us.

Alan – If you could briefly describe each song separately, both musically and lyrically, would that be possible?
Games - The song kicks off with a strong, catchy guitar riff that immediately sets the tone, something intense is coming. Lyrically, it explores games we play in our minds, blending a personal story with themes of reality and fantasy. Musically, it balances a playful edge with dramatic tension, constantly moving between light and dark.
Higher - Built around a driving guitar riff, Higher is more straightforward and direct. It carries an uplifting message, calling the listener to rise above, while still acknowledging the darker reality of how easy it is to feel stuck in everyday life. It’s hopeful, but honest.
Oblivious - This song was written on piano and opens in a very vulnerable way, just vocals and piano. It dives deep into emotion and openly shows fragile moments in someone’s life. The chorus grows into a powerful anthem, before pulling back into a quiet, thoughtful bridge that brings the listener close again.
Underestimate Me - A very dynamic piece. It starts with shifting drum tempos and energetic guitars, then moves into more reflective and melodic vocal parts. The song constantly switches between toughness and softness. There’s a dark undercurrent running through it, but it’s always pushing toward light and hope.
Time - Time is a fighting song from beginning to end. It invites the listener to stand up and fight for their own life. Instrumentally, it’s consistent, powerful, and relentless, no distractions, just pure drive.
Truth and Lies - This track builds into a big, anthem-like chorus that makes you want to sing along and believe there’s something more to this life. The song has a strong narrative feel, following a character - a woman who can be interpreted either as a real person or something more symbolic and conceptual.
Mystery - Opening with just vocals, the song slowly pulls you in before exploding into a powerful, catchy guitar riff. The rhythmic verses question existence why are we here, and is there something more? The chorus is melodic, big, and emotionally charged.
Touch the Sky - Touch the Sky lives in the space between hope and darkness. A low piano theme intertwines with the bass, creating a deep atmosphere, while melodies flow throughout the song. 
Innocence - Full of energy and raw emotion, this song touches on the theme of fatherlessness. It’s heartfelt, honest, and powerful, the kind of track that hits emotionally but still makes you want to headbang.
Snakes - A very personal and straightforward song about manipulation and toxic situations. The guitar sets the tone right from the start matching the intensity of the message.
Self Control - We stayed close to the Laura Branigan’s version of this song, which inspired us the most. At the same time, we made it our own by giving it a heavier, darker edge while keeping the emotional core and intensity of the original song intact.

Alan – How do you feel about the album? What do people, fans, say about it? Zines and radio? And I don't mean critics.
Alise – We’re really proud of the album because we made it completely our way and shared exactly what we wanted to share with the world. It took some risk and faith. But that´s really what means a lot to us. We’re incredibly thankful to the radios that play our songs and to the people who tell us the music stayed in their heads for days or made them feel something. That kind of feedback is the most important part for us. Above all, we truly believe in this album, and yes, we’ve received a lot of love, which feels amazing.

Alan – What else is coming with the album? Concerts? A release? Video clips?
Alise –  We’ve released a lyric video for Games and a full music video for Underestimate Me, both are available on YouTube. We’re playing concerts in Berlin, and we also have plans for 2026… but we’ll keep those as a little secret for now. So stay tuned 😉

Alan – Speaking of video clips, do you have any funny experiences?
Alise – Definitely. The most memorable one was during the filming of Underestimate Me. It was a great experience because we were working with friends, but the location, a huge abandoned building,brought some unexpected moments. At one point, the actor who was chasing Alīse in the video, Marco, was standing near a doorway with our makeup artist Emma, waiting for the next scene. Meanwhile, some teenagers were exploring the building and scaring each other… until they suddenly ran into Marco, dressed in dirty clothes and looking pretty creepy. They screamed so loud that Marco and our friend screamed too and the rest of us, shooting nearby, thought someone was actually coming after us. It was terrifying and extremely funny at the same time.

Alan – Let's stay with the fun for a while. Any funny experiences from playing, or from traveling to a concert or festival?
Alise – One moment that immediately comes to mind is our last concert in Berlin. While we were playing, our drummer Finn actually fell off the stage. The drums were placed on a small pedestal with glass protection around them, so suddenly we heard the disappearing of the drums for a second in a song and the glass starting to move. We managed to finish the set, and everyone was okay  but looking back at it now, it’s definitely one of those moments we laugh about, compering to the popular song of Vanesa Clarton but this time it was Finn traveling with the drums off the stage.

Alan – Our zine readers are from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Do you know any bands from these regions? Or do you know these two countries?
Alise – We’re familiar with the Czech Republic, some of us have been to Prague a few times, and it’s an amazing, liveful city. We’re also currently applying to some festivals there, so that’s probably our closest connection right now. Alīse also remembers visiting the Tatra Mountains as a child. We’re not deeply familiar with the rock scene in these countries yet, but we’re sure there are some great bands out there. Artists like Lenka are definitely known to us.

Alan – Who is your work based on? It's very, very melodic, yet it's still rock metal.
Alise – Our music is based on the songwriting collaboration between Alīse and Máximo. Our influences and the music we listen to can be quite different, but what matters is what happens when we create together. At some point, we really understood what Rising Alma sounds and feels like, and since then we’ve been trying to stay true to that identity. The sound truly started to take shape during the Awake album and has kept evolving since.

Alan – Alise – did you choose your singing style/form of singing according to yourself? Or according to the model of which singer? I can easily hear Dolores O'Riordan from The Cranberries here.
Alise – I grew up with classical and choir music, so singing was always some part of my life. I knew quite early that I wanted to make my own music, but for a long time I didn’t know what direction it would take but it made me feel like an underdog in the classical scene around me. Not long before starting Rising Alma, I began to find my own voice and realized I wanted to bring more rock energy and intensity into it. That felt the most honest and natural for me. I never tried to sound like one specific singer ,I was actually more into bands with male vocalists. But bands like Flyleaf gave me the courage to fully pursue rock music as a woman. I also admired Guano Apes as a young teenager. I feel like it was my first and only female fronted rock CD and I kept listening to it and felt connection to the way she sang. I liked the courage that I felt through. Probably that has inspired me the most, the mentality of certain female singers. I was never really giving much thought to the vocals itself.

Alan – The album has only been out for a while. What else are you preparing for it? An African tour?
Alise – We’ve already released 2 videos and played songs from the album live including our album release concert. The physical copies are available, and since this is our second independently released album, we feel it’s something we’ll keep talking about and promoting for quite some time. Even if it’s already out, the journey with this album is far from over. 

Alan – Again, while we're on the subject of touring. Where will we see you in 2026? And outside of Germany?
Alise – Right now, we’re actively playing shows in Berlin. From summer onward, we’re hoping to play more outside the city and around Germany. And who knows, maybe we’ll see you in the Czech Republic or Slovakia sooner than expected. 

Alan – In your short existence of 5 years. Where have you played everywhere? At least the most interesting? And have you traveled outside of Germany to play?
Alise – We started the band at a time when even meeting people was difficult, so it took a while before live shows really became possible. Once things opened up, we played in cities like Leipzig, Dresden, and Wuppertal. Now we’re looking further ahead, aiming for festivals both in and outside of Germany. Every concert has been special in its own way, it’s hard to pick just one. Each show brings a new connection, a new emotion, and often a new fan. That’s what makes playing live so meaningful to us.

Alan - Great, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for further creation and playing. See you later.
Alise –  Thank you so much, Alan. These were great questions, and we really appreciate your support and what you do. We wish you a great year both in your life and work!
https://risingalma.com
https://www.facebook.com/Risingalma
https://sliptrickrecords.com