Rising Alma interview
Hello! Your Own Story is a title that immediately suggests something personal. Was there one specific moment or experience that became the emotional starting point for this EP?
So many people go through similar struggles and emotions, often without feeling understood or heard. That's why we called the EP Your Own Story. We wanted these songs to belong to the listeners as much as they belong to us.
Hey! Thanks for the interview and this is a good question. There was a moment when we realized this EP was becoming something different that what we would have imagined. It brought together some tough experiences, also lessons, turning them into a quiet but at the same time deeply passionate expression.
Your lyrics revolve around struggle, transformation, and resilience. Do you usually write from direct personal experience, or do your songs also absorb the stories of people around you?
We never write a song that doesn't have something personal in it.
Many of our songs are very vulnerable and come from real experiences that have shaped who we are, so there's always a genuine emotional connection behind them. At the same time, we also draw inspiration from the world around us. The music itself mostly inspires the writing process, and once we connect with the emotion it evokes, the lyrics begin to take shape.
The band spans Latvia, Uruguay, and Germany. How has working across three different countries influenced your songwriting and creative process?
People often assume we write music across three different countries, but we all met in Berlin where we live. We're pretty old school when it comes to songwriting. Most of it happens in our home studio, where Alīse and Máximo spend a lot of time writing together. Our different cultural backgrounds naturally influence the music, but the songs are built face to face.
Compared to Cracking The Moment, what do you feel has changed the most in the way Rising Alma writes and approaches music?
I think we've kept the same mindset, we still make the music we believe in, and it always has to feel extremely honest to us. The biggest difference with Your Own Story is that we were braver. Instead of trying to follow up Cracking The Moment or meet expectations, we simply went in the direction that felt right for us at that moment. We trusted our instincts, both in songwriting and production and I think you can hear that throughout the EP.
You describe the EP as a balance between vulnerability and strength. Is it easier to write songs about difficult experiences once you've overcome them, or while you're still living through them?
That's an interesting question, and I think it depends on the song. On this EP, we have both. For example, Authenticity was inspired by thinking about recent events and reflecting on them. Underneath, on the other hand, was written through tears, right in the middle of a difficult moment. Writing it became part of the healing process. Putting those emotions into words reminded us that songwriting can turn pain into something meaningful and hopefully give someone else the strength or hope they need to get through their own struggles.
Female-fronted hard rock has seen renewed attention in recent years. Do you feel that label accurately represents Rising Alma, or would you rather listeners approach the music without any expectations tied to it?
We've thought about this a lot. We don't really want to be tied to any label, but we also understand that genres help people know what to expect. That's why we usually describe ourselves as a melodic hard rock band, it feels like the closest fit without over-complicating it. At the same time, we enjoy seeing how differently people describe our music. Some hear alternative rock, others hear metal or even grunge influences. We don't think our sound fits neatly into one box, and we'd rather listeners discover it with an open mind than be limited by a label.
Melody has always been central to your sound. When writing new material, what usually comes first: the vocal melodies, the guitar riffs, or the lyrical concept?
Most songs begin with a guitar riff. Every now and then, though, a song starts on the piano. From there, the vocal melodies develop naturally, shaping the foundation of the song and inspiring the lyrics and everything that follows.
The production deliberately avoids sounding overly polished. Was preserving emotional honesty more important than achieving technical perfection?
Yes, totally. Our goal was to preserve the natural dynamics of the music rather than polish everything to perfection. We don't like overly compressed or saturated productions. We want the songs to breathe, allowing the vocals and instruments to keep their own character. That's just the way we want to sound.
Every song on the EP has its own identity while contributing to a larger narrative. Did you envision Your Own Story as a complete listening experience from the beginning, or did that concept emerge later?
We realised quite early where the EP was heading. It wasn't meant to be an overly dynamic collection of songs, but rather a snapshot of a particular chapter in our lives. We've always seen albums and EPs as chapters rather than just a group of songs which is probably why people often say our records feel connected and belong together.
The title Authenticity feels especially significant in an era where musicians are constantly exposed to social media and public expectations. What does authenticity actually mean to Rising Alma today?
That's a really meaningful question. To us, authenticity means having the courage to create the music only we can create, instead of chasing fleeting fame or trying to fit someone else's idea of success. Authenticity is about resisting the pressure to follow trends, compare yourself to others, or become what the world expects you to be. It's about staying true to your own vision, putting in the work to bring it to life, and believing that honesty will always outlast hype. That's something we try to live by as musicians.
Hard rock often celebrates confidence and power, yet your music also embraces vulnerability. Do you think audiences today connect more deeply with artists who are willing to show both sides?
We think every kind of music can connect with people in different ways, but we've experienced that music written from a real place often hits differently. For us, vulnerability means being honest with ourselves, both in the lyrics and in the music we create. We don't see confidence as showing off or proving how good we are as musicians. It's about trusting what we create and having the courage to share it with the world, even when it's deeply personal. We think that's what makes the heavier moments feel more powerful and the quieter moments more genuine, they all come from the same honest place. That’s just how we connect with music.
Has working with musicians from different cultural backgrounds ever challenged your assumptions about songwriting or musical expression?
Not really. If anything, it has reinforced our belief that music is a universal language. Our different backgrounds bring different influences and perspectives, but when we create together, it all comes together naturally. We have always been inspired by artists, bands, and composers from all over the world, so being influenced by different musical backgrounds feels very natural to us. We think those differences are part of what makes our sound unique.
If someone who has never heard Rising Alma could only listen to one track from this EP, which song would you choose to represent the band, and why?
I’d probably choose Endless. It’s always difficult to pick just one song because every track has its own identity, but I think Endless captures many sides of what Rising Alma is about.
It has the composition, the expressive vocal lines, strong lyrics, the guitar solo that keeps you inside the momentum of the song, and the different sound elements and textures that add to the atmosphere. It’s a very dynamic track that moves through different emotions, and I think it gives a good picture of our sound and the kind of energy we want to create.
Looking beyond Your Own Story, do you see Rising Alma continuing in this melodic hard rock direction, or are there musical ideas you're still waiting for the right moment to explore?
As much as we know who we are as a band, we also feel like we discover something new through every song we write. That’s why it’s difficult for us to limit ourselves to one specific direction or category. Melodic hard rock is a good way to describe where we are now, but we always want to leave space for new ideas and influences to come naturally. As long as the music feels honest and represents us, we’re open to exploring where it takes us.
Finally, if listeners take just one message away from Your Own Story, what do you hope stays with them long after the music ends?
We hope people take away the message behind the whole EP: we do things our way, we write our own story and so can you. Writing your own story also means accepting that you won’t please everyone, and that’s okay. What matters is staying true to yourself and having the courage to follow your own path. The message might sound simple, but sometimes the simplest things carry the deepest meaning.
