The Bristol-based alt-pop band Ålesund is a master of fantasy. Their latest single, Lighting, delivers new age with an edge. Here at Jejune, the song is being played on repeat, and we couldn’t be more excited to learn about Ålesund’s creative vision. Led by powerhouse vocalist Alba Torriset, the band is cultivating a dreamy, Nordic-inspired image of freedom and self-expression. We sat down with Torriset to discuss their upcoming EP, A Thread in the Dark, the message behind Lighting’s eclectic music video, and how Torriset, alongside collaborator and producer Jake Bright give back to causes that matter to them - from food banks to the British Red Cross. To find out more about Ålesund, read below.

Where are you based?
We are a Bristol band.

What inspired you to become musicians? Who are some of your influences?
I actually learnt to sing in Church - I loved the acoustics! But growing up I listened to everything from The Beatles to Ella Fitzgerald to The Spice Girls. Big influences for me though have been Florence and the Machine, Kate Bush, Bat For Lashes, Foals and Radiohead.

How did you meet and decide to start a band?
I was on the hunt for a guitarist when I moved to Bristol, I’d jammed with a load of various players but nothing felt like the right fit, until I met Lloyd. Everything started to form around us after that. When Jake started producing our music it took us on an exciting new road, which we’re still on today.

Alba, what is your goal as a songwriter? How do you hope to connect with people through songwriting?
I guess my goal is to make the listener feel something, conjure up an emotion, create an atmosphere. I always start my writing process with something that is real, a lived experience, an emotional state, a relationship, a point of view, how I see the world etc. But then I like to make it bigger than just being about myself, broaden the language and scope of how people can read into it and discover it for themselves.

You’re known for making atmospheric, dreamlike alternative-pop. Could you talk about how you found your style of music?
I grew up playing classical music, violin and flute in orchestras and, as I mentioned before, singing in choirs. So I think a lot of the atmospheric and epic influences stem from that. Big walls of sound and lots of reverb and drama. I’m also into a lot of contemporary music, so I guess the collision of both those worlds has informed the music I make.

You’ve recently released “Lightning,” part of your upcoming EP, A Thread in the Dark. What is “Lightning” about and what inspired you to write it?
The song is about the feeling you get before making a big life decision. It’s about believing in what you love and trusting that good things will come out of that.

Could you take us through the story behind “Lightning’s” music video? Why did you particularly choose to film it on a beach?
The inspiration behind the video is based on Eadweard Muybridge and his Studies In Motion. I absolutely love his work and think the birth of the moving image is really beautiful. I based the video around that. We thought the beach would be a nice backdrop for it, also it’s a nice nod to reflect some of my ocean themed lyrics within the track.

What can fans expect from A Thread in the Dark? How will it differ from your previous EP, All Hail to Your Queen?
I felt we really stepped into a new direction with All Hail To Your Queen, moving more into uptempo, rhythm led tracks, so I knew I wanted to continue with that trajectory. However, I guess the difference with A Thread In The Dark is that the majority of it was demoed up solo and then sent onto the rest of the band, as opposed to being jammed out together in a rehearsal room. It was a different way of working, but I really enjoyed it!

COVID-19 has been a source of struggle and of creativity for many artists. What did you find yourself doing during the pandemic that was new, unusual?
I learnt how to use Logic, which was a big achievement!! I’m still pretty basic with it, but I can demo up my ideas now which feels like a big step in the right direction. I doubt I ever would have learnt, if it hadn’t been for lockdown. I’ve also gotten into painting, specifically botanical watercolours. It’s been my favorite lockdown pastime!

How did this time impact your music?
Obviously we lost all our live work and our tour was cancelled whilst we were on the road! But if I’m looking at it glass-half-full, it’s been amazing to have so much time to write, record and get creative in the studio. So for that I am thankful.

What are you looking forward to in the near future in terms of your artistic projects?
I’m hoping that we can finally play all this new music to real life audiences. I would love to be able to rebook our tour and get out there and play lots of shows.

Alba and Jake - When you’re not in the studio, you are volunteering at local food banks in Bristol. When did you begin to volunteer at these places and what moved you to do so?
Alba: My housemate actually started running one last summer. There was a need for it within the community so she started it up. I began helping her in the autumn and have been doing it weekly since then.

Jake: I started in January 2019, just before the pandemic took hold. I’d barely learned the names of everyone there before we had to switch to a delivery based service rather than the drop-ins. It was surreal - I went from newbie to one of the core group in a matter of weeks as most of the other volunteers were required to shield due to Covid. Food banks have been on my radar for a while, but I wanted to know a bit more about what was going on in Britain. It’s easy to stay in your groove and miss the nuances of what’s going on in society. The one thing that shocked me was how many different reasons there were for people needing help. Victims of domestic abuse, coercion, long-term illness and drug addiction were all there. I’ve seen NHS nurses and ex-servicemen using food banks. The ’Smirnoff, cigarettes and Sky TV’ myth is shameful and drenched in biggotry. I’ve yet to meet someone who uses a food bank who doesn’t feel ashamed.

What has it been like being in the food banks during the pandemic? Have you seen an increase of people needing to go to the food banks?
Alba: It’s been one of the things that has kept me sane to be honest! A bit of consistency, routine and practical work each week has been great. But yea our foodbank has just got busier, it’s kind of been a double edged sword. You’re really happy you’re able to help more and more families each week, but at the same time that means more and more people actually need help, which is really difficult.

Jake: In terms of uptake, the figures for the year aren’t yet available, but there has been a significant increase in demand in the last 12 months. That’s not the only issue though. Our distribution centre has been operating a delivery service as we cover quite a wide rural area. It’s tricky because we do more than just hand out food. Much of our pastoral work is only possible face-to-face. We have Safeguarding mechanisms in place to help catch the vulnerable when they need it - that’s not possible with a remote service.

Do you feel like we are doing enough for the people down on their luck during this economic collapse?
Alba: I’m consistently amazed at the generosity that is shown to our foodbank, we have donations coming in all the time and a lot of people and communities are incredibly kind, making sure we have a great selection to offer our families. However, I think it’s shameful that our Country, one of the richest in the Western World, is forcing families to become reliant on food banks. Why are people not paid well enough to put food on the table? Surely we need to address this…

Jake: Not really, but I’m not sure what else can be done at this stage. Everything is so fragile. I find it concerning that most efforts are going into maintaining the economy at any cost. I fully understand the need to keep the engine running, but it seems mad that no alternative is being discussed, let alone explored. It’s also terrifying seeing the chasm between class, race and nationality widening. We need unilateral cooperation, but quarantines and lockdowns have enforced solipsism to a new level. With Ålesund, we have devoted our lives to making music and the positivity it brings. It’s impossible for us to make anything musical without cooperating - the same is true of any community.

Alba, last year you dedicated your time to raising money for the British Red Cross Refugees. What drew you to collaborating with them?
I’ve always been compelled to help the refugee crisis, I think it’s pure luck where we are born and if I had to flee my country because of war or famine I’d like to think people on the other side of the world would welcome and support me in building a safer life, and contributing to my new found home… I noticed British Red Cross were doing a fundraising effort and it was between lockdowns so I thought it’d be a good way to spend my spare time, raising some awareness and some much needed funds for a great cause.

Could you talk about how the British Red Cross supports refugees and your experience working with this organization?
The British Red Cross supports vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers and provides refugee services in 58 towns and cities across the country. As part of the international Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, they also help people who are forced to flee their homes. Together, they help them find safe and legal routes to new countries.

The British Red Cross has:
- Supported 39,824 refugees.
- Reunited 1,280 families in 2019.
- Provided protection through shelters, anti trafficking programs and legal advice.
- Helped reduce destitution by providing food, water, clothes and money.
- During the Covid outbreak they have worked with doctors around the world to supply information on Coronavirus in 45 languages.
-They’ve delivered 3,300 food parcels and supported over 1,850 asylum seekers and refugees to find accommodation.

I was totally blown away by people’s generosity, donating and supporting my fundraising efforts. The way British Red Cross set it all up was a really easy way to get involved, raise money and point a spotlight on a cause I truly believe in.

How do you think the UK government is supporting refugees and asylum seekers?
I believe everyone is entitled to their opinions, but the way I see it, is that people who seek refuge in a new country are real people who deserve dignity, respect and our help when it is needed. These people have families and loved ones to care for, they are children who deserve to have an education, they are doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, trades people - people with experiences and skills that will contribute to our country. A lot of the time in politics and the constant race to pip the polls this human element seems to get lost. Instead, the focus is on division, fear and hate. However unity, compassion and understanding brings a community together and that is something I can get behind.

With borders being shut down due to the pandemic it has been much harder for refugees. Can you speak of this some?
Yeah I guess it’s made an already awful situation ten times worse. The Napier Barracks crisis really brought this into the forefront, and into the news which was vital. But now this media frenzy has died down and a crisis still exists. I’m not a politician, and nor do I want to be, so it’s not for me to start proposing new policy, but we can all do our part to bring the change (however big or small) we want to see in the world. There are so many people and organisations doing such great work out there and in my opinion they should all be celebrated and supported.

How do you hope things will change once things open back up?
I don’t really think I can answer this question! Think it’s going to take more than opening up from lockdown to change things...

How can we raise awareness towards the issue and provide aid towards refugees?
I think a lot of it has to do with attitude. There seems to be a lot of fear around refugees, “they’re stealing our jobs/taking our benefits/will become terrorists.” When really we need to look at it as if it was our friend, family or loved one seeking help. No one is illegal, everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and have the opportunity to live in a safe place. If attitudes can change we can all help and become a country that welcomes refugees. There are lots of great organisations that work towards this: Choose Love, Help Refugees, British Red Cross and The Refugee Community Kitchen in Calais to name just a few. I would urge anyone to donate to a cause close to their heart when they can - whether that is signing petitions, donating money, time or skills.

How are you staying positive during lockdown?
Exercising, getting outside and being in nature/the coast when possible. Being creative, if I’m not inspired to make music, trying to paint or read or generally be wholesome and productive. If all of that fails, then a bottle of wine and good film!!

What is your motto in life?
From tiny acorns, mighty oaks do grow.

To keep up with Ålesund, be sure to find them on the following platforms.
http://www.alesundmusic.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1rv6lF1OqYtS0xASKnprDYsi=H2DtFPOiSo6eUBZ0hgPYGA&nd=1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alesundmusic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alesundmusic/

Photos are by Andrew Edgecumbe.

Ålesund’s World of Dreams