Alms is short for Aitor Lucena Martinez Solo. The Spanish musician has recently put out an album “An Irosmic Tragedy” and here is what he says about it, among other things.

Hey Aitor. How are you doing?

I’m fine, thank you! Enjoying the great reception of my new album!

You just released new album titled “An Irosmic Tragedy.” How do you feel about the release?

It’s being absolutely fantastic. It took two years since I started composing “An Irosmic Tragedy” until its release. It’s been so long because of my duties at work and University, but the final result is totally worth it. I’m very happy with it and, as I said, its reception is being awesome.

How much of a challenge was it to work on the album?

It was pretty exhausting. After “Beyond”, my debut album, I wanted to keep in the same line and write a new epic that would be a prequel, a musical journey through my own vision of life. But I wanted to make things better, the idea had to be more solid and the sound more organic. For this, I needed to count on some collaborators to play several instruments instead of sampling them. All of them were very pleased to participate in “An Irosmic Tragedy” and they did a really good job, but organizing and coordinating all the recording sessions was extremely hard. That was the big challenge, and it was highly accomplished mostly thanks to the collaborators’ professionalism.

How is the progressive rock scene these days in Spain?

Nowadays it’s a very underground scene. There are many great bands and musicians who make prog, but there is not a strong support nor a wide audience. But I’m very optimistic about that, I feel that a new wave of prog is little by little rising in Spain, with many newer and younger bands.

What is your opinion about the new wave of prog bands?

I think it’s fantastic that there’s such an enormous new wave of prog bands worldwide, but maybe I’m not the most indicated to talk about it because, in fact, I generally don’t like nowadays prog very much. Don’t get me wrong, I’m aware that there are many great and very talented prog musicians out there, it’s just a matter of taste. Sometimes I feel like an old, nostalgic man who stupidly wants to bring back days when I wasn’t even born but, at the same time, I’m offering something new, contributing to the necessary evolution of Progressive Rock, and very glad to see that every prog band is doing the same and they’re doing it their way, which is the most important thing.

Can you tell me something about your influences?

As I’m always learning from everything I can and studying music in many aspects, I get influences from almost everything. The central point is 70s progressive rock because that’s what I really love to make and play, but I get influences from Classical Music, Heavy Metal, Folk…

What are you listening to these days?

These days I just can’t take VDGG out from my hi-fi. Oh God! How passionate their music is! Maybe next week I’ll be obsessively listening to some other band, it depends. Last month, for example, I spent most of the time listening to Supertramp, and even playing my guitar over their songs (not easy at all)!

Your five favourite records of all time?

It’s always changing because there are much more than five. “Thick as a Brick” by Jethro Tull, “Dark Side of the Moon” by Pink Floyd, “Ommadawn” by Mike Oldfield, “Foxtrot” by Genesis and Led Zeppelin’s fourth album would be a good selection, but there are much more from different genres. Nowadays, two of my favourite albums are “Beyond” and “An Irosmic Tragedy” by Alms. They’re awesome, and they’re mine.

Can you tell me a little bit more about the gear you used to record “An Irosmic Tragedy”?

For the recording of the acoustic and electric guitars I used my acoustic amp. Yes, I play the electric guitar plugged into an acoustic amp, using a pedal for distortion. Bass guitar was recorded plugged directly into my audio interface using a bass amp simulator, and the flute and violin were recorded using small diaphragm condenser mics. This was all recorded in my home studio, and so was the voice, using a large diaphragm condenser mic.

Drums were recorded in the drummer’s professional studio, using his own drums with all his great microphones, his great mixing console and his computer.

Finally, the cello and the keyboards were recorded with my mobile studio, which is basically an audio interface, a laptop and my set of mics.

After all, everything was mixed and mastered in my home studio using a DAW.

(Sorry I’m not saying any brands, but I’m not endorsed).

Besides the release of the album, are there any other plans for the future?

For now, I’m going to take a rest. Well, it would be more appropriate to say that Alms is going to take a rest, because I have to take care of other things such as my studies, work, other musical projects and, of course, my personal life. But I’ll be back, and maybe on stage!

Any words for the potential new fans?

Just listen. It’s always better to hear “I don’t like you” than “I don’t know you”, and if you sincerely like Alms I know you will support. That’s the best reward an independent artist can get. I truly thank you for listening.

Stay in touch with Alms here.