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Alma’s recent singles have seen the flame-haired Finnish artist live up to the potential she first showed when her breakthrough track ‘Chasing Highs’ connected with famous fans such as Elton John and Miley Cyrus. ‘Summer Really Hurt Us’ became an unexpected airplay hit with an extended run-on Radio 2’s A-list and landed on The Quietus’ and Popjustice’s Top Tracks of 2022 list. Supported by her other singles ‘Hey Mom, Hey Dad’, ‘I Forgive Me’ and ‘Everything Beautiful’, Alma has generated widespread tastemaker acclaim as well as anticipation for her long-awaited second album.
Now that moment draws a step closer as Alma announces that her new album ‘Time Machine’ will be released on April 21st. It is now available to pre-order / pre-save HERE. Alma also shares the official video for ‘Hey Mom, Hey Dad’. Watch it HERE.
‘Time Machine’ finds Alma whipping up elements of her biggest influences - Elton John, MGMT and Abba - to create an album full of surging alt-pop delivered with Alma’s signature attitude, intensity and superlative vocal range. While her previous record was the result of sessions across the world with a long list of accomplished collaborators, this time Alma kept it intimate, recording primarily in Sweden and Finland with trusted confidants Elvira Anderfjäld (Taylor Swift, Tove Lo), Tove Burman (Au/Ra, Anna of the North), Fat Max (The Weeknd, Maisie Peters) and Decco (Dua Lipa, Selena Gomez). It was a personal approach that allowed her to really push her inner feelings to the fore.
Alma says, “In ‘Time Machine’, I go back in time to explore the highlights and the lowlights of my life. This album’s key message is finding your own voice. Going back to the start on your own, knowing your worth and asking for more from life. Every song is like an honest conversation in my head. Sometimes with my family, sometimes with my partner, sometimes even with my old classmates. Sometimes the conversations are more painful and deeper, sometimes they are light and ironic. It’s honest, intense, and in-your-face.”
We’ve heard Alma reflect upon the dangers of escapist hedonism (‘Summer Really Hurt Us’), struggling to make amends (‘I Forgive Me’) and reflecting on looking after her wheelchair-bound parents since childhood (‘Hey Mom, Hey Dad’). She also draws upon memories from her family home in Helsinki, as well documenting the pressures that come when a career is on the brink of major success.
A particularly powerful inspiration is her twin sister. The duo were inseparable for years, but the demands of adulthood meant that Alma’s sister had to take a different path - a break that the musician really struggled to come to terms with. With ‘Time Machine’ Alma has created a heartfelt collection of impactful pop bangers that can elevate her to star status. But for Alma, the project represents something more important than that.
As she adds, “In today’s music world where streaming numbers are the only thing that matters. I was glad I found these people around me that genuinely just wanted to push these stories out of me. They saw under my skin from day one. I couldn’t hide behind pop hooks or cool lyrics. And I’m forever thankful for that. It was a beautiful healing experience for me.”
Expect Alma to embark upon extensive touring in support of the ‘Time Machine’ album. She is already confirmed to join Tove Lo during her ‘Dirt Femme’ European tour this summer.
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