Questions Unanswered, an album by the British-Spanish singer-songwriter Alba is set to debut on July 14. The artist describes it as “a conceptual album that invites listeners on a journey of introspection and discovery while delivering Alba’s signature blend of guitar-driven pop-rock infused with sunlit soul and R&B.” There will be a release party in London, UK, at the Old Blue Last on July 13 and a subsequent release party at Ateneo Cafe Universal in Burgos, Spain, on August 13.

Congratulations on the new EP! Can you talk a little bit about recording it?

Thank you! Recording is probably one of my favourite things in the world. I like to push myself to the limit, experiment with sound and try new things, and give the best version of myself on vocals and guitars. Recording Questions Unanswered was an absolute blast. I always love to see the songs take shape and experience the whole journey from conception to final arrangement. It’s such an enriching process. I really enjoyed working with producer edbl, and all the amazing musicians and engineers involved. I arranged choral parts for the singers of the London African Gospel Choir, which was an incredible experience. I think we managed to create a unique soundscape while maintaining a cohesive narrative throughout the EP.

Your press materials describe you as a passionate environmental campaigner. What sparked that passion?

An eye-opening moment came when I was watching the late Carl Sagan’s TV series Cosmos. I was struck by the famous image of the Earth taken by the Voyager spacecraft just before it left our solar system. From so far away, our planet is but a tiny little dot in the middle of a sunbeam. Sagan called it “the pale blue dot”, because that’s exactly what it looks like from so far away. This image puts everything into perspective. From that vantage point, there are no borders, no divisions, just one tiny planet in the middle of nowhere. It sends a powerful message: we only have one home and we must take care of it.

I regularly volunteer my personal time to local conservation activities and donate to causes that help to protect our planet.

How is your concern for the environment reflected in your music?

The lyrics in some of my songs, such as Mass Extinction or Child of the Stars, deal with issues of ecological awareness and the urgency of environmental action. In What if?, one of the tracks of the new EP, I also explore the anxiety generated by the complex times we live in. At the same time, I try to add a note of optimism and hope, as I genuinely believe that things can get better if we spend less time fighting and more time learning to understand and empathise with others.

You started your musical journey in the band Sons of Rock. What did you learn from that experience?

Being part of Sons of Rock was an invaluable experience that taught me a lot about the dynamics of working within a band and the music industry as a whole. It was a crash course in everything from songwriting and arranging to recording and performing live. I learnt how special it is when you click with others, both musically and personally. We became a little family and it was so much fun. Of course, like any family, there were ups and downs, but being in a band teaches you a lot about collaboration, commitment and resilience, which are values that have helped me greatly in my musical career and personal life.

Your move to London in 2016 marked the beginning of your solo career. Where were you living before that, and how did the move influence your music?

Moving to London was a major turning point for me, as it exposed me to a diverse and vibrant music scene that has deeply influenced my sound and helped me to evolve as an artist.

The new EP is called “Questions Unanswered,” and each song asks a big question. What’s the idea there?

Questions Unanswered is a conceptual album, with each song posing a question on themes such as identity, purpose, relationships and social issues. The idea was not necessarily to provide answers, but to invite the listener to reflect and engage with these questions on a deeper level to find their own answers.

At the same time, this EP contains a little bit of everything in my musical palette. I’ve included undertones of R&B, pop, soul, rock, funk, latin, reggae and jazz, which I think should appeal to a wide audience.

The songs have me thinking more broadly about art—and the idea that the purpose of art is to broaden perspectives, to complicate rather than to oversimplify, and I feel like your songs, by refusing to offer easy answers, are doing that. Is there anything to that theory?

Absolutely. I agree that one of the most powerful aspects of art is that it offers different perspectives and helps to see things in a new light, things that can be harder to see in our everyday lives. Music in particular can help convey messages and challenge perceptions in a way that few other things can, because of the unique emotional connection that is formed between the creator and the listener.

By not providing easy answers, I hope to emphasise the idea that life is not always black and white, and that sometimes the journey of exploring these questions is just as important as finding the answers.

You’re planning to play a couple of live shows to promote the EP. How do you translate what you recorded in the studio to the live stage?

My recordings have a lot of organic elements so translating them into a live setting is usually straightforward. I work closely with my band to make sure we keep the essence of the recording, rearranging certain parts while leaving plenty of space to engage with the audience. I have prepared a killer set for the upcoming shows. Tour dates can be found at: https://www.musicbyalba.com/tour

The EP release party will take place on 13 July 2024 at The Old Blue Last and there are still a few tickets left at https://ticketool.co.uk/order/9ba7e612-c420-4443-a012-7888b0a45b88  

What’s next?

The immediate next step is to continue to promote Questions Unanswered through live performances and content. People can keep up to date with upcoming shows and content by subscribing to my mailing list at https://www.musicbyalba.com/contact and following me on socials @musicbyalba.