Working with Artists to help make MUSIC & ART a sustainable career
We recently sat down with Almera, North Dublin’s rapidly rising indie rock outfit, who are known for bringing a dynamic, fresh sound shaped by their journey through Dublin venues like The Soundhouse and Whelan’s. From subtle working-class lyrical themes to an ambitious goal of landing a track in FIFA, this band is determined to make some noise. We dug into their roots, creative process, and why they believe their current lineup is the one they need.
The story of Almera’s name is a great piece of local trivia. It was inspired by the show Hardy Bucks; specifically, the group of lads who hung around outside the pub known as the "Almera boys". The band initially went by the name "The Almeras" before shortening it to the crisp, final version: Almera.
The lineup driving this distinctive sound includes Brian on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Aaron on drums, Froilan handling bass and backing vocals, and Darragh on lead guitar. They first coalesced as a band about a year or two ago after attending a gig, seeing "late night pharmacy" playing upstairs in Whelan's.
For the lead singer, the music scene early on wasn't particularly appealing, noting there was "way too much American influence". It wasn't until discovering bands like Oasis, Stone Roses, Arctic Monkeys, and Kasabian that they realized music could feel more authentic and local. Interestingly, despite this Britpop leaning, they admit their biggest influence ultimately ended up being The Strokes.
The band’s shared roots run deep into classic rock and indie history. When the singer was around 10, their uncle loaded their first iPod nano with CDs, including RHCP, Nirvana's Nevermind, The Killers, REM, and Arctic Monkeys' Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not. Crucially, the sounds of The Verve, Oasis, and Ocean Colour Scene were frequently played by the singer's mother in the car. As for first instruments, the lead singer started out on the tin whistle.
While the band came together after being inspired by a gig in Whelans, the true "defining moment" for Almera came when the lead singer heard drummer Aaron’s contribution for the first time. The complexity and energy of Aaron’s drumming added so much to the existing songs that it truly helped define the Almera sound.
Early on, there was an unmistakable breakthrough moment: the day they wrote the track "homonculous". It "slapped so hard" that the band knew right then that their journey was "only uphill from now on".
How does an Almera track actually come together? The lead singer typically tries to create the "bones" of the song using an acoustic guitar, often starting with an interesting vocal melody or riff. They find it easier to write a song fully from start to finish on acoustic guitar or keyboard before bringing the concept to the rest of the group. In fact, the chorus melody to one of their songs literally came to the singer in a dream, requiring them to “painfully sing the idea” into their phone while hungover before it disappeared.
While they prefer writing solo initially, the band dynamic is crucial. The writer loves getting suggestions from other members and usually goes with them nine times out of ten. They strongly believe a musician should "own their individual contributions" to every track. Often, a song that the writer considers throwing away is transformed by the full band, leaving them amazed at the final result.
Almera’s collective sound isn't tied to a specific genre; instead, they pride themselves on the mixing of genres, which solidifies their distinctive style. The sound is described as the culmination of influences brought in by each member.
Sonically, they often utilize a signature arrangement: a highly rhythmic verse buildup featuring just the drum and bass in the first half. This deliberate space allows the "long sweated over lyrics room to breathe" before the guitars finally burst in for an "explosive chorus". Lyrically, the dominating themes are similar to how Van from Catfish and the Bottlemen described his work: "scruffy love songs". There is also a subtle, implied working-class theme present in the lyrics, though they avoid making it too explicit.
The journey hasn't been without its bumps. Like many bands, Almera has had to play to quiet rooms, deal with difficult members who quit, and suffer through under-rehearsed sets. However, they view these experiences as "necessary learning experiences and fuel to the fire".
A major internal setback occurred when their previous bass player, Ciaran, quit. This was a massive hurdle, as he "really kept things on the straight and narrow". Thankfully, Froilan has stepped up and picked things up so well that the band believes they now have the lineup they need.
Almera has enjoyed some major milestones already. Every gig is considered a proud moment, but one particular highlight was their last independently set up gig, which sold out incredibly quickly. It was described as a spectacular night featuring "incredible live acts opening".
The band identifies the release of their first single, "Weapons," as a crucial turning point. Getting featured in Hot Press after its release truly made the experience "feel real". Fans will also recognize them for their song "Winona".
So, what's next? Almera is currently deep into crafting their next batch of releases. An EP is definitely on the way soon, after which they will begin the substantial work on their full album.
In terms of long-term goals, Almera has their sights set high—literally. Their ultimate five-year goal is to have one of their songs included in the FIFA soundtrack. If they could headline any venue or festival in the world, the dream venue they’ve spent their life dreaming of is Glastonbury.
Beyond their own projects, the band remains dedicated to Dublin’s vibrant music scene. The lead singer ensures they go to gigs, talking to bands and aiming to get a taste of "everything that's going on in dublin," often just dropping into Whelans or Fibbers on any given night.
In terms of external influences, the band is collectively drawn to the same things. Recently, they’ve been bringing in a lot of material from Blossoms and The Coral. In fact, they specifically namedrop James from The Coral (who produces Blossoms’ songs) as the person they would most love to work with. They are also currently enjoying the "kneecap wave". Non-musically, the political themes found in Orwell’s work, particularly the implied working-class aspects (though the realities are different), always remain relevant to their inspiration.
The collective message they hope their music conveys is less about describing things and more about evoking feeling. They want people to feel the same way the singer felt when they heard "12:51" by The Strokes when they were 16. They manage to balance pure entertainment with deeper commentary, noting that their song “anaesthetic,” for instance, features a very dark story masked by a really upbeat pop sound.
If you’re ready to experience this blend of explosive energy and deeply felt lyrics, you need to catch Almera live.
They promise that audiences can expect the "same incredible energy as every almera show" at their upcoming gig. They will be performing on Thursday, 2 October 2025 in Dublin. While they might have dark stories behind some tracks (like "anaesthetic"), the band prefers to leave controversial backstories up to the audience to figure out rather than sharing them onstage.
This is your chance to discover Dublin’s finest indie/rock acts and connect with the vibrant grassroots community in an intimate underground setting. Don't miss the chance to support one of North Dublin’s most exciting live acts.
Grab your tickets now, bring your friends, and make sure you’re there to witness Almera bring their distinctive sound and incredible energy to the stage.
You can stay connected with the band and follow their journey toward that FIFA goal on their primary social channel, Instagram, @almera_band
