Alela Diane
More than a decade into one of the most quietly extraordinary careers in contemporary folk, Alela Diane returns on May 22 with Who’s Keeping Time? via Fluff & Gravy Records / Loose Music. The seventh studio album from the Portland songwriter was born out of intuition, coincidence, and community. On April 1 of last year, folk legend Michael Hurley passed away at the age of 83 – a formative figure in Portland's music scene. “I was completely devastated,” says Alela, who not only admired Hurley but also knew him well. At a tribute concert for him, she found comfort and new inspiration in the collective mourning. “It was a kind of enlightenment to realize how much I missed my community. In that moment, it was clear to me what I wanted: I want to be alive. I want to experience live music. I want to play it.”
After working more solo on her recent releases, Alela sought a new path. While daily making music in the dusty light of the attic of her 1892 Victorian house, new songs emerged – and the desire to bring them to life with others. One evening, she met drummer Danny Austin-Manning at Clay Street Studio, who connected her with co-producer Sam Weber (including Madison Cunningham, Anna Tivel). Together with Sebastian Owens on bass, they recorded fifteen songs in less than five days – live, in the same attic where they were written. Anna Tivel contributed background vocals and violin, and Peter Lalish from Lucius added guitar parts. Further contributions came from Pacific Northwest musicians Kati Claborn and Luke Ydstie of Blind Pilot as well as AC Sapphire. Alela's vision of unfettered, community-driven music ushered in a new creative phase for her.
The result is an album with 11 songs that shifts between gentle, raw, and cinematic, carried by Alela's melodious, poignant voice. Her lyrics bear a special strength – the ability to confront pain without getting lost in it. This quality has developed throughout her entire songwriting life, during which her multifaceted work has been celebrated by media such as Pitchfork, NPR Music, and The Guardian. UNCUT described her talent as “insanely beautiful, with the strength and tenderness of spider silk,” and included her work among the “50 best singer-songwriter albums of all time” – alongside John Lennon, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, and Paul Simon. Consequence also emphasized her significance: “Her sound is timeless, that of a wandering troubadour – a voice that appears only a few times per generation.” With Who’s Keeping Time?, Alela Diane transforms grief into community and affirms her place as a vibrant, shaping force in contemporary folk – rooted in closeness, presence, and the enduring power of song.
Doors: 7:00 PM
Hallo, ich bin Maya.
