Alela Diane

Description

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 by the Portland-based singer-songwriter was born from intuition, chance, and community. On April 1st 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 collective mourning. "It was a kind of enlightenment to realize how much I missed my community. At 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 mostly solo on her recent releases, Alela sought a new path. Daily jamming in the dusty light of her 1892 Victorian house attic led to new songs – and the desire to bring them to life with others. One evening, she met drummer Danny Austin-Manning at Clay Street Studio, who introduced her to 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 backing vocals and violin, Peter Lalish from Lucius added guitar parts. Additional contributions came from musicians from the Pacific Northwest, Kati Claborn and Luke Ydstie of Blind Pilot, as well as AC Sapphire. Alela's vision of unrestrained, community-driven music ushered in a new creative phase for her. The result is an 11-song album that shifts between gentle, raw, and cinematic, carried by Alela's melodious, moving voice. Her lyrics reflect a special strength – the ability to face pain without losing oneself in it. This quality she developed over a lifetime of songwriting, with her multifaceted work celebrated by media such as Pitchfork, NPR Music, and The Guardian. UNCUT described her talent as "incredibly beautiful, with the strength and delicacy of spider silk" and ranked her 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, like 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, influential force in contemporary folk – rooted in closeness, presence, and the enduring power of the song.

Highlights

• Alela Diane presents her new album "Who’s Keeping Time?"
• Concert on May 22 at Mojo Club, Hamburg
• Live performance with new songs and a sense of community

General Information

Alela Diane, an outstanding voice in contemporary folk, returns with her seventh studio album. The concert at Mojo Club in Hamburg promises an intimate atmosphere and the opportunity to experience the new songs live.

Location

Reeperbahn 1, 20359 Hamburg, Germany

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