Alela Diane

After more than a decade in 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 emerged from intuition, chance, and community. On April 1 of last year, Michael Hurley, a folk legend and an indispensable figure in the Portland music scene, passed away at the age of 83. "I was completely devastated," says Alela, who not only admired Hurley but also knew him well. She performed at a tribute concert for him and found comfort and inspiration in that collective grief. "It was a revelation to realize how much I missed my community. In that moment, I knew exactly what I wanted – I want to live. I want to see live music. I want to play it."

After primarily working solo on her recent releases, Alela sought a new path. While spending days making music in the attic of her 1892 Victorian home, new songs emerged in the dusty light – along with the desire to play them with others. One evening, she met drummer Danny Austin-Manning at Clay Street Studios, who introduced her to co-producer Sam Weber (Madison Cunningham, Anna Tivel). Together with Sebastian Owens on bass, they recorded fifteen songs in less than five days – all live, right in the attic where they were created. Anna Tivel contributed background vocals and violin. Peter Lalish from the band Lucius played guitar. Additional contributions came from artists Kati Claborn and Luke Ydstie from Blind Pilot, as well as AC Sapphire. Alela's vision of unrestrained music and renewed creative connection ushered in a new phase for her.

The result is an album with eleven songs that range from gentle to raw to cinematic, with Alela's melodic voice remaining a vibrant and touching instrument throughout. The lyrics showcase an artist with that special strength needed to confront pain without losing oneself in it – a skill Alela has developed over a lifetime as a songwriter. Her impressive discography has been widely praised by media outlets such as Pitchfork, NPR Music, and The Guardian. UNCUT describes her ability as "insanely beautiful, with the strength and delicacy of spider silk," and ranks her works among the "50 best singer-songwriter albums of all time" alongside legends like John Lennon, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, and Paul Simon. Consequence also highlights her significance: "Her sound is timeless – that of a wandering troubadour who appears only a few times per generation."

With "Who’s Keeping Time?", Alela Diane transforms grief into community and reaffirms her place as a vibrant, shaping force in contemporary folk – rooted in community, presence, and the enduring power of music.