Alela Diane

Infobox musical artist


Name = Alela Diane
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Alela Diane Menig
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1983|4|20 Nevada City, California, USA
Died =
Instrument = vocals, guitar
Genre = Folk, Americana, Psych folk
Occupation = singer, songwriter
Years_active = 2003-present
Label = Holocene Music Names Records
Associated_acts =
URL = http://www.aleladiane.com/

Alela Diane Menig (b April 20, 1983, Nevada City, California, USA) is an American singer and songwriter, who is associated with the psych folk and New Weird America musical genres.

Life and career

She grew up singing with her musician parents and performing in the school choir. She taught herself guitar, and began writing songs which blend tense, trance-like arpeggios with warm vocals and meditative lyrics about family and nature. Her first recordings were self-released in 2003 as "Forest Parade". Her first solo public appearances were at the invitation of fellow Nevada City native Joanna Newsom. She also did a stint in the Nevada City slow grass band Black Bear before continuing with her solo pursuits.

The songs for her album, 'The Pirate’s Gospel', were written on a trip to Europe. They were recorded in her father’s studio and were initially self-released in 2004, in paper and lace sleeves with hand lettering. The album was issued in revised form by Holocene Music [ [http://www.holocenemusic.com/aleladiane/ Holocene Music | Alela Diane ] ] in October 2006, and received widespread critical acclaim. [ [http://www.seattleweekly.com/music/0650/alela.php Music: All in the Family (Seattle Weekly) ] ] [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:82jveaz84x87 allmusic ((( The Pirate's Gospel > Overview ))) ] ] [ [http://www.amazon.com/Pirates-Gospel-Alela-Diane/dp/B000I2JTAW Amazon.com: The Pirate's Gospel: Music: Alela Diane ] ] [ [http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/1306973 Drowned in Sound - Reviews - Album - Alela Diane ] ] [ [http://www.spin.com/reviews/2006/12/0612_aleladiane SPIN.com: Alela Diane The Pirate's Gospel (Holocene Music) ] ]

A new song, "Dry Grass and Shadows", was issued on a compilation of Nevada City artists, [ [http://www.myspace.com/grrfamilyalbum MySpace.com - Grass Roots Record Co. - NEVADA CITY, California - Rock / Folk / Jam Band - www.myspace.com/grrfamilyalbum ] ] and five more new songs were issued on a limited-edition 10" vinyl pressing, "Songs Whistled Through White Teeth", released in the UK in October 2006. "The Pirate's Gospel" was released in the UK on Names Records [ [http://myspace.com/namesrecords MySpace.com - names records - london, UK - Psychédélique / Acoustique / Pop - www.myspace.com/namesrecords ] ] in April 2007, garnering favorable reviews in The Times [ [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article1619201.ece Alela Diane review | CD reviews | Music - Times Online ] ] and NME. [ [http://www.nme.com/reviews/8344 Alela Diane - Alela Diane - Album Reviews - NME.COM ] ]

Alela Diane has toured in the USA both solo and with Tom Brosseau, and has also opened for the Decemberists, Akron/Family and Vashti Bunyan. She performed in the UK in April and August 2007. According to a relatively recent interview [ [http://www.pampelmoose.com/mspeaks/?p=554 pampelmoose Dave Allen of Gang of Four’s Music and Media Blog » Pampelmoose Music Media MP3 Technology ] ] her second album is to be expected shortly. She now lives in Nevada City, California.

She toured Europe (UK, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany) in March, April and May 2008. [ [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=18714889&MyToken=a6835d14-2a56-491e-a75b-de32793b4ad6 Myspace] ]

Discography

Main Studio Albums

*"The Pirate's Gospel", Holocene Music, 2006 (revised track listing)

elf-Released Albums

*"Forest Parade", self-released, 2003
*"The Pirate's Gospel", self-released, 2004

Compilation Contributions and Other

*"Dry Grass and Shadows", track on Family Album compilation, Grass Roots Records, 2006
*"Songs Whistled Through White Teeth", Names Records (UK), 2006 (10” vinyl)
*"The Pirate's Gospel", Names Records (UK rerelease w/ different artwork), April 2007

References

External links and further sources

* [http://www.aleladiane.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.holocenemusic.com/aleladiane/ Holocene Music]
* [http://naturalismo.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/alela-diane-the-naturalismo-interview/ Interview with Alela Diane]
* [http://www.daytrotter.com/article/740/alela-diane-burnt-by-time-is-a-bliss-all-its-own/ Daytrotter Session by Alela Diane, May 2007]
* [http://www.daytrotter.com/article/1006/alela-diane-daughter-of-a-mother-of-a-mother-of-a-mother/ Daytrotter Session by Alela Diane, September 2007]