Alela Diane
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Alela Diane | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Alela Diane Menig |
| Born | April 20, 1983 Nevada City, California, USA |
| Genre(s) | folk, Americana |
| Occupation(s) | singer, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | vocals, guitar |
| Years active | since 2003 |
| Label(s) | Holocene Music Names Records |
| Website | 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.
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[1]in October 2006, and received widespread critical acclaim.[2][3][4][5][6]
A new song, "Dry Grass and Shadows", was issued on a compilation of Nevada City artists,[7] 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[8] in April 2007, garnering favorable reviews in The Times[9] and NME.[10]
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[11] her second album is to be expected shortly. She now lives in Nevada City, California.
She is undertaking a tour of Europe (UK, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany) in March, April and May 2008.[12]
[edit] Discography
- Forest Parade, self-released, 2003
- The Pirate's Gospel, self-released, 2004
- The Pirate's Gospel, Holocene Music, 2006 (revised track listing)
- 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
[edit] References
- ^ Holocene Music | Alela Diane
- ^ Music: All in the Family (Seattle Weekly)
- ^ allmusic ((( The Pirate's Gospel > Overview )))
- ^ Amazon.com: The Pirate's Gospel: Music: Alela Diane
- ^ Drowned in Sound - Reviews - Album - Alela Diane
- ^ SPIN.com: Alela Diane The Pirate's Gospel (Holocene Music)
- ^ MySpace.com - Grass Roots Record Co. - NEVADA CITY, California - Rock / Folk / Jam Band - www.myspace.com/grrfamilyalbum
- ^ MySpace.com - names records - london, UK - Psychédélique / Acoustique / Pop - www.myspace.com/namesrecords
- ^ Alela Diane review | CD reviews | Music - Times Online
- ^ Alela Diane - Alela Diane - Album Reviews - NME.COM
- ^ pampelmoose Dave Allen of Gang of Four’s Music and Media Blog » Pampelmoose Music Media MP3 Technology
- ^ Myspace
