Alela Diane (born Alela Diane Menig, April 20, 1983) is an American folk singer-songwriter from Nevada City, California, now based in Portland, Oregon. She grew up with musician parents and released her debut Forest Parade independently in 2003, before breaking through with The Pirate's Gospel (2006) on Rough Trade, which established her following across Europe. Her 2009 album To Be Still reached the French Top 20, and she has since released seven solo albums rooted in acoustic fingerstyle guitar, Appalachian folk, and American roots music.
Alela Diane released her seventh solo album Who's Keeping Time? on May 12, 2026 via Fluff & Gravy Records (US) and Loose Music (UK/EU).
The album was recorded in the attic of her Victorian house from 1892 in Portland, in ten days and without click tracks.
Americana Highways described Who's Keeping Time? as 'a beautifully realised, quietly ambitious work shaped by an exceptional cast of musicians and collaborators'.
The death of folk legend Michael Hurley in April 2025, a personal friend of Diane, was a direct source of inspiration for the songs on the new album.
Alela Diane performed on May 25, 2026 at LantarenVenster in Rotterdam as part of her European tour in support of the new album.
