To Begin – Alela Diane (Free Download)
If the newest track released from Alela Diane’s third album Alela Diane & Wild Divine is any indication, this trend of big voiced ladies is going on strong. The fantastic track “To Begin” shows off Diane’s gorgeous voice and turns away from her traditional Americana fair for something decidedly more soulful. That’s not to say her beautiful folk writing style and twang isn’t there, it’s just eclipsed by a lazily delicious beat. Diane says she wrote the song, “after embarking on an afternoon of hypnosis in my hometown.” The result is itself wonderfully hypnotic, forcing a sway and a press of the repeat button.
Diane already has gained critical acclaim with her 2009 release, To Be Still, a decidedly great Americana record with plucky banjos and all. Diane is definitely going in a new direction with this release, a direction reminiscent of Neko Case. Her voice is clear and beautiful and she is experimenting with new, more mature and diverse sounds — it’s the perfect recipe for a stunning new album.
Her newest release Alela Diane & Wild Divne is released on April 5, and promises to be just as spectacular as it’s lead off song.
The following words are from Alena herself:
1. “To Begin”
I wrote this song after embarking on an afternoon of hypnosis in my hometown – The lyrics reference the journey that was taken during my alter reality & the things that became clear because of the session.
2. “Elijah”
I was in the South of France a few years ago filming a video for The Pirate’s Gospel & met a young lady named Madeleine, who has a son named Elijah – This song is the story of that meeting and the surreal night I’d found myself a part of.
3. “Long Way Down”
My husband, Tom, and I wrote this one together. Some close friends of ours were having some marital problems and we were feeling down about their parting ways – We started it by candle light at the dinner table and I finished the lyrics later that night, in the bath.
4. “Suzanne”
My mother is Suzanne – and this song is about the dreams that she and I are both haunted by. They are dreams of being at the house we lived in throughout my childhood, that was sold after the divorce of my parents. It’s often the backdrop of our dream-scapes, and we don’t know why.
5. “The Wind”
This song was written in response to a dear friend, of a dear friend, being randomly murdered in LA. Following the incident – I had a series of dreams in which an organ was playing itself – or rather a spirit was playing it, I don’t know. Life is short and Death is a hard act to follow – that’s this song. The chorus, “The Wind” part was written by Tom years ago, and finally found a home in the verses I wrote – a mysterious collaboration, especially given the circumstances.
6. “Of Many Colors”
This is about getting hitched to Tom & about love, and life, I suppose.
7. “Desire”
Another co-write with Tom. We wrote this about a lovely & mysterious lady we know who shall remain anonymous.
8. “Heartless Highway”
This is a road song. It was written in a faraway greenroom in Germany about being gone from home for too long. The highway is a rough place.
9. “White Horse”
Another one about some folks we know – and some shit that went down. At the end of the day, we’ve all got to go our own way – because we’re all doing our best.
10. “Rising Greatness”
This one is about the delicate nature of life. It’s about Suzanne again, and how she got cancer and survived. I was on tour the whole time she was going through her battle – too far away to help & left helpless. But at the end of it all – we were the lucky ones and my mom didn’t die.
