American singer-songwriter Alela Diane thinks female musicians with children deserve more attention. Despite the music industry’s tacit taboo where singing about the beauty and pain of motherhood is concerned, this is exactly what her fifth album Cusp does: “I hope that by exploring motherhood in song, I can help demand respect for the lifegivers we are.” Teaching herself to play the guitar through her songwriting at age 19, a broken nail made Diane turn to the piano during the songwriting for Cusp. In a soft, clear voice she sings of the agonies and delights of being a mother in beautiful, wistful songs.