Alaina May – “Tourniquet”
Photo by Logan S Morrow
From Brooklyn, indie artist Alaina May returns to us with the folk-pop sounds of “Tourniquet,” a song about the intoxicating pull of a relationship you know is tearing you apart.
“Tourniquet” begins with the quiet and gentle strums of an acoustic guitar, slightly warbled as though captured in the voice memos of a smartphone. Subtle swells of synth populate the background as Alaina May delivers the vulnerable tale of a destructive relationship she knows she should leave but can’t. And many of us have been there. We know they’re bad, but we want them anyway. May’s vocal embodies the desperation of being unable to walk away from something that’s destroying you.
In the refrain, heavenly layers of vocals wrap around the arrangement, which expands to include a restrained rhythm section. From there, the second verse brings an indie rock energy, with a beat that hits a bit harder and some overdrive on a rhythm guitar. And while the song’s natural crescendo might allude to finding enough courage to walk away from such a toxic situation, the lyrics, instead, fall deeper and deeper into hopelessness, ultimately leaving us face-to-face with our own inability to just let go.
Alaina May adds that “Tourniquet” is “…truly one of my favorite songs I've ever written… Writing it felt so immediate and honest. It was one of those rare moments as a writer when you sort of enter a high and everything spills out onto the page. I hope those listening love it as much as I do.”
“Tourniquet” is now available everywhere you get your music.
Connect with Alaine May: Spotify | Instagram | TikTok
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