Alaina May Ties Off a Love She Could Not Keep on “Tourniquet”

Brooklyn singer-songwriter Alaina May recently released a new single, “Tourniquet,” a contemplative ballad that captures the pain of cutting ties.

“Turniquet” follows “The Dog” and “Casual” to round out a string of hits that have combined to exceed 500,000 streams. “Tourniquet,” set to May’s soothing acoustic textures and voice, focuses on the tension of the tug-of-war between yearning and acceptance.

May explains that the song was inspired by her first year in New York City, when she struggled to accept that she needed to let go of a relationship but still hoped it would be rekindled. May found the tourniquet to be the perfect representation of severing a connection that she couldn’t keep. One line she wrote to capture that idea was “tourniquet the arm you held.”

“This is truly one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written,” said May. “I feel like this song was very immediate and honest. Everything just spilled out as a writer when it came time to write it. I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I do!”

May was born in a small, conservative suburb outside Milwaukee and was raised as a Christian, which shaped who she believed she was. After she left for college in Boston, she came into her true self as a queer woman, breaking free of the expectations placed on her. This tension between expectations and reality continues to inspire May’s music.

May is an introspective songwriter whose music focuses on emotional intensity and passion for what she’s experiencing. Her music explores growth and the internal struggles of self-discovery, while building connections and experiencing love and loss along the way.

Since relocating to New York in 2025, May has been refining her artistry through a collaboration with TOLEDO. This collaboration, which began in a direct message, has become a creative force helping May shape her sound moving forward.