Another day, another incredible artist coming out of Brooklyn.
“Casual” is the startling new single from singer-songwriter Alaina May. Borrowing elements of sounds from other indie songstresses such as Soccer Mommy, Sorcha Richardson, and Adrienne Lenker, there’s a tenderness at the outset and an assuredness by the end that confirms that she definitely knows her way around a tune.
Produced by indie-rock duo TOLEDO, who have been working wonders in the last year, “Casual” sounds warm, intimate, and accomplished in its execution. The balance of instruments is bang on, with no one element feeling overpowering at any given time.
It’s been nearly two years since Alaina last released some music. Her comeback tune is unashamedly sincere and incredibly earnest, full of acceptance and openness. We gather it’s about her experience living as a queer woman, about embracing her reality and emancipating herself from the chains that once bound her. A powerful message of positivity, we would assume – and hope – that it sets the tone for what’s to come in the future from her.
We went back and listened to her two prior singles off the back of this one, and the musical growth and artistic development should really be studied. On 2023’s “Keeps Me Up”, she sounds like Phoebe Bridgers (as we’re sure many other acoustic guitar-slinging female singer-songwriters do). In 2024, she channeled Billie Eilish and embraced a more electronic approach. In 2026, she had put together all the pieces of the puzzle, and she is all Alaina May. Remember the name.
Written by Kinda Grizzly
