The Prominence of Boundaries in ‘The Most’ by Sinéad Harnett
UK R&B/Soul singer Sinéad Harnett, released a three-song-ep as a little taste for fans who are awaiting her new album ‘BOUNDARIES’; which was announced to release April 26th of this year. The EP includes tracks: “Thinking Less”, “Say Something”, and the single “The Most”.
“The Most” presents itself as a song about the highs and lows of an incredibly unsustainable relationship. When the song was announced it was captioned, “Boundary unlocked.” This seemed as if another layer of herself was pulled back on her terms.
The song introduces itself with an electric guitar, reflecting on its layered counterpart before her vocals are introduced in a mumble. She sings as a steady beat accompanies, “Yeah-yeah, we went from amazing to a maze/Yeah, I settle for ways that was a phase (ah, yeah-yeah)/ If a spade is a spade, it's what it is/I was hoping for something that don't exist.”
The production builds tension; as the pre-chorus hits she sings with a raspy vocal, “You had me wishing you could mean what you say/ But you're so good at games/
It's calculated when you claim you will change/ But you just stay the same.” The way the vocals were executed, will allow the listener to hear confusion and irritation in Sinéad's vocal runs.
As the song holds a stable beat throughout the chorus, the added layering of harmonies complements and holds up next to her long vocal run. She sings “Boy, you do the most and then you love me bad.”
A male’s voice can be heard on this track at the end of the song insisting the singer let go, as she agrees, she will.
The song’s themes on toxic love are heavy—as throughout this song we hear a secure Sinéad questioning her partner on his inconsistencies; while demanding more from him in return, but inevitably the song implies that they both go their separate ways— providing a soothing and cathartic experience not only for the singer but the listeners too.
You can listen to '“The Most” on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Deezer, and Pandora.
