Tina Yao brings her partner’s emotional detachment to light in “Dark.” Over the dreamy R&B instrumental, she taps into her silhouette-like range to express the highs and lows of their relationship. When they meet up during late hours, she feels whole. That is until it’s time to wind down. It suddenly feels like their spark has withered.
“It gets so cold in the nighttime/Its so warm when you’re with me,” she sings. “Boy, I get so scared when you roll over/It gets colder/When you keep rolling over/Does it mean that it’s over?“
Following this, Yao unveils that she’s confused about this lover’s true motives. She fears he will leave and asks him to stay by her side, no matter what obstacles arise. Yao is familiar with others playing the waiting game. She hopes this situation doesn’t hit too close to home.
In the chorus, she sings, “I’m afraid of the dark/Cause I wanna know what’s there/So afraid of the dark/Tell me you won’t leave me there.”
As the song continues, Tina speaks about being more lenient, in terms of opening up to him. She was on guard before about who she let in in the past.
“I just don’t let anyone in/It’s very seldom but/I let you walk right in,” she croons.
Due to his recent behavior, she wonders if moving on would be best. The last thing Tina wants is to have history repeat itself.
“But you walked in and left your shoes on/You tryna move on?/You leave me in confusion/So should I move on?“
She supports her feelings by implying that the way he “moves is really blurry.“
“Dark” is assisted by an alluring visual that capture’s the song’s truer essence.
The three-minute and thirty-one-long title sees Tina and her beau on opposite ends of their bed. The stage of their relationship is symbolized through a black rose in the background and Yao’s hands. Moreover, it signals an end to a wholesome romance.
Tina dons a black silk robe and a stylish ponytail with blue accents. As the video progresses, she switches into a matte black dress and a white silk robe. In the other slides, she sings while lying in a bed with white sheets. However, in the end, those same sheets are black. Additionally, Tina sings passionately while modeling in a room with white walls and a blue, silky backdrop.
The black, white, and blue color scheme highlights how the relationship brings both joy and sorrow due to her lover’s wish-washy ways.
About Tina Yao:
Tina Yao is an emerging singer/songwriter whose Yonkers roots play into the soul and spirit of her music. Being of Filipino descent and growing up in a multicultural environment, she has been inspired by a bevy of artists such as Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson, and Beyonce, and musical genres such as hip hop, pop, and R&B.
Tina uses the influence of such a diverse background to create a distinctive style that captures the lushness of her lyrics and the heart of her soul, which takes center stage on her current project, S.H.O.T.S. (She Heard Omens Through Songs). Her first EP, S.H.A.D.E. (She Had A Demon Enter), was released in 2016.
