Review: "Downfall" - India Thieriot
- Alexa Leung
- May 20
- 2 min read
Jealousy is a normal emotion that everyone experiences at some point in their life, and India Thieriot is saying the quiet part out loud in her latest single “Downfall.” Picture this– you have a lifelong goal that you share alongside a friend. You’ve both been working toward it your entire lives, and while you’re so close to reaching it, your friend grasps it first. “Downfall” is all about friendship jealousy, that green monster rearing its head in your relationship even when you know you should be rooting for your buddy. Resentment and guilt combine in this single, harnessed in a dynamic soundscape as we question who we are when we’re suddenly praying for the downfall of the people we should be cheering on.
Friendship jealousy is a complicated thing and “Downfall” perfectly captures that weird grey area it occupies. On one hand, you should be happy for your friend and their successes– their gain isn’t your loss. But on the other, the human brain is a strange thing and sometimes we can’t help the way our hearts twist when we see someone get the exact thing we want. India illustrates this complexity all while keeping the soundscape feeling light and fun. The chorus is catchy and pulls you straight into it, infinitely hummable as you think on your own friendship jealousy. I especially love India’s vocals. She has an amazing way of coiling around the lyrics that truly breathes life and passion into the song. The lyrics themselves are also fantastic. My favourite part has to be the beginning: “I don’t want to be this person.” The song starts off with a denial and then spirals into great detail, asking why and how the narrator should act when they feel so jealous. It doesn’t help that the friend’s success has seemingly gone to their head, leaving the narrator even more lost. It’s all such a great way to paint jealousy in friendships, and “Downfall” nails it completely.
India Thieriot is a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter, whose musical career began at the age of ten when she first started penning songs. Since then, her sound has grown into what you hear today, a blend of soulful indie rock and pop. She’s inspired by artists like Emily King, Kacey Musgraves, and Taylor Swift, with thoughtful lyricism at the core of her music. For India, songwriting is a way to process life experiences, to bring them into music and find them there. Her debut single “Changes” released back in 2016, and she has since dropped many other songs. Her most recent track “Downfall” is her third single of 2026. If you loved “Downfall,” don’t forget to check out the rest of India’s vast discography, and drop her a follow on her socials, too!
Written By Alexa Leung
FOLLOW INDIA THIERIOT:
