By her own account, Sydney Sprague makes music for the end of the world. But, it’s not as bad as it sounds; rather than being doom and gloom, Sprague has found a way to wrestle her anxiety, darkest of thoughts, and existential dread into a sonically appealing indie-rock package. With a knack for expressing the most complex and confusing feelings in a succinct and digestible way, she makes music not just for the end of the world but for those who struggle with those same emotions – and when it’s all said and done, at least we’re not facing the end of the world alone, right?
Her latest release, “As Scared As Can Be,” is the sound of anxiety in a song – frantic, distressed, cathartic, and tense all at once as she comes to grips with the fallout of unrequited love; in her own words “As Scared As Can Be’ is the most unhinged song I have ever written. It is a manic, headbangable doom spiral about unrequited feelings, paranoia, and the humiliation of being desperate for attention from someone who clearly doesn’t want you back.” Listen here and watch the music video here. The single arrives on the heels of “Fair Field,” and an equally messy contemplation of how life as a traveling musician is perhaps not the most compatible career for one struggling with an anxiety disorder, told through the story of a bad trip in a hotel room between tour stops.
The past five years have been a whirlwind for Sprague. 2020 saw the release of her debut record, maybe i will see you at the end of the world, which garnered critical acclaim from the likes of NPR, Refinery29, Guitar World, and more. Her 2023 sophomore record, somebody in hell loves you, was released in between relentless touring alongside artists such as Jimmy Eat World, Michigander, Dashboard Confessional, Oso Oso, Spanish Love Songs, and The Front Bottoms.
Sprague has found her stride; maturity beyond her years paired with a level witty self-awareness that only a seasoned over-thinker could achieve, she has managed to appeal to the masses while staying true to her own experience. The unfiltered expression of the darkest corners of the mind is perhaps something the music industry has been missing. Painfully relatable lyrics presented in such an irresistibly catchy, ear-wormy way, she’s found her way into the hearts of many, and is slated for steady growth with each on-the-nose track she brings to the table.
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