Recommended Tracks: “Fair Field,” “Flat Circle,” “Your Favorite”
Artists You Might Like: Phoebe Bridgers, Gracie Abrams, Blondshell
The great thing about music is that it’s there for you. If you like someone, there’s a dreamy song out there that explores the feeling of a budding romance. If your friend betrayed you, there’s an angry, angsty, emo song out there about a friend breakup. And if you’re a little unsure about the world and your place in it, you bet that Sydney Sprague understands. The alternative singer-songwriter is known for her sharp, cathartic songs that tackle the woes of modern existence. From anxious obsessions to conflicting thoughts, she puts it all in her music and makes others feel less alone in their minds. Her new album Peak Experience is full of music for those who are dealing with existential dread and insurmountable worries, so if you are just out here trying to figure things out, this one’s for you.
The project opens with “As Scared As Can Be” and “Critical Damage,” which practically represent anxiety in song form. On the former, Sydney’s vocals are determined and composed as she sings over the thick guitar strums. She relays, “I’m so small and as scared as can be / I taste salt, pretty sure that you hate me / I’m so caught up, I can’t fall asleep,” perfectly setting the mood for the album. On the latter, she waits for the inevitable. Throughout the track, tidbits like, “I’m just a girl in distress,” “I’m facing certain death,” and “Could it be worse? / Yeah, I guess,” capture the dread that is following her around. As she relays these thoughts, her voice remains calm amongst the chaos.
There are always triggers that can bring out such anxious thoughts on the daily, whether it’s various interactions with people or the loneliness that creeps in at night. Sydney exposes some of the irksome aspects of touring on “Dead’s in the Van,” from moving gear to being challenged by random authority figures. She sings, “I’m kinda tired / This shit is heavy / Some lady says I’m not gonna let you back in there / I show my badge / She sets me on fire,” trying not to let it all get the best of her. But of course, there are times when certain issues do get the best of her, as we hear on “Flat Circle.” Here, she plays the “what if” game and gets lost in how things would be, should be, and could be. Against the cinematic guitar lines, she asks, “What if this was in the past? / What if time’s supposed to be flat? / If I throw it in a circle / Will I ever get it back?” and “What if nothing’s ever what / It’s supposed to be ‘cause / I was in the wrong place at the right time?” Of course, these questions don’t have definite answers, but from time to time, it would be nice if they did.
Along with outside triggers are inside forces that can give way to self-sabotage. While there’s a playful, coming-of-age feel to “Fair Field,” Sydney still gets herself down by entertaining the voice in her head that “never stops.” Keeping up with the forward-moving lines, she sings, “I can’t decide if I’m too turnt up in the plot twist” and “You will never feel the way that I did / I think I’m gonna cry.” She continues to contemplate on “Long Island,” where it’s just her and her drink of choice. Over the whimsical riffs and acoustic-driven lines, Sydney reflects, “Driving myself to an aneurysm / I’d rather do that than make a decision / I don’t wanna make it what it is or what it isn’t,” before asking, “Can I get another Long Island?” It’s a very brief track, a beat to catch up and breathe before heading into the rest of the album.
The final two tracks find Sydney yearning for people, but in very different ways. The pursuit of someone can be more powerful than actually having someone, as we hear on “All Covered in Snow.” It’s soft and wistful, with Sydney waiting her turn, waiting for that day when she “could be your angel.” But when we get to “Your Favorite,” which closes the project, she is done playing nice. It includes elements we have heard throughout the songs on the album, like melodic riffs, percussive beats, and dynamic vocals. All the while, Sydney is desperate to win someone back, singing, “Screaming, crying, hissy fit / You can’t fire me, I quit / You were the one, I didn’t lie / You were the one, I let it die.” In the end, she figures, “If you don’t want me, no one does” and “If you don’t want me, what’s the point?”
Overall, Peak Experience is for those out there who are searching for such an experience. It does not offer any solutions to the problems out there that you might be facing, but it definitely reassures you that you are not alone. We are more than invited to join Sydney as she vents to the sound of buzzy alt-rock or daydreams to the sound of infectious indie-pop, whether she’s confronting intrusive thoughts or battling self-doubt. All in all, she comes at us with the confidence of someone who knows what it’s like to not have it all together—but will, eventually. And until she does, until we all do, we just have to try to treat each moment as if it our best experience yet.
You can listen to Peak Experience here.
Catch Sydney on her upcoming US tour here.
Keep up with Sydney Sprague: X // Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // TikTok // Website
