Today, singer-songwriter Sophia Bel releases Serotonin, a single that arrives just a few months after the release of her album Anxious Avoidant via Bonsound in April 2022. Catch a live version of the song tomorrow night at the Rialto Theatre, where Sophia Bel will support The Linda Lindas as part of POP Montreal.
Serotonin is available on all music platforms.
Watch and share the art track for Serotonin via YouTube.
Serotonin’s lyrics allude to Sophia Bel’s battle with chronic anxiety. After trying yoga, meditation, morning jogging and cold showers with no satisfactory results, Sophia had no choice but to turn to her doctor, who prescribed her antidepressants: Honey, healing is only fiction / So go fill out your prescription, she sings in the track’s opening line. It was at this point that she wrote Serotonin, inspired by her feelings of disillusionment. I was exhausted and was having a hard time accepting that I needed more tools to deal with my unstable brain chemistry, explains the artist.
Recorded in Bel's home studio in Montreal, Serotonin plays on contrasts by juxtaposing melodramatic and satirical lyrics with a playful melody, all of which is backed by a raw and sensitive instrumentation. It was nice to come back to a more personal and introspective workflow, says the singer-songwriter.
Upon its release in April 2022, Anxious Avoidant received a warm reception from critics: Exclaim!, Le Devoir, Le Canal auditif, EUPHORIA. and many other publications praised Sophia Bel's skillful appropriation of the codes of pop-punk. After presenting her new songs at her album launch shows in Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City, Sophia was invited to perform at OSHEAGA and the FME this summer. More shows are coming up in the fall, including dates in Saint-Hyacinthe, Gatineau and Chicoutimi. Check out the list below for all her tour dates.
About Sophia Bel
Under Sophia Bel’s shy demeanor and delicate voice, there’s an inviting, colourful and playful world waiting for people to explore. Born in Michigan to a Québécois dad and a Dutch-American mom, Sophia has always found her path through music, from singing 90s classics when she was younger to now releasing her debut album. A real 90s kid, she grew up listening to pop divas while dreaming of becoming a music star one day. Bullied at school for her looks, Sophia found an escape daydreaming about a future life as a singer. Figuring out music was her true calling, Sophia decided to study music at Vanier College in Montréal, empowering her to become the artist she is today. Taking time for herself to recenter around the kind of music she wanted to make as an artist, Sophia Bel found herself going back to her roots, which are heavily influenced by the fresh pop, emo-rock and pop-punk of the early 00s.
Show dates
29/09/22 Montreal, QC - Rialto Theatre (POP Montréal)
08/10/22 Saint-Hyacinthe, QC - Le Zaricot
15/10/22 Gatineau, QC - Minotaure
20/10/22 Chicoutimi, QC - La Nuit des Temps
21/10/22 Alma, QC - Café du Clocher