Sophia Bel opens up about her mental health on Serotonin, a new acoustic pop-punk ballad

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’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.