Singer-songwriter Sydney Sprague is back with her second single of 2025, “As Scared As Can Be.” Self-described as “the most unhinged song I have ever written,” “As Scared As Can Be” dives headfirst into the turmoil of unrequited love and all of the different anxieties felt during the resulting doom spiral. The punchy instrumentals juxtapose Sprague’s dreamy vocals, further solidifying the uneasy undertones of the song. There’s a special place in my heart for songs that sonically sound like a bop, but lyrically fill you with existential dread, and “As Scared As Can Be” definitely fits that bill. The music video, featuring Sprague’s band (and directed by guitarist Sébastien Deramat) leans into that unsettled energy — the entire video takes place in one room and features an increasingly concerned looking and questionably sweaty band performing the song. At the end of the day, that’s kind of how the song should make you feel — sweaty and maybe a little concerned, but you can’t help but notice you’ve been tapping your feet along with the beat.

Sprague seems to have a real gift for striking the perfect balance between relatable and erratic — dare I say unhinged, but in a fun way — with her songwriting. Her debut album, maybe i will see you at the end of the world, and sophomore release, somebody in hell loves you, both had a gritty but inviting charm that felt reminiscent of being whisked into someone’s personal journal, and Sprague’s latest releases have kept that intimate but approachable feel. Her first single of the year, “Fair Field,” also tackles anxiety (albeit, the drug-induced kind), which suggests there could be an overarching theme for her as-of-yet-unannounced upcoming work, perhaps?

Be sure to follow Sydney on her socials and be sure to catch her on her newly announced headlining tour (with support from Gabrielle Grace) this fall.