“Can’t Stay Awake,” the new single from Sugar Relics is intense and hauntingly mesmerizing. The track explores the deepest inner struggle with depression. Laura Serafine, the vocalist/songwriter of the project visualizes the tendency of “sleep away the day” as a villain personified in the song.

Sugar Relics is a dark melodic project by San Antonio-born LA-based artist Laura Serafine. Drawing comparisons to Purity Ring, Tori Amos, and Phantogram, the project means to explore the weight of life.

Inspired by Serafine’s personal experiences, swimming against the waves in the darkest time in life, “Can’t Stay Awake” utilizes lyrical expression and sonic amplification as a way to shed light on mental health issues. The single is also part of Sugar Relics’ upcoming album.

Adhering to the dark aesthetic in her last single “Caught in the Middle,” “Can’t Stay Awake” again draws drastic contrasts between Serafine’s sweet, melancholy vocal and the storming, unshakable electronic-coiled soundscapes. The single dives into the feeling of despair, being lost, and trapped within one’s own head.

Laura Serafine’s masterful vocal delivery is highlighted in this track. Her fully involved, deeply emotional performance steals the breath from listeners.