Review: "Serotonin Sunrise" - When The Sun Sets
- Alexa Leung
- Oct 4, 2024
- 3 min read
When The Sun Sets’ “Serotonin Sunrise” is a love song for people who have big feelings and an even bigger love for music that screams their affection out loud. It’s about having a person stuck in your head, and having that hormonal deluge come from just seeing them; the serotonin just floods your head when you’re with them, a veritable sunrise in the form of chemical reactions. The rush of love is weaved throughout the song, and the feelings are palpable with each verse and incoming chorus– anyone who’s ever been in love, or had a person who they just cannot take their eyes off of, can absolutely relate to this thrillingly energetic track that makes you want to fall in love. Heavy guitars and percussion plays with classic pop punk vocals, impassioned and fervent, and will make any listener dance along.
“Serotonin Sunrise” begins with a slow crawl toward an explosion of energy. It begins with this gentle synth, but the other instrumentals suddenly appear in the soundscape to really establish just how upbeat this track is going to be. I felt that it was such a fun way to set the song’s mood, and replicating that feeling of seeing that person who is causing all your serotonin sunrises, this gradual yet sudden thing that crashes over you like a wave. As usual, my love for pop punk is bubbling to the surface in this review, and as such “Serotonin Sunrise” scratches all the right parts in my brain. It’s got a big personality, big instrumentals, and big vocals– everything about it is loud, intense, and overflowing with passion, and yet it has some moments where the energy is turned down slightly, as if to give the listener some breathing room. It’s a nice interplay between intensities, and I find that I really love how When The Sun Sets does it. And I can’t talk about the instrumentals without mentioning that spectacular saxophone solo. I already really loved this song, but the saxophone solo makes me love it even more– and, be honest: who doesn’t love a good saxophone solo? And the lyrics, too, are fantastic; I really enjoyed how saccharine the songwriting was and how it matched the soundscape’s excited energy. There’s a line in the chorus that goes, “You’re spinning, yeah, you’re stuck inside my brain / Like a serotonin sunrise that I never could replace”, which is just one example of how descriptive the song’s lyrics are. Each line illustrates the strong feelings that the narrator has for this girl, and just how crazy he is for her– it’s romantic in the most pop punk way possible, and I honestly would not have it any other way. “Serotonin Sunrise” combines the intensity of the pop punk genre with the feeling of love ballads to create this altogether unique track that’ll make you want to dance, sing, and think about that person who also gives you that serotonin sunrise.
Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, When The Sun Sets is a band that blends classic and modern pop punk to create a soundscape that only they could make. Influenced by bands such as A Day To Remember, State Champs, and Real Friends, When The Sun Sets is driven to twine relatable lyrics with passionate instrumentation. They’ve played aside international artists such as Bearings, The Home Team, Knockout Kid, and many more; and they’ve also done weekend runs with growing bands such as FRND CRCL, Alone I Walk, Years Later, and Gold Steps, extending their musical reach all over the United States. Their debut single “The Wave” released in 2018, and their hit single “February” dropped just a year later in 2019, amassing over 800,000 streams on just Spotify to date. Over the years, When The Sun Sets has released a variety of EPs, but “Serotonin Sunrise” is one part of their upcoming debut album. So, while we all await its release, give “Serotonin Sunrise” another listen, and give the rest of their discography one, too, while you’re at it!
Written By Alexa Leung
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