Sydney’s most engaging pop-folk songwriters continue the journey of Michelle Sutton with the release of her new single, ‘electric toothbrush,’ which is both personal and unpretentiously sincere. After the emotionally charged “Emily The Psych” in February, Sutton takes her exploration of vulnerability further, to the disturbing idea that something is wrong inside you and that nothing you do to fix it will actually make things better. Instead of wallowing, she surrounds it with a subtle humor that makes the song very human.
The song was arranged with longtime collaborator Ingrid Oram, with thoughtful arrangement and subtle guitar work from Ben Swissa, who helps to create the emotional journey. The song’s emotional weight comes from Sutton’s vocals, where he avoids bravado, instead of orienting himself toward control.Sutton’s vocals abandon bravado for exposure, adding a layer to the song’s emotional weight. The song was composed during the process of long COVID, and the tiredness and clarity of the song are of someone who has been compelled to sit with themselves for more than she anticipated.
The thing that really shines through is Sutton’s ability to hone her acoustic roots while simultaneously sounding fresh and modern. “electric toothbrush” is not only a song about struggle, but about acceptance, and it proves her a songwriter who is not afraid to say the things she can’t say, clearly and warmly.
