Michelle Sutton – “electric toothbrush”

Michelle Sutton’s new single “electric toothbrush” is one of those songs that sticks with you for a while after it ends. She’s a Sydney-based singer-songwriter, and this track follows her earlier release “Emily The Psych,” but it lands in a more stripped, honest place.

The idea behind the song hit me pretty quickly, and it circles around that quiet fear that maybe you’re the problem, like you somehow mess things up even when you’re trying your best. It’s not dressed up or softened. It’s blunt in a way that feels real, and honestly, a little uncomfortable at times. But that’s kind of the point.

There’s also something interesting about how it came together. Working with Ingrid Oram again and bringing in Ben Swissa on guitar gave the track a shape that feels thoughtful without being overworked. You can tell there was space for ideas to grow naturally. And knowing she recorded the vocals without any layer of sarcasm or bravado makes sense when you hear it. It sounds open, maybe even a bit fragile in places.

Writing it while dealing with long covid clearly pushed her into a different headspace, and you can hear that shift. It’s quieter, more direct, like she wasn’t holding anything back because there was no reason to. If you’re curious where she goes next, it’s worth following Michelle Sutton on her socials this year.