Song Review - Lucy Sugerman - “PARALYSED”
REVIEW BY: TIMOTHY WOLF
Lucy Sugerman processes grief through her empowering and cinematic new single ‘Paralysed’.
Emboldened by youth, twenty year old Lucy Sugerman offers vulnerability through her coming of age heartbreak experience.
On her first songwriting trip upon moving to Melbourne in 2019, ‘Paralysed’ was born from a co-write with renowned songwriter and producer Joel Quartermain (Eskimo Joe, G Flip, Meg Mac).
Sugerman says, “‘Paralysed’ is the most literal and diaristic song on my EP, and arguably has the saddest lyrics, despite Joel and I picking a fast tempo.”
Through vivid lyricism this cowrite unlocks a beautiful paradox; revealing the debilitating sadness of teenage heartbreak whilst being told through fast paced indie pop guitar driven hooks.
The heart and vulnerability of the song lies in the bridge where the song invites us to feel the pain of opening up your heart to someone where Sugerman reveals of her experience, “that’s the thing that hurts me the most.”
“Time moves dreadfully slow when you're 17 and devastated over a boy” says Sugerman.
Whilst the song explores such a youthful experience the story of ‘Paralysed’ is told with maturity far beyond the years of the twenty year old singer-songwriter.
Cathartic and empowered Sugerman reflects, “I guess now I can laugh about how sad I was.”
‘Paralysed’ is the fourth release from her upcoming EP ‘hurt that’s man made’.
From what we’ve seen thus far, the EP is a powerful catalogue that embodies her coming of age. The ability to connect with peers journeying the same experiences and telling these stories with mature introspect provide the makings of a long career as a songwriter.
Collaborating with industry veterans and moving to the nations capital of music, she’s making all of the right moves to create enormous opportunities for herself
I’m loving what I’m hearing and I’m already looking forward to what Lucy Sugerman has to offer us next.
