‘Dirty Talk’, pieces the feelings of love, loss and self-actualisation through a timeless sonic landscape. Returning to the scene after her 2020 EP ‘Sugarbaby’, Michi’s debut album is a ripple in the quiet – female-fronted storytelling is woven within rich textures of nostalgic R&B, soul, and Motown. Self-assured and forthcoming, the ten-track record is a testament to the power of resilience and identity.
Interpolating between sensitivity and sadness, ‘Dirty Talk’ is Michi’s realisation that an acceptance of these feelings makes her indomitable. Besides representing chapters of heartbreak, the record symbolises the artist’s coming into her own confidence. Partnering with Blake Rhein and Paul Cherry for production, ‘Dirty Talk’s R&B rhythms fluctuate between nostalgic sonic points and modern production, with Michi’s smooth vocals rooting us in her distinctive storytelling every step of the way. From love loss, love gained, and love for the self – Michi’s debut record couldn’t be more so a culmination of life’s most affecting experiences.
Michi, or Michelle Guerrero, was a longtime dancer before beginning her music journey in her mid-twenties. And with the highest highs usually comes the lowest lows; after releasing her debut EP ‘Sugarbaby’, Michi went through a breakup that would eventually prompt her to move out of LA and to a small seaside town. ‘Dirty Talk’ began as a trove of heartbreak tales, where Michi’s grief, anger and sadness were to be laid bare. As she turned inward, Michi found beauty in drawing from suppressed feelings found beyond heartbreak. To Michi, ‘Dirty Talk’ isn’t just a record of release, but it is also one of embrace – and each track reads as a chapter where growth and transformation are to be found.
—
—
Beyond subject matter, Michi also nods to her roots throughout the record; she draws from her Latin background on ‘Memmy (Recuerdo)’, featuring Brazilian bossa nova artist Gabriel de Rosa, who sings in Portuguese alongside Michi’s Spanish. The hook translates, poignantly, “My only mission is to remember”. While ‘Walking Away’ and ‘OMW’ nod to the slow, sultry R&B of the 90s, ‘There’s No Heaven’ invokes 70s disco club synths, demonstrating the expanse of sonic capabilities Michi glides between.
‘Dirty Talk’ is a reflection of Michi’s evolution – not just as an artist, but as a person. Through poignant stories of growth, expansive sonic landscapes and seamless production, the record is set to be timeless as it is a fresh new chapter for the artist.
7/10
Words: Rachel Min Leong
—
