Gordi (musician)

Sophie Payten (born 28 December 1992), known professionally as Gordi, is an Australian folktronica singer/songwriter. Her music has been featured in various television series and films: her 2015 single "Can We Work It Out" featured in the seventh series of The Vampire Diaries, her 2017 single "Heaven I Know" featured in the tenth series of The Walking Dead, and her 2017 song "Something Like This" featured in the 2020 teen romantic comedy To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You.[2]

Gordi
Gordi supporting Bon Iver at Aware Super Theatre in Sydney, 2023.
Gordi supporting Bon Iver at Aware Super Theatre in Sydney, 2023.
Background information
Birth nameSophie Payten
Born (1992-12-28) 28 December 1992 (age 31)
OriginCanowindra, New South Wales, Australia
Genres
Years active2013–present
LabelsJagjaguwar, Liberation Music
Websitegordimusic.com

Career

Payten began receiving both national and international attention after playing independently across Sydney whilst at university and releasing tracks online through government-funded national Australian radio station Triple J's Unearthed radio. Gordi was nominated for the 2015 Unearthed Artist of the Year J Award from Triple J,[3] the 2015 Next Big Thing SMAC (Sydney Music, Arts & Culture) Award from FBi Radio,[4] and was dubbed one of the 40 best new bands of 2016 by Stereogum.[5] Payten signed record deals with Jagjaguwar in the United States in February 2016 and Liberation Music in Australia in April 2016. Gordi then released her debut EP Clever Disguise in May 2016.[6] The EP was written entirely by Payten, collaborating with producers and mixers Ben McCarthy, Alex Somers and Francois Tetaz.

Gordi has toured with Bon Iver,[7] Of Monsters and Men,[8] The Tallest Man on Earth,[9] Highasakite,[10] and Ásgeir.[11] Payten also sang backing vocals for Bon Iver on their appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in September 2016.[12]

Gordi's debut LP Reservoir, released on 25 August 2017, was co-produced by Payten in part with Alex Somers in his studio in Iceland, Tim Anderson in Los Angeles and Ali Chant in New York City. On the album track "I'm Done", S. Carey is a featured vocalist. Payten is credited with singing backing vocals on S. Carey’s 2018 album Hundred Acres. She is also featured on "Postcard" from Troye Sivan’s 2018 album Bloom.

Throughout 2019, Payten worked at Prince of Wales Hospital as a junior doctor, after completing her medical studies at The University of New South Wales in 2018. She quit the position in January 2020 to work on her second studio album, Our Two Skins, but went back on call in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.[13][14]

In January 2020, Payten released her first single in almost three years called "The Cost", with profits going to the 2020 Australian Bushfire Relief. She also released a single "Indifferent" with Willaris. K, which appeared on his EP Lustre. Our Two Skins was released on 26 June 2020. The album, co-produced by Payten with Chris Messina and Zach Hanson, was recorded in a cottage on Payten's family farm in Canowindra. Payten's first single from the record, "Sandwiches", was released in February, followed by "Aeroplane Bathroom" in March, "Volcanic", in May, and "Unready" and "Extraordinary Life", both released in June. Music videos were released alongside all five singles.

In May 2022, Payten released a single "Way I Go" from her forthcoming EP Inhuman which was scheduled to be released on 15 July 2022.[15] It will be Payten's first non-remix, live, or acoustic EP since the release of Clever Disguise in 2016. Inhuman was delayed until 19 August 2022.[16]

In March 2023, Gordi released "Broke Scene", which was co-produced by Ethan Gruska.[17]

Personal life

Payten has been in a relationship[18] with singer-songwriter Alex Lahey[19] since 2017.[20] In 2021 the two released a single, "Dino's", with a music video directed by Nick Mckk.[19]

Payten's 2020 single "Sandwiches" was dedicated to her grandmother after she died.[18][21]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions shown
TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
AUS
[22]
Reservoir20
Our Two Skins
  • Released: 26 June 2020[23]
  • Label: Jagjaguwar
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
18
[24]

Extended plays

List of EPs, with release date and label shown
TitleDetails
Clever Disguise
  • Released: 13 May 2016[25][26]
  • Label: Jagjaguwar, Liberation
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
Beneath the Reservoir
  • Released: 31 January 2019[27]
  • Label: Jagjaguwar, Liberation
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Refracted: Live at Phoenix Central Park
  • Released: 20 May 2021[28]
  • Label: Jagjaguwar, Liberation
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Inhuman
  • Released: 19 August 2022[15][16]
  • Label: Jagjaguwar, Liberation
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Remix EPs

List of remix EPs, with release date and label shown
TitleDetails
Can We Work It Out (Reworks)
  • Released: 7 November 2018[29]
  • Label: Jagjaguwar, Liberation
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Extraordinary Life
  • Released: 8 October 2020[30]
  • Label: Jagjaguwar, Liberation
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Our Two Skins (Remixed)
  • Released: 27 January 2021[31]
  • Label: Jagjaguwar, Liberation
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist, with year released and album shown
TitleYearAlbum
"Nothing's as It Seems"[1]2014Clever Disguise[A]
"Taken Blame"[34]2015
"Can We Work It Out"
(original or RAC remix)[35][33]
"Avant Gardener"[36]2016Non-album single
"So Here We Are"[37]Clever Disguise
"00000 Million"[38]Non-album single
"Heaven I Know"[32]2017Reservoir
"On My Side"[39]
"Bitter End"[40]
"The Cost (Australian Bushfire Relief)"[41]2020Non-album single
"Indifferent"
(with Willaris. K)[42]
Lustre
"Sandwiches"[43]Our Two Skins
"Aeroplane Bathroom"[44]
"Volcanic"[45]
"Unready"[46]
"Extraordinary Life"[47]
"Wrecking Ball" (triple j Like A Version)[48]Non-album single
"Dino's"
(with Alex Lahey)[49]
2021Non-album single
"Grass is Blue"[50]Inhuman
"Wait" (with Troye Sivan)[51]2022Three Months
"Way I Go"[15]Inhuman
"Inhuman"[16]
"Stranger"[52]
"Visitor"[52]
"Begin Again" (Gordi remix) (with Didirri)[53]Non-album single
"One Crowded Hour / Unready (Live at Sydney Opera House)"[54][55]Non-album single
"Broke Scene"[17]2023TBA
"Covered in Chrome"[56]Mushroom: Fifty Years of Making Noise (Reimagined)
List of singles as featured artist, with year released and album shown
TitleYearAlbum
"The Hummingbird"
(Josh Pyke featuring Gordi)[57]
2021To Find Happiness
"Steadfast"
(John Raymond & S. Carey featuring Gordi)
2023Shadowlands
"Sir"
(Slowshift featuring Gordi)
World Going One Way

Guest appearances

Guest appearances, with year released and album shown
TitleYearAlbum
"Postcard"
(Troye Sivan featuring Gordi)
2018Bloom
"Hang On"
(Le Youth featuring Gordi)
2022Reminders
"No One Else"
(Nils Hoffmann featuring Gordi)
2022A Radiant Sign
"New Meaning"
(John Raymond & S. Carey featuring Gordi)
2023Shadowlands

Awards and nominations

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2021"Extraordinary Life"Independent Song of the YearNominated[58][59]
Our Two SkinsBest Independent Pop Album or EPWon

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Gordi has received two nominations.[60]

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2020Our Two SkinsBest Adult Contemporary AlbumNominated
2023Sophie Payton (Gordi) & Jason Fernandez for RIDE - Music from the FilmBest Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show AlbumNominated

Australian Music Prize

The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award.

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2020Our Two SkinsAustralian Music PrizeNominated[61]

Australian Women in Music Awards

The Australian Women in Music Awards is an annual event that celebrates outstanding women in the Australian Music Industry who have made significant and lasting contributions in their chosen field. They commenced in 2018.

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2018Sophie Payten (Gordi)Songwriter AwardWon[62]
Sophie Payten (Gordi)Artistic Excellence AwardNominated

J Award

The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2015HerselfUnearthed Artist of the YearNominated[63]
2017ReservoirAustralian Album of the YearNominated[64]
2020Our Two SkinsAustralian Album of the YearNominated[65][66]
HerselfDouble J Australian Artist of the YearNominated

Music Victoria Awards

The Music Victoria Awards, are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2005.

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2021"Dino's" (with Alex Lahey)Best Victorian SongNominated[67][68]

Rolling Stone Australia Awards

The Rolling Stone Australia Awards are awarded annually in January or February by the Australian edition of Rolling Stone magazine for outstanding contributions to popular culture in the previous year.[69]

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2022HerselfRolling Stone Readers' Choice AwardWon[70]

Notes

References