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

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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 the single "Way I Go" from her EP Inhuman, which was released on 19 August 2022.[15] It was Payten's first non-remix, live, or acoustic EP since the release of Clever Disguise in 2016.

In March 2023, Gordi released "Broke Scene", which was co-produced by Ethan Gruska.[16]

Other roles and activities

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In August 2023, Gordi was appointed as one of eight members of the newly-formed Music Australia Council, a division of Creative Australia (formerly Australia Council for the Arts).[17]

Personal life

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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

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Studio albums

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List of studio albums, with selected chart positions shown
Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUS
[22]
Reservoir 20
Our Two Skins
  • Released: 26 June 2020[23]
  • Label: Jagjaguwar
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
18
[24]

Extended plays

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List of EPs, with release date and label shown
Title Details
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[29][15]
  • Label: Jagjaguwar, Liberation
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Lunch At Dune
  • Released: 15 November 2024[30]
  • Label: Mushroom Music
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Remix EPs

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List of remix EPs, with release date and label shown
Title Details
Can We Work It Out (Reworks)
  • Released: 7 November 2018[31]
  • Label: Jagjaguwar, Liberation
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Extraordinary Life
  • Released: 8 October 2020[32]
  • Label: Jagjaguwar, Liberation
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Our Two Skins (Remixed)
  • Released: 27 January 2021[33]
  • Label: Jagjaguwar, Liberation
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles

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As lead artist

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List of singles as lead artist, with year released and album shown
Title Year Album
"Nothing's as It Seems"[1] 2014 Clever Disguise[A]
"Taken Blame"[36] 2015
"Can We Work It Out"
(original or RAC remix)[37][35]
"Avant Gardener"[38] 2016 Non-album single
"So Here We Are"[39] Clever Disguise
"00000 Million"[40] Non-album single
"Heaven I Know"[34] 2017 Reservoir
"On My Side"[41]
"Bitter End"[42]
"The Cost (Australian Bushfire Relief)"[43] 2020 Non-album single
"Indifferent"
(with Willaris. K)[44]
Lustre
"Sandwiches"[45] Our Two Skins
"Aeroplane Bathroom"[46]
"Volcanic"[47]
"Unready"[48]
"Extraordinary Life"[49]
"Wrecking Ball" (triple j Like A Version)[50] Non-album single
"Dino's"
(with Alex Lahey)[51]
2021 Non-album single
"Grass is Blue"[52] Inhuman
"Wait" (with Troye Sivan)[53] 2022 Three Months
"Way I Go"[29] Inhuman
"Inhuman"[15]
"Stranger"[54]
"Visitor"[54]
"Begin Again" (Gordi remix) (with Didirri)[55] Non-album single
"One Crowded Hour / Unready (Live at Sydney Opera House)"[56][57] Non-album single
"Broke Scene"[16] 2023 TBA
"Covered in Chrome"[58] Mushroom: Fifty Years of Making Noise (Reimagined)
"Apple"[59] 2024 Lunch At Dune
"Lunch At Dune" (with Soak)[30]
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List of singles as featured artist, with year released and album shown
Title Year Album
"The Hummingbird"
(Josh Pyke featuring Gordi)[60]
2021 To Find Happiness
"Steadfast"
(John Raymond & S. Carey featuring Gordi)
2023 Shadowlands
"Sir"
(Slowshift featuring Gordi)
World Going One Way

Guest appearances

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

Awards and nominations

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AIR Awards

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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.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2021 "Extraordinary Life" Independent Song of the Year Nominated [61][62]
Our Two Skins Best Independent Pop Album or EP Won

ARIA Music Awards

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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.[63]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2020 Our Two Skins Best Adult Contemporary Album Nominated
2023 Sophie Payton (Gordi) & Jason Fernandez for RIDE - Music from the Film Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album Nominated

Australian Music Prize

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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.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2020 Our Two Skins Australian Music Prize Nominated [64]

Australian Women in Music Awards

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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.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2018 Sophie Payten (Gordi) Songwriter Award Won [65]
Sophie Payten (Gordi) Artistic Excellence Award Nominated

J Award

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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.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2015 Herself Unearthed Artist of the Year Nominated [66]
2017 Reservoir Australian Album of the Year Nominated [67]
2020 Our Two Skins Australian Album of the Year Nominated [68][69]
Herself Double J Australian Artist of the Year Nominated

Music Victoria Awards

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

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2021 "Dino's" (with Alex Lahey) Best Victorian Song Nominated [70][71]

Rolling Stone Australia Awards

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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.[72]

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2022 Herself Rolling Stone Readers' Choice Award Won [73]

Notes

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  1. ^ "Can We Work It Out" is also included on the album Reservoir,[34] whilst the RAC remix of "Can We Work It Out" is only included on the remix EP Can We Work It Out (Reworks).[35]

References

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  1. ^ a b Rancani, Laura (1 October 2014). "Listen: Gordi – "Nothing's As It Seems" [Premiere]". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Gordi – TV & Movie Placements". What Song. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Here are your 2015 J Award nominees | Music News | triple j". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  4. ^ "2015 FBi SMAC Nominees Announced - Music Feeds". Music Feeds. 19 November 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  5. ^ "Stereogum's 40 Best New Bands Of 2016 - Stereogum - Page 2". Stereogum. 1 November 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  6. ^ "GORDI - Clever Disguise - Music Feeds". Music Feeds. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  7. ^ "Gordi scores Bon Iver tour slot and 'Best New Artist of 2016' nod | Music News | triple j". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  8. ^ "Gordi pens two international deals and is named as support for Of Monsters and Men tour |". hhhhappy.com. 14 January 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  9. ^ Tredinnick, Jessamy (30 November 2016). "Gordi Is Ready To Support Her Hero: The Tallest Man On Earth". scenestr.com.au. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  10. ^ "GORDI signs to Liberation Music & debuts new single 'Wanting' from her 'Clever Disguise' EP out May 13 - Liberation Music". liberation.com.au. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  11. ^ "ÁSGEIR · Handsome Tours". handsometours.com. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  12. ^ "Watch Bon Iver Debut "8 (circle)" On The Tonight Show". Stereogum. 15 September 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  13. ^ Quinn, Belinda (26 June 2020). "Music as medicine: why Gordi quit her job as a doctor for new album 'Our Two Skins'". NME. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  14. ^ Triscari, Caleb (7 April 2020). "Gordi returns to her medical career amid the coronavirus pandemic". NME. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
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  17. ^ Newstead, Al (22 August 2023). "Meet the Music Australia Council tasked with solving local music's struggles". Double J. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
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  42. ^ Aikins, Gabriel (17 August 2017). "Gordi shares intricate music video to go with new single "Bitter End"". Substream Magazine. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
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  44. ^ Rose, Anna (30 January 2020). "Willaris. K releases new single 'Indifferent,' featuring Gordi". NME. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
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  48. ^ Lim, Eddy (4 June 2020). "Gordi shares fourth single 'Unready' from forthcoming album". NME. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  49. ^ Lim, Eddy (23 June 2020). "Gordi shares final single 'Extraordinary Life' ahead of new album". NME. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  50. ^ "Gordi covers Miley Cyrus 'Wrecking Ball' for Like A Version". ABC News. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  51. ^ Gordi and Alex Lahey Share Collaborative New Single, ‘Dino’s’. Tyler Jenke, Rolling Stone Australia, 12 February 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  52. ^ Deville Chris (17 November 2021). "Gordi "Grass Is Blue" (Dolly Parton Cover)". www.stereogum.com. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  53. ^ Gallagher Alex (24 February 2022). "Listen to Troye Sivan and Gordi's new collaboration 'Wait'". www.nme.com. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
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  56. ^ "One Crowded Hour / Unready (live at Sydney Opera House) - Single". Apple Music. 9 December 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
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