Debut album from Mary Hatley

Mary Hatley’s story is inseparable from the city that shaped her’ a singer-songwriter raised in Memphis, Tennessee, she found her voice in the city’s storied music scene after moving there at eight years old. Immersed in the birthplace of rock and soul, she drew inspiration from local heroes like Elvis Presley while absorbing up the richness of a city that breathes music in every corner. Initially a shy child, her reticence faded when she discovered the refuge of songwriting and the power of performance.

Blending classic rock with modern soul, her music feels like a bridge between eras, a dialogue between the historic heartbeat of Memphis and the inner landscapes of her own experiences. Her artistic output has seen her compared to modern acts such as Cyrena Wages and Elle King, while her songwriting nods to the likes of Stevie Nicks and Chris Stapleton.

Self-taught on the guitar, Mary’s creative journey took flight during quarantine when she channelled her personal struggles into an intimate songwriting practice. Working with producer Matt Qualls at the renowned Easley McCain studio in Memphis, she began to craft her debut album, a body of work that explores love, trauma, grief, determination and self-discovery. Now, following a string of well-received singles this year, she brings us The Poison I Choose, a record that brings together blues, rock, country and pop into a personal tapestry of strength and vulnerability.

Reflecting on her influences, she shares, “I grew up listening to Fleetwood Mac, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Stevie Nicks. Music became my escape from trauma and my way of processing my past. On this album, I decided to bare all, sharing both my struggles and my triumphs.” That background defines the record, where each song offers an open and engaging glance into her unique world.

Opening tracks “As Long As You’re Mine” and “Be My Lover” capture the complexities of love and desire, whether it’s the freedom of discovering intimacy after years of emotional walls or the risk of surrendering despite fear. “Can’t Forget You Now” and “Cross You Twice” wrestle with ideas of religious trauma and political reflection, while “Didn’t See A Ring” takes aim at misconceptions and unwanted assumptions, “This song was written out of spite towards a work relationship with a married man whom everyone assumed I had an intimate relationship with,” she shares.

Elsewhere, she addresses grief head-on, “Dog Days” pays tribute to strength and those who helped her through dark times, while “Miss You Dear” explores the pain of losing a father figure and the cycles of trauma that followed. On “Not The Only One” and “Ricochet,” Mary reclaims her agency, whether in love or in defiance of a broken legal system, while the title track “The Poison I Choose” lays bare the contradictions of toxic love, with Mary commenting, “This song follows me on the journey of processing a toxic relationship that I was in. I acknowledge that the person I love is no longer a healthy person to be with, but I keep choosing them.”

The album is firmly rooted in Memphis, with “What Are You Gonna Do” recounting a night at Paula and Raiford’s Disco, grounding her personal songwriting in the pulse of her city. Closing track “Wine, Flowers, & Blood” circles back to themes of religious trauma, serving as both catharsis and closure. With The Poison I Choose, Mary Hatley delivers a debut album that’s at once profoundly personal yet widely resonant, all brought to life by exquisite musicianship, alluring vocal performance and a warm country feel throughout. It’s a timeless work forged in honesty, balancing power and tenderness and placing her firmly among the most compelling new voices to emerge from Memphis’s stellar music scene.

Listen to The Poison I Choose below