Sophie Payten, professionally known as Gordi, captivates audiences with her stunning music and draws from her background as a doctor. Her long-term partnership with musician Alex Lahey directly inspires her latest single, High Line.
The couple co-wrote the track initially for Lahey with alternate lyrics. “Alex and I wrote the song originally with entirely different lyrics for her,” Gordi explains. “She wanted a particular kind of song, so we used the same melody and chords but a completely different story. We weren’t totally in love with it.”
With Lahey’s consent, Gordi reclaimed the melody and chords, rewriting the lyrics on a scorching 45-degree day in a Los Angeles backyard lacking air conditioning. “I revisited the song because I was so in love with the melody and turned it into this new thing,” she says.
Balancing Creativity and Competition
Relationships in the cutthroat music industry often spark jealousy, but Gordi and Lahey stay grounded. “We both feel the world is big enough for both of us, and we’ve carved out our own lanes,” Gordi states. “If one of us landed a Taylor Swift support slot, that might break the camel’s back. For now, we both churn out plenty of creative material.”
Spotting flaws in a song demands maturity and instinct. “You just gotta go with your first gut instinct,” Gordi reflects. After her rewrite, Lahey responded positively: “Yeah, this is awesome. It’s a you song.”
Standalone Release Ahead of Tour
The track suited Gordi’s third album, Like Plasticine, but didn’t fit the final sequence. “When sequencing the record, I couldn’t find a place for it,” she notes. “It can stand on its own two feet.”
Gordi timed the single’s release perfectly for her ongoing Australian tour of intimate venues. “I wanted new music out before touring Australia again,” she says. “It’s a really special song, so I’m glad it’s in the world.”
Lessons from a Humbling Gig
The tour hits underserved spots including Coorabell, Castlemaine, Milton, Port Kembla, and Orange through April.
Gordi watches her speed closely after a decade-old Katoomba restaurant gig for $50. “I set up in the corner with one man eating alone,” she recalls. “As I started playing, he donned noise-cancelling headphones. That’s truly humbling—not award speeches.”
Racing back to Sydney for a friend’s 21st party, she hit 83 in a 60 zone during double demerits near Christmas. Police issued a $600 fine and eight points. “That gig cost $550 plus petrol. I cried hard. It took three years to recover those points.”
Such trials forged her path. Within a year, a radio hit transformed her costly hobby into a thriving career.
Upcoming performances kick off in Brisbane on April 10, then Coorabell, Castlemaine, Melbourne, Ballarat, Sydney, Milton, Port Kembla, and Orange. Gordi joins Of Monsters and Men as support in May.
