Mary Hatley – The Poison I Choose (2025)
With The Poison I Choose, Mary Hatley stakes her claim as one of Memphis’ most compelling new voices, weaving a record that is both steeped in tradition and fiercely contemporary. At its core, the album is about resilience; the act of facing down love, trauma, and societal weight, and emerging not unscathed but transformed. Across twelve tracks, Hatley bends genres and expectations, offering a portrait of an artist unafraid to bare her soul.
The production by Matt Qualls at Easley McCain Studios is intimate yet expansive, lending the songs both grit and grace. The record is steeped in Memphis’ sonic heritage, echoing the raw power of its blues and soul lineage while embracing a modern sensibility that places Hatley among the likes of Cyrena Wages and Elle King.
Each track is a carefully crafted vignette. ‘Didn’t See A Ring’ offers a sharp, witty take on rumours and assumptions, balancing its spiteful inspiration with sly humour. ‘Not The Only One’ strips down to the essentials, delivering a poignant anthem of independence written from a courthouse bench, proof of Hatley’s ability to turn the most ordinary moments into resonant songs. Meanwhile, ‘What Are You Gonna Do’ acts as a celebratory nod to Memphis itself, grounding the album in place with a spirited narrative of nights out and local haunts.
What makes the record so compelling is its duality: Hatley confronts heavy themes with a lightness of touch that avoids despair. ‘Miss You Dear’ could easily collapse under the weight of its grief, yet instead it emerges as a beautifully wrought exploration of cycles of loss and toxic love. Similarly, ‘Dog Days’ transforms hardship into gratitude, honouring the hands that carried her through dark times. These songs embody resilience not as a grand triumph but as the quiet strength of continuing forward.
‘Ricochet’ and the title track reveal Hatley’s skill in creating emotional anthems. The former bursts with energy, a rallying cry of survival and new beginnings. The latter, the haunting ‘The Poison I Choose’, serves as the emotional climax of the album, confronting the lure of toxic love with raw honesty. It is in these songs that Hatley’s storytelling and vocal power converge most potently, allowing her to channel both confession and catharsis.
Throughout the album, Hatley’s voice is the guiding light. Earthy yet ethereal, it moves easily between smoky blues phrasing, country storytelling, and rock intensity. Her delivery feels lived-in and unguarded, as if each lyric is drawn from her very marrow. The effect is disarmingly intimate, making the listener feel like a confidant rather than an audience.
In The Poison I Choose, Hatley has created an album that feels like Memphis itself, layered, soulful, and unapologetically authentic. It is a debut that resonates beyond genre boundaries, inviting listeners to sit with their pain, joy, and contradictions. In doing so, Hatley positions herself not just as a promising songwriter but as an artist with the depth and courage to shape contemporary Americana for years to come.
Find out more about Mary Hatley on her Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Spotify, and YouTube.
