Gordi

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. Payten was nominated for the 2015 Unearthed Artist of the Year J Award from Triple J, the 2015 Next Big Thing SMAC (Sydney Music, Arts & Culture) Award from FBi Radio, and was dubbed one of the 40 best new bands of 2016 by Stereogum. Payten signed record deals with Jagjaguwar in the United States in February 2016 and Liberation Music in Australia in April 2016. Payten then released her debut EP Clever Disguise in May 2016. The EP was written entirely by Payten, collaborating with producers and mixers Ben McCarthy, Alex Somers and Francois Tetaz.

Payten has toured with Bon Iver, Of Monsters and Men, The Tallest Man on Earth, Highasakite, and Ásgeir. Payten also sang backing vocals for Bon Iver on their appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in September 2016.

Payten'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.

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.

Payten released five singles ("Sandwiches", "Aeroplane Bathroom", "Volcanic", "Unready", and "Extraordinary Life") ahead of the release of her second studio album Our Two Skins 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 released her EP Inhuman on 19 August 2022. It was Payten's first non-remix, live, or acoustic EP since the release of Clever Disguise in 2016.

Payten featured on John Raymond and S. Carey's 2023 album Shadowlands, including on the single "Steadfast".

In March 2023, Payten released "Broke Scene", which was co-produced by Ethan Gruska, followed by her single "Lunch At Dune" (with SOAK) in October 2024. Both singles appear on her third studio album Like Plasticine, which was released on 8 August 2025. Singles "Alien Cowboy", "Peripheral Lover", "Cutting Room Floor", "PVC Divide", "GD (Goddamn)" and "Head Rush" also appear on the record.

Other roles and activities In August 2023, Payten 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).

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

Discography Studio albums +List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions shown Title Album details Peak chart positions AUS Reservoir Released: 25 August 2017 Label: Jagjaguwar Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 20 Our Two Skins Released: 26 June 2020 Label: Jagjaguwar Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 18 Like Plasticine Released: 8 August 2025 Label: Mushroom Music Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 93

Extended plays +List of EPs, with release date and label shown Title Details Clever Disguise Released: 13 May 2016 Label: Jagjaguwar, Liberation Formats: CD, LP, digital download Beneath the Reservoir Released: 31 January 2019 Label: Jagjaguwar, Liberation Formats: Digital download, streaming Refracted: Live at Phoenix Central Park Released: 20 May 2021 Label: Jagjaguwar, Liberation Formats: Digital download, streaming Inhuman Released: 19 August 2022 Label: Mushroom Music Formats: Digital download, streaming Nylon Released: 26 June 2026 Label: Mushroom Music Formats: LP, digital download, streaming

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

Singles As lead artist

As featured artist +List of singles as featured artist, with year released and album shown Title Year Album "The Hummingbird" 2021 To Find Happiness "Steadfast" 2023 Shadowlands "Sir" World Going One Way

Guest appearances +Guest appearances, with year released and album shown Title Year Album "Postcard" 2018 Bloom "Hang On" 2022 Reminders "No One Else" 2022 A Radiant Sign "New Meaning" 2023 Shadowlands "The Other Side" 2025 The Other Side

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.

"Extraordinary Life" Independent Song of the Year

Our Two Skins Best Independent Pop Album or EP 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 three nominations.

Our Two Skins Best Adult Contemporary Album

Sophie Payton (Gordi) & Jason Fernandez for RIDE - Music from the Film Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album

Best Adult Contemporary Album

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.

Our Two Skins Australian Music Prize

Like Plasticine Australian Music Prize 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.

Sophie Payten (Gordi) Songwriter Award

Sophie Payten (Gordi) Artistic Excellence Award 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.

Gordi Unearthed Artist of the Year

Reservoir Australian Album of the Year

Our Two Skins Australian Album of the Year

Gordi Double J Australian Artist of the Year 2025 Gordi Double J Artist of the Year

Music Victoria Awards The Music Victoria Awards, are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2005. 2021 "Dino's" (with Alex Lahey) Best Victorian Song

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. 2022 Herself Rolling Stone Readers' Choice Award