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Australia Gordi, the musical alias of Sophie Payten, has established a diversified career as an ARIA-nominated indie pop singer-songwriter and a medical doctor, exploring themes of life, loss, and personal identity across her artistic and professional pursuits.
Gordi, also known as Sophie Payten, has been announced as an APRA AMCOS Ambassador, recognizing her contributions to music as a singer-songwriter.
Gordi signed record deals with Jagjaguwar in the United States in February 2016 for her music releases, including EPs and albums.
Gordi signed record deals with Liberation Music in Australia in April 2016 for her music releases, including EPs and albums.
Gordi's 2015 single "Can We Work It Out" was featured in the seventh series of 'The Vampire Diaries'.
Gordi's 2017 single "Heaven I Know" was featured in the tenth series of 'The Walking Dead'.
Gordi's 2017 song "Something Like This" was featured in the 2020 teen romantic comedy film 'To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You'.
Gordi has toured with Bon Iver and sang backing vocals for them on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon' in September 2016.
S. Carey is a featured vocalist on Gordi's album track "I'm Done" from 'Reservoir', and Payten is credited with singing backing vocals on S. Carey’s 2018 album 'Hundred Acres'.
Gordi is featured on "Postcard" from Troye Sivan’s 2018 album 'Bloom' and collaborated with him on the 2022 single "Wait" for the film 'Three Months'.
Gordi released the single "Indifferent" with Willaris. K, which appeared on his EP 'Lustre' in 2020.
Gordi has been in a relationship with and collaborated musically with singer-songwriter Alex Lahey, including on the 2021 single "Dino's".
Gordi collaborated with Northern Irish folk artist SOAK on the single "Lunch At Dune", which appears on her third studio album 'Like Plasticine' and a separate EP.
Gordi featured on John Raymond and S. Carey's 2023 album 'Shadowlands', including on the single "Steadfast" and "New Meaning".
Gordi's 2023 single "Broke Scene" was co-produced by Ethan Gruska.
Gordi features Anaïs Mitchell on the track "PVC Divide" from her album 'Like Plasticine'.
Gordi collaborated with Josh Pyke on the song "The Hummingbird" for his 2021 album 'To Find Happiness'.
Gordi appeared as a guest vocalist on the track "Hang On" from Le Youth's 2022 album 'Reminders'.
Gordi appeared as a guest vocalist on the track "No One Else" from Nils Hoffmann's 2022 album 'A Radiant Sign'.
Gordi appeared as a guest vocalist on the track "The Other Side" from Tyne-James Organ's 2025 album 'The Other Side'.
Sophie Payten, professionally known as Gordi, was born on December 28, 1992, in Canowindra, New South Wales, Australia. She embarked on her musical journey in 2013, independently performing across Sydney while pursuing her university studies. Her early career saw her releasing tracks online through Triple J’s Unearthed radio, which quickly garnered national and international attention. Payten was recognized for her emerging talent with nominations for the 2015 Unearthed Artist of the Year J Award from Triple J and the 2015 Next Big Thing SMAC Award from FBi Radio. Stereogum further acknowledged her potential by naming her one of the 40 best new bands of 2016. This early recognition led to significant record deals with Jagjaguwar in the United States and Liberation Music in Australia in early 2016, preceding the release of her debut EP, “Clever Disguise,” in May of the same year. The EP, entirely written by Payten, featured collaborations with producers Ben McCarthy, Alex Somers, and Francois Tetaz.
Throughout her career, Payten has toured with notable artists such as Bon Iver, Of Monsters and Men, The Tallest Man on Earth, Highasakite, and Ásgeir, and contributed backing vocals for Bon Iver on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” in 2016. Her debut LP, “Reservoir,” released on August 25, 2017, was co-produced by Payten, Alex Somers, Tim Anderson, and Ali Chant. The album featured S. Carey and saw Payten contributing to other artists’ works, including S. Carey’s 2018 album “Hundred Acres” and Troye Sivan’s 2018 album “Bloom.” In parallel with her burgeoning music career, Payten completed a medical degree at The University of New South Wales in 2018, subsequently working as a junior doctor at Prince of Wales Hospital in 2019. Despite leaving her medical position in January 2020 to focus on her second studio album, “Our Two Skins,” she returned to medical duties during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our Two Skins,” released on June 26, 2020, was co-produced by Payten, Chris Messina, and Zach Hanson, and recorded at her family farm in Canowindra. This album explores deeply personal themes, including her experience of coming out as queer. She continued to release new music, including the EP “Inhuman” in August 2022 and her third studio album, “Like Plasticine,” released on August 8, 2025. This album features collaborations with Ethan Gruska and SOAK. In August 2023, Payten was appointed to the newly formed Music Australia Council, a division of Creative Australia (formerly Australia Council for the Arts), further cementing her influence within the Australian music industry. Her personal life is intertwined with her music, evidenced by her 2020 single “Sandwiches” dedicated to her late grandmother, and her long-term relationship and musical collaboration with singer-songwriter Alex Lahey.
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