Gordi

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. After receiving 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, Gordi, the musical alias of Sophie Payten, quickly established herself as a formidable talent in the indie pop landscape. Her independently released tracks through Triple J’s Unearthed radio garnered national and international attention, leading Stereogum to name her one of the 40 best new bands of 2016. This early recognition culminated in 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 same year, she released the single ‘Sandwiches,’ dedicated to her late grandmother, and continued a long-term musical collaboration with singer-songwriter Alex Lahey. This period also saw the release of her EP ‘Inhuman’ in August 2022. Continuing to solidify her influence within the Australian music industry, Payten was appointed to the newly formed Music Australia Council, a division of Creative Australia (formerly Australia Council for the Arts), in August 2023. Her third studio album, ‘Like Plasticine,’ is slated for release on August 8, 2025, and features collaborations with acclaimed artists Ethan Gruska and SOAK, further showcasing her evolution as an artist and producer.