Mary Hatley doesn’t tiptoe into the world with The Poison I Choose—she kicks the door down with a debut that’s as bruised as it is beautiful. Hailing from Memphis, a city that bleeds soul into every note, Hatley distills blues, country, rock, and pop into a raw yet modern soundscape. It’s not nostalgia, but evolution—Hatley carries her influences proudly while forging something fiercely her own.
The record is cinematic in scope yet intimate in detail. Opener As Long As You’re Mine feels like a late-night confession whispered across a bar, while Be My Lover smolders with tension, a soundtrack for temptation and fear entwined. Can’t Forget You Now digs even deeper, its candid exploration of vulnerability making it one of the album’s standouts.
But Hatley doesn’t just dwell in the personal—she widens the lens. Cross You Twice and Wine, Flowers, & Blood confront societal and spiritual scars with a cool fire, weaving the political and the personal until they’re inseparable. It’s in these songs that Hatley reveals herself as not just a storyteller but a commentator, unafraid to provoke reflection.
The album’s emotional range is staggering. Dog Days offers an elegiac ode to resilience, while Ricochet bursts with rebellious energy, practically begging to be shouted back in live rooms. Then there’s What Are You Gonna Do, a slice of Memphis nightlife that grounds the record in grit and glitter, ensuring the journey feels anchored as much as it soars.
The Poison I Choose isn’t just a debut; it’s a mission statement. Mary Hatley has crafted an album that challenges, consoles, and ultimately empowers. It’s bold, cathartic, and unflinchingly human—the sound of an artist not just stepping into her own, but demanding to be heard. For those seeking music that lives on the edge of vulnerability and strength, Hatley delivers in spades.
