There’s a raw kind of honesty in Memphis-based singer-songwriter Mary Hatley’s music — the kind that doesn’t flinch at heartbreak, grief, or defiance. With the release of her debut album The Poison I Choose, Hatley introduces herself as an artist unafraid to bare her scars, turning pain into power across twelve tracks that weave together blues, rock, country, and pop.
Recorded at the legendary Easley McCain studio with producer Matt Qualls, the album is steeped in the grit and soul of her hometown. But while the Memphis lineage runs deep, Hatley’s songwriting is firmly personal, shaped by resilience, loss, and self-discovery.
“I grew up listening to Fleetwood Mac, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Stevie Nicks,” Hatley reflects. “Music became my escape from trauma and my way of processing my past. On this album, I decided to bare all, sharing both my struggles and my triumphs.”
That vulnerability threads through The Poison I Choose — from the euphoric surrender of Be My Lover, to the aching resilience of Dog Days, to the bruised defiance of Ricochet. Each song feels like a chapter in Hatley’s story, shaped by the tension between holding on and letting go.
Highlights include:As Long As You’re Mine — a sweeping ballad about finding love after years of building walls.
Cross You Twice — a fiery reckoning with religious trauma and political disillusionment.
Miss You Dear — an unflinching look at grief, loss, and the cycles of trauma that shape us.
The Poison I Choose — the title track, which captures the pull of toxic love and the choices we keep making.
What Are You Gonna Do — a Memphis-rooted ode to late nights and local haunts, grounding the record in the city that raised her.
What makes Hatley’s debut so compelling is its duality: it’s at once deeply personal and universally resonant. For every moment of heartbreak, there’s defiance; for every confession, a reclamation of power. It’s a record that moves between tenderness and grit, inviting listeners not just to hear her story, but to find their own reflections within it.
Hatley belongs to a lineage of storytellers who balance vulnerability with strength, echoing the likes of Elle King, Cyrena Wages, Stevie Nicks, and Chris Stapleton, while carving out a voice all her own. The Poison I Choose isn’t just an album — it’s a statement of survival, resilience, and the beauty of choosing to tell your truth, even when it hurts.
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