Memphis Spirit, Modern Soul

There’s an undeniable bravery in Mary Hatley’s The Poison I Choose. With each song, she peels back another layer of her life—love, grief, faith, and survival—offering not polished perfection, but the kind of unfiltered honesty that makes music matter. It’s the kind of debut that feels less like entertainment and more like connection.

Tracks like Dog Days and Miss You Dear carry the weight of loss yet glow with resilience, while The Poison I Choose and Ricochet showcase Hatley’s ability to turn heartbreak into anthems of defiance. Her lyrics hit with the intimacy of a whispered confession, while her melodies soar with the universality of classic Americana storytelling.

By the time Wine, Flowers, & Blood closes the record, listeners feel as though they’ve shared in Hatley’s catharsis—walked with her through the shadows and into the light. It’s rare for a debut to strike such a balance of personal depth and universal resonance, but Hatley achieves it with grace. The Poison I Choose is an album you don’t just hear—you live with it.

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