We Speak Music
Mary Hatley Shares Stories of Love and Survival in New Record ‘The Poison I Choose’
Mary Hatley’s debut album The Poison I Choose hits like a gut punch wrapped in velvet. Recorded at Memphis’ famed Easley McCain with producer Matt Qualls, the 12-track set announces a singer-songwriter with a voice carved from lived experience and a pen that spares no detail. It’s the kind of record that takes the messiness of life—love, trauma, resilience—and spins it into something both confessional and universal.
The opener, As Long As You’re Mine, sets the tone: a slow-burning declaration of vulnerability that unfolds with the emotional charge of Stevie Nicks or Bonnie Raitt. From there, Hatley moves between smoky ballads (Be My Lover, Can’t Forget You Now) and sharp-edged storytelling (Didn’t See A Ring), showcasing her range not just as a vocalist but as a writer unafraid to pull from the most painful corners of her past.
Songs like Cross You Twice and Wine, Flowers, & Blood cut deeper, tackling religious trauma and political unrest with a clarity rare for a debut. These aren’t easy subjects, but Hatley approaches them with a mix of grit and grace, situating her voice in the long lineage of Memphis artists who’ve turned struggle into song. Her ability to balance the personal and political marks her as more than just another Americana hopeful—she’s a truth-teller.
But it’s not all darkness. Dog Days offers light in the aftermath of grief, while Ricochet explodes with defiance, an anthem for starting over on your own terms. What Are You Gonna Do, a rollicking ode to Memphis nightlife, brings welcome levity, grounding the album in the place that shaped it. These tracks ensure the album isn’t weighed down—it breathes, it celebrates, it lives.
The Poison I Choose is a striking first statement from an artist who’s clearly in it for the long haul. Mary Hatley doesn’t just write songs; she builds worlds from her scars and joys. In a musical landscape often crowded with surface-level emotion, her debut cuts to the bone—and that’s exactly what makes it unforgettable.
London-born, South Africa-based folk artist Seth Tabatznik unveils his latest single, “Shining For Love”, a luminous and heartfelt composition that celebrates life, love and the natural world.
Built around layers of atmospheric acoustic guitars, devotional strings, soft shakers, and Seth’s evocative vocal delivery, “Shining For Love” captures a sense of reverence that feels timeless. Each element moves with intention, allowing the song to bloom from a whisper into a radiant, full-bodied expression of gratitude and connection.
“This song came to me in a forest, spoken by the elements around me”, Seth shares. “It was like nature took my pen and transcribed the lyrics into my notebook, accompanied by a simple four-chord progression. I love how the song builds and accelerates as a celebration of life, love, and nature. Every sound, every movement, is her way of expressing herself as she is one being, of which we are a part, not apart.”
Now based in the Western Cape mountains of South Africa, Seth’s music is steeped in a deep respect for the land and the lessons it offers. His work bridges folk traditions, medicine music, and contemporary songwriting, echoing influences from Bon Iver, Noah Kahan, and Nick Mulvey, who also mentored Seth during the development of his forthcoming album.
With “Shining For Love,” Seth Tabatznik continues to carve his own path; one defined by warmth, sincerity and an unwavering devotion to the beauty of being alive.
Follow Seth Tabatznik:
Website – Instagram – Facebook – Soundcloud – TikTok – Youtube – Spotify
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