Mary Hatley’s The Poison I Choose is not just a debut—it’s a declaration. Recorded at Memphis’ legendary Easley McCain Studios and produced by Matt Qualls, the album delivers twelve tracks of raw honesty wrapped in a sound that fuses blues, rock, country, and pop. From the opening notes of As Long As You’re Mine, Hatley draws listeners into a deeply personal world, one where love, loss, resilience, and redemption collide.
The strength of Hatley’s artistry lies in her willingness to be vulnerable. Be My Lover crackles with tension as she navigates desire against fear, while Can’t Forget You Now unpacks the fragile push-and-pull of intimacy and self-protection. Then there’s Cross You Twice, which expands beyond the personal to tackle religious trauma and societal unrest, proving Hatley is unafraid to step into bigger conversations.
Yet for all its heaviness, the record pulses with life. Dog Days is a glowing tribute to survival through grief, while Ricochet radiates a fiery sense of defiance and renewal. Even Didn’t See A Ring brings wit and bite to the collection, balancing the album’s more somber moments with sharp storytelling. Hatley’s voice—earthy, emotive, and commanding—ties it all together with an authenticity that cannot be faked.
By the time the final notes of Wine, Flowers, & Blood fade, Hatley has given us more than a record—she’s given us her heart, flaws and all. The Poison I Choose is a debut with staying power, marking Mary Hatley as not just a promising artist, but a necessary one.
