Musician Gordi 'Steals' Song From Partner, Makes It a Hit

When Sophie Payten (known as Gordi) and her partner Alex Lahey sat down to write a song together, neither expected it would become Gordi's latest single.

The two Australian musicians originally crafted "High Line" for Lahey's album, complete with melody, chords, and lyrics. But something wasn't clicking.

"We weren't totally in love with it," Gordi told Double J radio. "So I basically took the melody and the chords and stole it with her consent."

On a sweltering 45-degree day in LA, Gordi completely rewrote the lyrics in a back house with no air conditioning. The reimagined version felt right, and Lahey agreed immediately.

"I showed it to her, and she was like, 'Yeah, this is awesome. It's a you song,'" Gordi recalls.

Dating within the music industry could spark jealousy, but these two have found their rhythm. "We both feel that the world is big enough for the both of us," Gordi says.

The song didn't make it onto Gordi's 2025 album "Like Plasticine," but she saved it for something special. She released it just in time for her current Australian tour, which includes stops in smaller towns that rarely see live music.

Why This Inspires

Creative partnerships can be tricky, especially when romance is involved. But Gordi and Lahey show what's possible when ego takes a backseat to honesty.

Their willingness to trust first instincts and speak up when something isn't working created something better than the original plan. Lahey could have held onto the song out of pride, but she recognized it belonged to someone else.

This kind of generosity in creative spaces is rare. It shows maturity that many artists twice their age haven't developed.

The path to success wasn't always smooth for Gordi. A decade ago, she played a restaurant gig in Katoomba for $50 to an audience of one man wearing noise-canceling headphones.

On the drive home, she got pulled over for speeding and lost eight points plus a $600 fine during double demerits. That single gig cost her $550 plus gas.

"I just cried so hard. It was so grim," she remembers.

A year later, she got her first song on radio, transforming her "extremely expensive hobby into a career." Now she's touring the country with new music that came from trusting her gut and her partner's grace.