When Gordi’s international tour plans were cancelled last year, she found herself unexpectedly putting her medical degree to use.
Last year, Australian Music Vault launched a three-part video series titled Banding Together with the aim of bringing members of the music industry together and highlighting the ways they were coping with the impacts of the pandemic.
With restrictions still having a huge effect on the music industry, AMV is continuing the series to showcase the resilience, innovation, and optimism of our music community.
The latest installment of Banding Together tells the incredible story of Sophie Payten, who you may know as Gordi, and her unique pandemic experience.
Keep up to date with all the latest music interviews, news and reviews here.
A qualified doctor, Payten abruptly found herself working on the medical frontline throughout the pandemic while simultaneously juggling her music career, giving back however she could through both outlets.
Payten admits she felt “obliged” to return to Melbourne and help upon seeing how understaffed our hospitals were as case numbers skyrocketed in Victoria.
“I sort of live these strange dual lives which have never intersected as much as they have [in 2020] with the pandemic,” she explains in the episode.
The two vastly different worlds crossed again when Gordi performed with Ben Lee and The Royal Melbourne Hospital Scrub Choir at the ANZAC Day Eve Music From The Home Front concert last month, in which they shared a moving rendition of ‘We’re All In This Together’.
A touching and truly incredible story, Gordi details having her music career abruptly upended and working on the frontline during the height of the pandemic in Melbourne.
Listen to Gordi’s story with the latest installment of Banding Together below.
Find out more about Australian Music Vault’s Banding Together series by visiting their website.
