Chloe Marks & The Mayhem have released their new single and video ‘Ayodele’, a stripped-back acoustic track recorded live in a single take — nearly 11 years after it was first written.
Following the momentum of their 2025 release ‘Cheaper Than Therapy’, the band’s latest offering pivots sharply in tone, trading groove-driven production for something far more intimate and immediate.
“Ayodele was written back in 2015 – almost 11 years ago now. It was the first country song I ever wrote, and it came from a really personal place,” says Marks. “I bought this $400 guitar – definitely wasn’t the fanciest or most expensive guitar – but it reignited my love for music and songwriting, so I named it Ayodele, which means ‘joy has come home’ or ‘the return of happiness.’”
Produced by Michael Muchow at RagTag Studios, the track was recorded live in one room, with no overdubs or second takes — a deliberate choice that shapes both its sound and intent.
“To honour the meaning behind it, we recorded the entire track live – one take, all in one room, sitting in a circle. No overdubs, no re-takes or re-records. What you hear is exactly what we played in that moment. When we finished recording, it felt like a weight had lifted – over a decade’s worth of emotion and history just released. It wasn’t just my moment; it was something the whole band felt together.”
The result is a recording that leans into imperfection and presence. Subtle shifts in tempo and dynamics are left intact, with the room itself becoming part of the performance.
It marks a clear departure from ‘Cheaper Than Therapy’, which landed on Apple Music’s New in Country and Southern Craft playlists, reached #8 on ABC Country’s Most Played, and charted across Play MPE, AMRAP and CountryTown airplay rankings.
Rather than extend that formula, ‘Ayodele’ reframes the band’s trajectory — emphasising restraint, history and a willingness to prioritise feel over polish.
The official video follows the same approach. Self-produced by Marks and filmed at RagTag Studios, it presents the session as it happened: no narrative, no cutaways, just the band performing in real time.
Chloe Marks & The Mayhem have built a strong live reputation, appearing at festivals including Groundwater, Town & Country, Urban Country and Tamworth, and sharing stages with Tori Forsyth and James Blundell.
They will continue touring through Queensland and New South Wales in the coming months.
Tour dates
- Sat 9 May — Honky Tonks, Brisbane QLD
- Fri 22 May — Clocktower Hotel, Grafton NSW
- Sat 30 May — Chattahoochee Joes, Brisbane QLD
- Sat 6 June — Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour NSW
- Sat 11 July — Lasso CMF Afterparty, Beenleigh Tavern QLD
- Sat 25 July — Lefty’s Music Hall, Brisbane QLD
- Sat 8 August — Lefty’s Music Hall, Brisbane QLD
- Sun 9 August — Beechmont Hotel, Advancetown QLD
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