Johnny Murrell shines bright on an uplifting single, "May Gray, June Gloom"
Right from the opening moments, this song feels exactly how you want your ideal summer day to feel. "May Gray, June Gloom" is exactly that. Johnny Murrell, the piano driven force who has become a hot commodity of the Tulsa music scene after cutting his teeth for seven years in the New York City circuit, delivers a track that radiates hope and warmth from the very first note. It’s the kind of song that lifts you up without ever feeling forced or saccharine, and that balance is no small feat.
Murrell's sound has always lived at a fascinating intersection, drawing from the timeless piano traditions of Elton John and John Legend while channeling the atmospheric, modern energy of artists like Hozier. On this track, that fusion feels fully realized. The production is rich and layered, built around a soulful rock foundation with just enough folk and pop texture woven in to give the whole thing a warm, organic feel. There is real craftsmanship here, the kind that rewards a close listen without ever losing its immediate, catchy appeal.
At the center of it all has to be Murrell's voice, and it truly is the heart of this record. That slightly raspy, emotive tenor carries so much feeling in every line, and his delivery has a poetic quality that turns even the simplest phrases into something that lands right in your chest. Whether he’s stripping things back at the piano or leading a full band, Murrell has built a reputation as an electrifying performer. It’s really not hard to hear that magnetic presence pulsing through every second of this recording.
The chorus is where the song really takes flight. It is catchy in the best possible way, like the kind of hook that sneaks into your head and stays there, begging to be sung along to at full volume. Believe us, you’ll be singing along by the end of it all. There’s also a soulful pop feel running through it that makes the uplifting message feel earned, like a genuine invitation to shake off whatever gray skies you might be carrying and let a little light back in.
Our personal favorite moment had to have been in the final 30 seconds or so. There’s a heavenly female vocal that slides in, almost choir-esque, that literally sent shivers down our spine. Paired with his voice, it’s like the clouds opened up for a moment.
Knowing of Murrell's history performing on some of the most iconic stages across the country, it’s not hard to imagine this track coming alive in a live setting, with a crowd singing every word back to him. "May Gray, June Gloom" captures everything that makes him such a compelling artist, that rare mix of vulnerability, soul, and pure joyful energy. If it happens to be your intro to the artist, well, you’re in for a ride.
Go ahead and click those links below to listen in, follow along, and of course to stay tuned for plenty more in the works. Enjoy!
Listen to “May Gray, June Gloom”
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