Michael Gutierrez-May keeps hope alive with his latest single Light Still Shines The Same — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
Released in December 2024 as the title track of the Massachusetts singer-songwriter and storyteller’s latest album, Light Still Shines The Same is a lyrical and meditative reckoning with the legacy of colonization in North America. The song reflects on the European settlement of Indigenous lands and the generations of struggle that followed. Yet it doesn’t stop at despair — instead, it calls attention to resilience, unity, and the unchanging light of the Great Spirit that shines on all people.
“You build a town in the wilderness… / Took the wood from the trees / Water for the factories / And they attributed this to progress,” Gutierrez-May sings with quiet urgency. But the refrain offers hope: “The light still shines the same on everyone.”
The track was produced by Stephen B. Martin and recorded at Ultrasound Studios in Hanover by engineer Joe Clapp. A key contributor to the song is guitarist Cliff Goodwin, best known for his work as music director for Joe Cocker. Goodwin’s expressive lead guitar anchors the track in both tradition and originality, a hallmark of the entire album.
Gutierrez-May’s music blends folk, indie-rock and subtle world music influences. The album includes collaborations with Carley Baer, Elizabeth Gray and Sean Ryder, all of whom helped shape the musical and emotional landscape of the project. Additional musical guests include Raianne Richards, Pete Nelson, Suzanne McNeil and bassist Gray, a punk-era veteran now part of the duo Box of Kittens.
Michael’s lyrics walk a line between the personal and political, weaving themes of loss, resilience, reconciliation, and even humor. Destiny tells the story of a young woman’s defiance in the face of social expectations, while She Was My Angel is a moving ballad about grief and long-term love. Apology Song and Five Twenty Four show Gutierrez-May’s ability to move seamlessly between reflection, contrition, and compassion.
The album was inspired by the loss of three close friends and mentors in 2023 — David Rumpler, Andy Holiner and Eric “Snake” Gulliksen. “This album is dedicated to their memory,” Gutierrez-May shares. “Their encouragement made all the difference.”
Gutierrez-May’s path to music has been anything but conventional. A longtime community-based psychotherapist by day and concert organizer by night, he is now known for his heartfelt songs, grounded in history and humanity. He has released three previous studio albums and performs throughout New England, often in support of community and benefit events.
On Sunday, June 1, Gutierrez-May will take the stage at the Hotel Vernon Shiproom in Worcester for a special ISSA Boston/Northeast Songwriting Showcase, joined by fellow artists Bernie Drury, Tim Maynard and Peter L’Esperance. Audiences will hear songs rooted in the land, lived experience, and enduring truths. The showcase is both a celebration of song and a reminder of what folk music does best: tell stories that matter. As Gutierrez-May puts it, “We stand on our connectedness, through the present time and through the ages.”
Check out Light Still Shines The Same above, hear more from Michael Gutierrez-May below, and find him on his website, Facebook and Instagram.
