Light Still Shines The Same was recorded in December, 2024 and six singles were released from the album. Those singles are Destiny, She Was My Angel, Two Stoplights, When Dawn Comes To The City, Fortunate and Last One on The Bus.
Light Still Shines The Same, the title track was also released to the Ethnocloud platform where it is still listed as a featured track: https://ethnocloud.com/world-music/featured/ . This track was also listed with the Ethnocloud Top Forty songs for March and April, 2025
Here are some recent press quotes about the singles and the album :
“With Light Still Shines The Same, Mike Gutierrez-May has crafted an album that is both deeply personal and broadly accessible. His ability to balance serious social commentary with lighthearted fun gives the album a sense of balance that few artists can achieve. It’s a record that invites reflection while also offering moments of joy and humor, showcasing Gutierrez-May’s multifaceted talent as a songwriter and performer. Whether he’s confronting history’s darker moments, grappling with personal loss, or indulging in the absurd, Gutierrez-May brings sincerity and heart to every note. Light Still Shines The Same is an album that proves Mike Gutierrez-May is not only a master of his craft, but a storyteller with a rare gift for capturing the intricacies of the human experience.”
-Whitney Miller, Vocal Media
“Michael Gutierrez-May’s “Destiny” is a quietly captivating country-folk track that leans heavily into the beauty of simplicity. From the very first note, the listener is drawn into a world that feels both intimately personal and universally relatable. Gutierrez-May's vocal delivery is the heart of the song—soft and welcoming, it envelops the listener in a warmth that only grows as the story unfolds. His voice carries a sense of vulnerability, with each line feeling like an earnest conversation between him and the listener, as if he's confiding a life story steeped in both joy and struggle. Michael Gutierrez-May creates a space where the listener is invited to reflect alongside him. With a vocal presence that feels both tender and reassuring, paired with a guitar arrangement that is as earthy as it is effective, “Destiny” is a song that honors both the beauty and complexity of life’s journey, and does so with a subtle grace that lingers long after the track has ended. ” - Andre Avanessian, Radio Airplay Reviews
“We're excited to share a song that offers a thoughtful look at history and humanity: Light Still Shines The Same by Michael Gutierrez-May. With its reflective lyrics and beautiful instrumentation, this track brings together the sounds of indie rock, folk, and world music in a way that feels natural and heartfelt. The song's poetic storytelling speaks of resilience and the enduring light that connects us all, no matter the challenges of history. Backed by expressive guitars from Cliff Goodwin and nuanced percussion by Joe Clapp, the music carries a rich depth that complements its meaningful message. Michael Gutierrez-May's years of experience in the folk and acoustic scene shine through in this track. If you enjoy music that invites you to pause and reflect, this is a song worth listening to.” - Ethnocloud
“Short, sweet, and loving, She Was My Angel by Michael Gutierrez-May melts the heart and tries to sooth the soul. This new Folk song is a remembrance to someone who made a life-changing impact before passing away too soon. It describes her as being angelic, protective, and a best friend. While this material could give rise to an outburst of emotions, Gutierrez-May sings gently with conviction and sincerity. He has created a wonderful overall sound that pulls at the listener's feelings while still being dignified. All of this occurs over a simple acoustic guitar accompaniment, and is peppered with some lovely harmonies in the song's chorus. Overall, She Was My Angel is a wonderful tribute song by Michael Gutierrez-May that can bring a tear to any listener's eye.” - Zachary Larson, Radio Airplay Reviews
Earlier reviews for the album Drifting To The Right and the lyric video, Imaginary Tomato from the album
“The lyric video for Michael Gutierrez-May's "Imaginary Tomato" created by Kat Reinhardt is wonderfully stylized. The lyric video is quite animated. The lyrics are guided by a tomato, but the tomato is telling the story to the viewer. It dances around the screen, guiding your eyes to the words and direction the words go. It’s the most telling lyric video I’ve ever seen.” - Jane Lambert, Modern Mystery Blog
“Michael is a gifted storyteller, writing lyrics that make you stop and think about people and the world around us. His background as a mental health therapist informs all aspects of his music. His latest album, Drifting to the Right, is his 4th album and boasts of 9 songs and 11 special guests, including former Joe Cocker musical director and guitarist Cliff Goodwin and vocalist Colette O’Connor. Drifting to the Right is a commentary of the political upheaval and self-knowledge. More than half of the songs speak on the state of politics, while only a few speak on more personal issues. The song “Drifting to the Right” is about how someone’s anger leads them to the political right. Its harmonic and country-folk sound reveal a sadness to it, that people are moved by internal forces as much as they are by external ones.” - Stephen Vicino, Music Existence
“Drifting to the Right opens with his spoken word song “Brooklyn for Beginners,” an ode to the borough. He utilizes sound effects in a beautiful way that aids in his story and is accompanied by the piano and acoustic guitar. The title song, “Drifting to the Right,” takes on the alternative country sounds and minor chord progressions, telling the story of a man whose anger pushes him towards the political right. However, Michael doesn’t villainize that, rather, he uses psychotherapy to create a compassionate and empathetic feeling towards this character.” - Emily Hinde, The Indie Source
“We’ve recently discovered another proof of this statement, namely US singer-songwriter Michael Gutierrez-May. He’s been writing music since he was 16, promoting shows in the late 80s, and then taking a break from all that for over 25 years only to return to writing and releasing his own works again in 2009. He’s not only a living proof that passion for music is bigger than anything life could serve you but he is also an artist with many stories to tell and a great way of doing it.”
— Drooble Blog, January 2022