Justin Utley – «Underneath My Skin»

The Fifth Single and Video from «Scars» Album

OUTMusic Award winning singer/songwriter Justin Utley’s newest hit single from «Scars» departs from the rock and roll feel of the album.  «Underneath My Skin» is a deeply personal and emotional song; more theatrical and packed with passion.  It is about heartache, betrayal, and the feelings that linger long after the final goodbye of a lost love. Utley likens it to an Adele track. «It’s based on an experience I had that was so intense that the only way I could express the pain accurately was through music», he reflects. «I think the song resonates with anyone who has been at the difficult end of a relationship’s rope, forced to finally cut ties with a love you thought would last». Justin Utley’s «Underneath My Skin» is being distributed independently and is available on all digital platforms.

«I remember writing the song and bringing it into the studio the next day saying that I needed to add it to the album», Justin Utley continues. «My producer and I were so frustrated because we were down to the wire toward the release date for Scars; the album needed to be finalised and delivered to the label.  I sang through «Underneath My Skin» and my producer sat quietly before admitting, ‘yeah, this needs to make it on the record’».

The music video for «Underneath My Skin» was directed by Christopher Lee and filmed at Twig Media Lab Studios in Salt Lake City. It was Justin’s idea to paint the song’s lyrics all over his body.  He took the concept to the crew at Twig Media Lab and they made it happen.

«Underneath My Skin»I love the end product and how everything came together», says Justin. «It makes me hopeful that our communities, too, will finally come together in 2021 and that we will be able to celebrate once again. I look forward to being able to resume traveling and performing.  I so miss the connection and energy of a live audience».

Born and raised in Utah, Justin Utley’s music career took off when he was selected to perform at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. After breaking ties with his Mormon roots and moving to New York City, Justin became a sought-after talent, spending much of his career touring as a performer at Pride Festivals worldwide where he has shared the stage with top international acts including Dan Reynolds, Icona Pop, Tegan & Sara, Margaret Cho and Billy Porter.

In June 2010, Utley released «Stand for Something», a single written to inspire and motivate action towards securing LGBTQ marriage equality in the United States. The single was nominated by the LGBTQ Academy of Recording Arts for 4 OutMusic Awards, including Best Songwriter and Artist of the Year.  It won Best Country/Folk Song of the Year.

Justin has served as a guest contributor on CNN’s ‘Faces of Faith’ Sunday news segment, NPR, SiriusXM’s OutQ and MSNBC. He is a two-time recipient of the FBI’s «Inspiring Citizen of the Yea» award, and «Artist of the Year» by SiriusXM’s OutQ Radio.  He regularly provides insight on issues of faith and the LGBTQ community at colleges and universities throughout the USA.

Scars is Justin Utley’s third studio album.   It is one of the most heartfelt, brutally honest, thought provoking and vulnerable collection of songs he has ever produced and it has been embraced by fans.  The stand-alone pop-single “Survivors” has now passed 100,000 plays on Spotify alone, and the four videos from the album have received over a million views combined.