After 10 Years, Kristina Murray Finally Gets Her Due
They call Nashville a 10 year town. You get 10 years to make it, and after that you might as well turn tail or give up. Over the last 10 years, perhaps nobody has has paid more dues while being passed over for deserved recognition than singer and songwriter Kristina Murray. She’s the Queen of Santa’s Pub; The Muse of East Nashville. Among her fellow musicians, few if any are as well-respected.
But Kristina remained unsigned, and under-represented, with that 10-year window quickly coming to a close on the Atlanta native. She was a sad example of how despite all the strides made to save country music in recent years, there were still deserving artists slipping through the cracks. Until now.
Officially announced Wednesday morning (2-11), Kristina Murray is the newest signee to Normaltown Records, which is a division of New West. Her new song and video “Watchin’ The World Pass Me By” is out now (see below), and her Normaltown/New West debut album Little Blue will be out May 9th.
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s finally happening for Kristina Murray.
“I’ve been to some pretty low places these last ten years,” Murray says. “Faced a lot of heartbreak and loss and grief, but you have to learn to live with those things if you’re going to survive. You have to persevere. A lot of the characters on this record are coming to terms with the fact that life just has a lot of sadness in it. But making peace with that sadness is what allows you to carry on and find joy and meaning and purpose.”
Little Blue was recorded in Muscle Shoals, AL, and Nashville, TN, with the well-respected Misa Arriaga as a producer, along with Rachael Moore. It also features appearances by fellow East Nashville legends Logan Ledger and Erin Rae. Though you can expect lots of serious honky tonk music like the stuff Murray has cut her teeth on singing at Santa’s Pub or Honky Tonk Tuesday nights, there are also flourishes of a swampy Americana, and some Southern Rock to the sound as well.
You hear some of all of this in the new song “Watch The World Pass Me By,” which makes Murray remark, “After living in Nashville for over ten years, you get to seein’ it all! A kissoff to the music business, the arbitrariness of success, and the sometimes strong desire to quit it all and move to the beach, this song’s got quite a few easter eggs for the careful listener. Ultimately, all I want to do is sit in a honky tonk with a beer and a great jukebox and listen to the classics.”
Kristina Murray finally finding the support she deserves is definitely something to find inspiration and hope in. It’s still a long way to the top, or where Kristina’s should be. But as that 10 year window closes, she finds herself on the inside instead of on the outside of the Nashville experience. And no matter what happens from here, that feels like a victory.
“Our time here is so short on this little blue dot,” Murray says. “Too short for all the bullshit we get caught up in day to day. This whole record is dropping in and out of these little snippets of sadness in life, but I wanted to end on this note of hope, this reminder that you can still find love and beauty no matter how dark things may seem.”
Little Blue is now available for pre-save/preorder.
TRACK LIST:
1. You Got Me
2. Has Been
3. The After Midnight Special
4. Fool’s Gold
5. Watchin’ The World Pass Me By
6. Get Down To It (feat. Logan Ledger)
7. Just A Little While Longer
8. Phenix City
9. Little Blue
February 12, 2025 @ 9:17 am
I believe that’s a Gibson j-50 from the 60s. If I’m correct, one of the last models to have that style of tuner because they changed tuners in the late 60s
February 12, 2025 @ 9:47 am
You are correct Fuzz. That is indeed a vintage J-50. The J-50 is a J-45 with natural wood finish as opposed to the sunburst finish on a J-45. That means the top has no blemishes in the grain. You can hide a lot in a sunburst finish because of the black paint. Though, oddly enough a lot of people choose a sunburst due to the striking esthetic. Kristina’s been playing this guitar for awhile. It’s a beauty. They go for a lot on today’s vintage market.
Good for her! I still remember seeing her and Logan Ledger duetting at the 2nd year of the now defunct Nashville Boogie festival. At the time, around 2016 or so, they were doing a lot of Jones/ Wynette and Jones/ Montgomery stuff in their sets. I didn’t know them from anyone at the time, but was impressed. They’ve both kept at it and are managing to make a living playing music, pretty cool.
February 12, 2025 @ 10:03 am
What year did they change the tuners, if any? seems like after about 1967 they had a different tuner unless I’m mistaken.
Those button tuners are so much more distinguished than the crude shiny kind, IMO.
February 12, 2025 @ 10:14 am
Well…I have a 1953 Gibson and a 1963 Gibson. BOTH have the classic ivory color button tuners. Not real ivory of course, they were plastic. There are easily found replacement modern day look- alike you can buy. My 53′ came with the original ivory color ones but they were badly chewed up from age and abuse. So I replaced them with a repro set.
As far as chrome ones, Gibsons never came with chrome. Now the higher end Hummingbirds and SJ models came with even fancier looking plastic tuners.
If you buy a new J45 today or Southern Jumbo you get a modern set of the button tuner that mimics the old ones.
February 12, 2025 @ 11:15 am
I have a 64 Gibson b25-12 but all my other gibsons are banjos or mandolins. My gibson long neck was… HIGHLY modified when i got it. non original tuners, tailpieces, etc etc etc.
Nothing sounds like a good Gibson. there’s a certain organic warmth that no instrument maker before or since has delivered.
February 12, 2025 @ 11:34 am
Don’t forget Epiphones of that vintage. I have a 1967 Epiphone Texan N (basically, a J-50), and the more I play it, the better it sounds. PS, will Kay Value Leaders now become collectible because Kristina has one on her album cover?
February 15, 2025 @ 9:48 am
@Kev and Trev,
Meeting grandson at Sweetwater in Fort Wayne, on the 9th.
He’s after a 12 string.
He has a great Fender Strat. While we were at Guitar Center in Dayton test driving amps. there was a 12 string that had a great sound.
While he is sampling the guitars (and i know it is all about how it is going to feel in his hands) do you have any suggestions of what i could be looking for at the same time (for him)?
Hoping to keep it in the 1K, or better, range.
Looking of course for fantastic feel, and rich tone.
February 15, 2025 @ 10:57 am
Di Harris; you could consider these;
Electrics:
The Guild Starfire 12-ST or a Gretsch G5422G-12 would be safe bets, and Eastwood and Italia (the Rimini is sleek) also makes some really nice guitars in that price range.
Acoustics:
Takamine GD30CE-12
Epiphone Hummingbird 12-String
ESP TL-12
Ovation Timeless Balladeer Deep Contour 12-String
Nice, sturdy acoustics, complete with electronics. My pick is the Ovation. It sounds and looks better than my wife. And I get to use it a lot more, too.
And remember; always pick up a Seydel harmonica whenever you come across one.
February 15, 2025 @ 11:29 am
@Sofus,
Funny you should mention Gretsch.
Brian Setzer plays Gretsch, & our family loves Setzer.
While Zane is sampling other guitars, his grandmama will be stealthily placing a Gretsch or two in his space.
But, ultimately, it will be Zane’s choice. He knows what he’s doing.
Appreciate the info
February 15, 2025 @ 12:10 pm
Hey Di, advise him always to use his ears instead of his eyes.
Gibsons are famous for rich tones, but they’re pricey. Taylors and Waterloos are famous for their crisp treble. Martins are famously in the middle. Ditto for boutique makers. Really good deals can be had in Epiphone, Guild, Alvarez-Yairi, Takamine, and Yamaha. Guitar Center’s brand I think is called Mitchell. Saga is another economical low-end. Big bodies have a lot of bass; smaller bodies, less. Cutaways are not essential on acoustic guitars, unless you want to play gypsy jazz.
A thousand dollars will get him a very good guitar, but it might not be the one he expects, or the prettiest. It might even be a vintage one.
He might also hear a lot of bass response from a Martin dreadnought and think “ooh rich,” but a lot of bass can sound boomy rather than rich, especially when amplified or miked. Guitar hunting is fun. At a big store like Sweetwater, he should try EVERY guitar he can.
You’re a peach of a person for spending what might be two hours there. Tell him to strum without fear. He’ll love it and never forget it.
February 15, 2025 @ 12:55 pm
@Corncaster,
Am actually hoping Zane will find a vintage guitar that checks all the boxes.
Am thinking something along the lines of a $2100, incredible sounding instrument with Great action.
Then, i plan on walking out of that store paying 1K cash for that $2100. vintage guitar.
We will most likely be at Sweetwater around 4 hrs. unless, we find exactly what he’s after, right off the bat.
Before making purchases, i call the guys at Parkway Music, in N.Y.
You Can Not beat Parkway, for the incredibly experienced staff, and customer service.
So, if Zane finds a guitar, I’ll call the guys at Parkway, while at Sweetwater, get Parkway’s thoughts before purchasing.
Thank you for your advice, Corncaster.
And, yeah, we’re not after the newest and most shiny.
We’re after a beast of an instrument that transports you with what it can do.
February 16, 2025 @ 6:03 am
Di,
I agree with Corncaster. If he likes how it sounds, and most importantly, makes him want to play, then that’s the one. I was looking at a Gibson Buddy Holly J-45 when I found my Epiphone, and the Epiphone was more affordable.
February 17, 2025 @ 5:48 pm
Di, twelve-strings are famously hard to keep in tune. Modern twelve-strings are usually more robustly-built, which helps to stabilize their tuning.
February 17, 2025 @ 6:29 pm
@ Corncaster,
Thank you. This seems like a very important piece of information.
Will definitely share your thoughts with Zane, first thing, when he and i meet.
Thank you.
February 15, 2025 @ 9:14 am
Looks like it to me…I have a J-50 from 67 and the Guitar jumped out at me in a “Hey! That’s my Guitar! Moment “
February 15, 2025 @ 12:11 pm
You lucky bastards. Cheers.
February 12, 2025 @ 9:38 am
I’ve gotten really in to her music the past few months. I’m super excited
February 12, 2025 @ 9:43 am
We saw her a few years ago opening a show for Kelsey Waldon in Nashville! She is really good! New material sounds great! Congratulations!!
February 12, 2025 @ 10:50 am
This is good news.
Kristina’s contribution to that little Luke Bell documentary was stunning. In it, her rhythm playing on that J-50 was clockwork, really nice and even. The timbre of that guitar opens just the right space for her particular voice. I’m going to pick up her physical media and spread the word.
Crushing on her a little. Rooting for good things to happen to her.
February 12, 2025 @ 11:09 am
I can’t recall when I started drinking Beam… but I can remember 2013’s “Unravelin'” is when I fell in love with her music. Buying whatever she’s selling, great news.
February 12, 2025 @ 12:33 pm
Never heard of her, but I pre-ordered the CD because I like the song. Thanks for the heads up.
February 12, 2025 @ 6:07 pm
Kristina is a true talent and genuine sweet heart of a gal. Thanks for writing about this Trig!
February 12, 2025 @ 8:06 pm
Misa Arriaga is a talented guy.
February 13, 2025 @ 7:18 am
I remember really liking Murray’s 2018 album Southern Ambrosia when it came out. It led me to also pickup her debut album Unravelin’ which is also a great album. I really expected Murray to have the same trajectory as the other women coming up in the Country/Americana scene at that time like Margo Price, Kelsey Waldon, Jaime Wyatt, etc. For whatever reason the music output seemed to dry up other than a single here and there. She’s been teasing this album for a little while now and I’m excited to finally get to hear it. Also excited for her. I wish her luck with the new release.
February 13, 2025 @ 11:30 am
she always delivers! Congrats for the new contract, deserved.