Stephen Murray

BIO

Stephen Murray is not just Soul Step Records’ latest artist but also a seasoned veteran on the Soul Step Roster.

The former frontman for Holy Ghost Tent Revival (SSR-004) and MOVES (SSR-040) is back as a solo artist that blends multiple genres and brings his life experiences and growth to his nuanced songwriting.

After years in the North Carolina music scene, Stephen has relocated to the small mining town of Big Stone Gap, Virginia where he has been spending time honing his craft and preparing to re-launch his newest music.

Stephen will be releasing his first tunes in the Summer of 2025 that were recorded at True Romance Sound in Nashville, TN.

Stephen enlisted some of the best players in Nashville. With support from Jared Wayne Colby (Mount Worcester, Alanna Royale) Luke Schneider (Margo Price, Orville Peck) Ray Jacildo (The Black Keys, Aaron Frazier) Nathan Wahlman (Alanna Royale, Becca Mancari) and executive produced by Soul Step Records owner Melvin Dillon, Stephen has recorded 4 tracks that will be released later this year that touches indie rock, americana, and a touch of R&B.

Stay tuned for updates, tour dates, and more from Stephen Murray.

Mental Health

“We were born to love another. Our fathers and our mothers won’t mean to but could break it. We all long for connection, comfort and protection. For me, I had to fake it.” 

I was 33 years old when I hit rock bottom with my addiction to alcohol and drugs. It was the kind of bottom where I lost most everything I had going for me. My job, relationship, musical career were all lost because I could no longer manage my own life.

I can look back at that time now and say it was the best-worst time of my life. Going to rehab, moving into a sober living home, losing everything I had known brought along a boat load of shame and it brought me home to my authentic self.

I now say I am grateful to be recovering. I keep it in present tense because I know I will be recovering who I am every day for the rest of my life and there is so much joy in that.

Early on there were so many questions. How could I keep doing what I was doing when it was hurting those around me and myself? Why is it that addicts continuously choose short term gain to suffer long term consequences? In my experience, I was able to learn through going to therapy, that over the course of my life I had developed coping behaviors to deal with unprocessed pain and trauma. These behaviors like lying so I would not feel rejected came from a place of attempting to heal myself but over time built up a massive web in which I could not even imagine where the lie began or ended. Alcohol and drugs did wonders for me when I was younger.

I felt more confident or more creative but really it was just another form of a warm blanket to keep me from feeling deep seeded core beliefs that I was not worthy of love, I was not enough, I was not wanted, I was not important. These coping behaviours worked for me until they didn’t. The truth always comes to the surface.

Since getting sober in May of 2019, I took some time to really focus on what it is I want to do. A huge part of my life has become about spreading the message of recovery. I do not speak for anyone other than myself. What I have learned is that when I most needed help the universe guided me. And in that same respect, I want to offer help to anyone else who might need it. Whether that’s through my music or this message I hope you can find peace. I am grateful to be here and to be sober and to have been given a second chance at life. All my love. -Stephen Murray

Websites and Resources

For help with alcoholism visit www.aa.org

For help with understanding how to live with an alcoholic/addict visit www.al-anon.org

Trauma & Relationship with Addiction

Dr. Gabor Maté. @drgabormate on tiktok

@drgabormatemd on IG.

Books to read

"In the realm of Hungry Ghosts" & "The Myth of Normal" - Dr. Gabor Maté

"When Everything Falls Apart" - Pema Chödrön

"Mirror of Intimacy" - Alex Katehakis

VIDEOS

LINKS

Interview with Blue Ridge Outdoors Magainze

TOUR DATES

May 24th

Gathering In The Gap Music Festival

Big Stone Gap, Va

June 22nd

Big Glades Wise, Va

August 2

Good Times - Big Stone Gap, Va

August 21

Martha Basset Show - Reeves Theatre

Elkin, NC