Christian Lee Hutson might not chase the big headlines, but this California boy has won hearts across the indie folk world with songs that feel like they’re made just for you. At 35, he’s the kind of artist who picks up his guitar in a quiet room, pours out stories of love gone sideways and small joys found, and somehow makes it all sound universal.

Getting his start the hard way

Back in the early 2010s, Christian Lee Hutson was hustling on his own dime. He dropped ‘The Hell with It’ in 2013 as a self-released CD, followed by ‘Yeah Okay, I Know’ in 2014. These were raw, bedroom-recorded gems that showed his knack for melody even then. Playing open mics and tiny gigs around LA, he built a little buzz, but it was meeting Harrison Whitford, Phoebe Bridgers’ touring guitarist, in 2018 that changed everything.Suddenly, Christian Lee Hutson was co-writing for big projects like boygenius’ 2018 EP, Better Oblivion Community Center in 2019, and Phoebe Bridgers’ ‘Punisher’ in 2020. He even hit the road supporting her 2019 world tour and boygenius’ European dates. These tracks almost felt closer to home, and that vibe carried into his own breakthrough.

Albums that hit home

Things really took off when he linked up with Phoebe Bridgers, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter who saw something special in his demos. She stepped in as producer for his debut full-length, ‘Beginners’, dropped in 2020, and it felt like a game-changer. Tracks such as ‘Atheist,’ ‘Northsiders,’ and ‘Seven Lakes’ explore the themes of doubt and longing to the point of you being able to imagine Christian Lee Hutson playing alone in the evening. Critics loved it, and he appeared on many year-end lists.He followed this up with “Quitters” in 2022, co-produced by Bridgers and Conor Oberst. Tracks such as ‘Rubberneckers’ (with her backing vocals) got even more personal, like journaling set to music. Folks called it a step up in polish without losing soul. Then came ‘Paradise Pop. 10’ in 2024, again with Bridgers, Marshall Vore, and Joseph Lorge behind the board. Guests like Katy Kirby and Maya Hawke added magic to cuts like ‘After Hours’ and ‘Carousel Horses’. A deluxe edition with ‘Tiger 2’ and more dropped in 2025, plus singles like ‘Skeleton Crew’, shownBy 2025, Christian Lee Hutson was touring stronger, opening for Phoebe Bridgers and hitting festivals. His live sets? Pure warmth, chatting up the crowd like old pals, mixing new stuff with staples.

Christian Lee Hutson and ‘Stranger Things’ star Maya Hawke’s wedding

Christian Lee Hutson married ‘Stranger Things’ star Maya Hawke in a small Valentine’s Day ceremony in New York City on February 14, 2026. They crossed paths during recording sessions way back. What started as a solid friendship lasted four years before sparks flew in 2023. They co-created her albums ‘Moss’ and ‘Chaos Angel’, both out in 2024. Maya Hawke told in a June 2024 Variety interview, “Christian Hutson has been so encouraging to me as a musician, helping me to make the transition from being a poet in a band to sort of being a musician”, and now he cheers her on from the studio.