Has Sad Boy Summer Arrived?
Seattle’s Johnny Huynh drops a cinematic new music video that’s moody, heartfelt, and rooted close to home
By Sarah Stackhouse July 4, 2025
We had Boyz II Men when I was a kid. Then Usher and Justin Timberlake. Now it’s Seattle’s own, Johnny Huynh.
The 22-year-old singer-songwriter and recent UW grad has built his music career over the past two years, one viral video at a time. His latest single, “SAY,” was released at the end of June, alongside a cinematic music video filmed in a small, broody cabin on Vashon Island.
Bright, glowing light spills through drapey curtains as Huynh, dressed in all white, sings with his eyes tightly shut. His voice is low and rich, pulling you right in. This is a darker, heavier rock sound than fans might expect. Co-written with Grammy-winning songwriters behind hits for Beyoncé and BTS, the track is still all Huynh — pleading and laced with his signature emotional punch.
In just a few days, the “SAY” video has pulled in more than 52,000 views on YouTube. It’s likely headed for the success of his previous single, “HELL ON ME,” which has amassed more than 4.3 million views since its release five months ago.
Huynh first found his voice, and his audience, in the echo of dark parking garages. His stripped-down TikTok covers by artists like Adele and d4vd caught fire online. “I’m trying to show how versatile I am within my music,” Huynh said in an interview with Seattle magazine last spring. “I don’t want to box myself in.”
He now has more than 8 million followers on TikTok, nearly half a million on YouTube, and a deal with Columbia Records.
All of this while finishing a mechanical engineering degree at the University of Washington. He graduated in June and wrote on Instagram that it was “one of the biggest accomplishments of my life” and that “seeing all of my hard work pay off is so rewarding.”
Originally from Bothell, Huynh lives and works in Seattle. His short videos are full of familiar local places. Recent clips include Green Lake and the UW campus. He’s also a fan of local family-run restaurants, especially in the International District. His go-tos include Pho Bac for pho, Saigon Deli for bánh mì, and Hương Bình.
No tours posted yet. For now, he’s focused on writing and recording.
Follow Us
A New Year of Influence
Seattle magazine’s Most Influential list kicks off 2026 with leaders across the city.
New year, new issue! As we kick off 2026, Seattle magazine is proud to present this year’s cohort of the Most Influential list, which showcases local leaders in politics, philanthropy, arts, hospitality, and business. Determined, creative, empathetic, humble, and bold are just a few of the words you’ll see describing them—each one has achieved great…
The Queen of the Seattle World’s Fair
With a fur coat and gold Cadillac, Gracie Hansen struck a figure. Her business savvy and whip-smart humor made her a star.
In 1960, a group of well-attired men from the Seattle World’s Fair planning committee gathered in a downtown office. With the fair only two years away, people were starting to pitch their business ideas and on this day, some lady wanted to meet with them to do the same. At the scheduled time, the door…
Cookies From Home
Seattle author Kat Lieu introduces a first-of-its-kind cookbook centered on Asian cookies.
Kat Lieu has built a career out of baking, storytelling, and standing up for what she believes in. A former doctor of physical therapy turned bestselling cookbook author, she’s based in Seattle, is the founder of the online community Subtle Asian Baking and is the author of Modern Asian Baking at Home, a book that…
Photo Essay: The Relief of the Moment
Words and photography by Nick Ward.
Photography tricks my ADHD brain into doing something borderline miraculous: It allows me to focus on exactly one thing at a time. When I press the shutter and hear that lovely little ka-chunk, the inner chatter winks out. I feel oddly connected to the moment by being outside it, observing through the frame instead of…