[citation needed] The Utah native also composed and performed the theme song to the Emmy Award-winning PBS movie "The Shadow of Light", as well as other independent films.

Utley released his first-ever nationally distributed album Runaway on Kolob Records in November 2005 and a remix EP entitled Hold You + Remixes was released in April 2006, which included a live version of the title track recorded at the Javitz Center in New York City.

In June 2010, Utley released Stand for Something – a single written to inspire and motivate to take action towards securing LGBT equality in America, ending youth homelessness, and increasing community awareness.

Later, he would leave his Mormon-inherited religion behind, relocate to Manhattan and debut in the New York City theater scene as "Tommy Dautry" in the musical 'Our Country' (2009).

[3] The show garnered the Best Musical, and Justin as Best Actor awards for the Planet Connections Theater Festivity.