Jonathan Wyndham steps into the spotlight with “Secondhand Smoke,” a gritty, soul-infused debut.

Known for his fiery guitar work and emotionally honest songwriting, Jonathan Wyndham, the Nashville-based singer, guitarist, and producer blends the grit of rock with the soul of R&B, crafting a sound both commercially engaging and deeply authentic. Written at drummer Chris Kimmerer’s Nashville studio The Owl, “Secondhand Smoke” captures Wyndham’s raw grit and soulful delivery, signaling a defining moment in his evolution from world-class musical director to solo artist in full command of his vision.

The song’s spark was immediate. “We set a day, got together and I had a riff I’d been marinating on for a few months that just fell out of my Les Paul and we were off to the races,” Wyndham recalls. The riff, saved in his voice memos as “Brontosaurus blues”, became the foundation of a jam with Kimmerer that grew into a fully formed track within hours. Wyndham took the session home, wrote and tracked the melody and lyrics that night, and returned the next day to recut drums with Kimmerer. Back at his studio, he imported the sessions, changed keys, retracked guitars, bass, and vocals, and the song was born.

“A few years ago, I started looking at songwriting as ‘being in a band for a day” and this song is the truest example of that. A riff giving birth to a jam, then cut and crafted into a song. I love this song and the rock & roll legacy it lives; it’s the perfect taste of this upcoming record that’s releasing in October.”

“Secondhand Smoke” embodies the intoxicating rush of new love; the magnetism, the fixation, the feeling that lingers long after. Wyndham likens it to the way smoke clings to your clothes after a club show, just as the thought of someone you’re drawn to refuses to leave your mind. The result is a raw, fully realized rock track powered by Wyndham’s playing, production, and mixing, with drums performed by Kimmerer, longtime drummer and band leader for Thomas Rhett. While Wyndham carried the weight of the song’s creation, his circle remains integral: in Europe, his music has already found a home on Madrid’s Radio 3, where Santiago Alcanda has championed his work and featured it on air.

This single stands as both a testament to Wyndham’s artistry and a preview of the bold, deeply personal album to come.

“Secondhand Smoke” is now available for pre-save and will be released September 19, 2025.