Platinum recording artist Atlus releases his BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville debut EP, Secondhand Smoke, today. The six-song collection marks the next chapter for the viral hitmaker whose career has grown from underground phenom to a billion-plus on-demand streams, four independent studio albums, a Platinum single, national touring, and millions of fans across social platforms.
“The songs on Secondhand Smoke are more than just individual tracks; they are chapters from my life,” says Atlus. ”Each one tells a story that I’ve lived through and it’s my hope that they push somebody out there to keep fighting, dreaming, and that there is something in one of those chapters that helps them keep showing up.”
Pulling back the curtain on his past to forge a new path forward, Secondhand Smoke sees Atlus writing on each track, confronting deeply personal themes, from a turbulent home life and his mother’s resilience, to his sister’s battle with addiction and his own journey with mental health. Listen to Secondhand Smoke Below.
His mother remains his biggest supporter, and much of the Secondhand Smoke EP pays tribute to her and hardworking women like her. The title track recalls how she never let circumstances define her, working long hours to make trailer and car payments, with cigarettes providing her one small comfort.
“I didn’t care about secondhand smoke because I saw what she was going through. It was like therapy, and the glue that kept her held together.” Even listeners who have not had the same experience can relate to a parent leaning on something to make it through.
“Baby Momma” continues that homage. The song flips its title into a triple entendre, a nod to the rap wordplay that shaped his style alongside country, pop, and rock. It even features a voice note from his mom singing a melody his grandfather wrote about him. “It’s a song my grandpa used to sing to me. My new music is really a tribute to them.”
Family has always been his priority. His success has allowed him to retire his mom, but before music took off, the now 33-year-old juggled two truck-driving jobs, UPS shifts, and Uber rides to cover studio time. He wrote his first two albums behind the wheel, practicing vocals and uploading a new track or video to YouTube each week.
His debut radio single, “Devil Ain’t Done,” impacts country radio this Monday, October 13. An instant fan favorite, infectious grooves and melodies highlight the former truck driver's lyrics in “Devil Ain’t Done” as it reflects themes of self-doubt & perseverance. Grappling with relatable struggles that so many empathize with, this track expands on the singer-songwriter’s mission to make music that is both universal and uniquely him. Listen HERE / Watch Video HERE
Atlus marked the release of Secondhand Smoke with a special Nashville preview performance at Cannery Hall last night to a capacity crowd.
About Atlus:
Raised in a single-parent home marked by poverty and addiction, Atlus had to grow up fast, building resilience and a lifelong commitment to authenticity in his music. Phonetically named after the mythological Titan who held up the heavens, he began writing while working long hours as a commercial truck driver, crafting lyrics and melodies behind the wheel to help support his family and fund studio time.
That pavement-pounding grind became both his classroom and his engine, fueling the rise of a loyal underground following. Breakthrough moments soon followed, including performing alongside Jelly Roll at a packed Red Rocks Amphitheatre in his home state and landing a Top 5 album on Spotify’s Global Album Chart. With over a billion on-demand streams, millions of followers across socials, and a Platinum single to his name, Atlus continues to turn personal stories into universal anthems. Now signed to BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville, his most revealing project yet, Secondhand Smoke, is out now (October 10).
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