Hot on the heels of his debut album Second Chance Music, Canadian singer-songwriter Kentucky—the musical project of Jordan Holman—offers something rare in today’s polished music landscape: a live single released exactly as it happened, without a single stitch of post-production.

“Second Hand Love,” recorded during the final night of his Album Preview Tour, is an intimate, slow-burn performance that feels less like a track on a setlist and more like a personal confession whispered into the dark. Captured by acclaimed engineer Ken Friesen (The Tragically Hip, Blue Rodeo), the moment is preserved in full vulnerability—no overdubs, no edits, no safety nets. You can almost hear the air shifting around him, the faint presence of a room collectively holding its breath.

The performance is paired with a fan-shot video that matches the tone perfectly. Bathed in soft purples and warm, honeyed gold, the footage is grainy and slightly off-center, refusing to gloss over the imperfections that make it real. The camera doesn’t pan or jump cut; it lingers, steady, as Kentucky sings from a modest stage cluttered with cables and amps. What you see is what happened—hesitant, unpolished, and quietly beautiful.

“Second Hand Love” expands the emotional palette of Second Chance Music, deepening its arc without demanding more. There’s no pitch to make here. Just a song sung like it had to be. And sometimes, that’s the most powerful kind.

That sentiment is the heartbeat of the release. The live album from which this single is drawn wasn’t part of some grand plan—it came together almost accidentally, a document of a moment that would have otherwise faded with the night. “A moment captured, then left alone,” Holman reflects, the kind of recording that reminds you how raw and meaningful a show can be when the only aim is to mean every word.

Kentucky’s work lives in that space—between precision and presence, between control and surrender. The name “Kentucky” might conjure images of a band, but it’s really a vessel for Holman’s singular songwriting voice, a quiet signal cutting through late-night static. His music blends acoustic rock’s warmth, indie folk’s introspection, and a subtle glow borrowed from ’90s alternative—an alchemy that can shift from gentle to gutsy in the space of a chorus.

Raised in Edmonton, Alberta, and now based in Ontario, Holman has performed more than 100 shows across Ontario, Quebec, and back in his birthplace, forging a deep relationship with the audiences who find him. Onstage, his songs take on a living quality—different every time, but always intimate, always direct.

His influences are a mix of Canadian legends and classic alt-rock storytellers: The Tragically Hip’s poetic grit, Bryan Adams’ heartfelt sweep, Neil Young’s unvarnished sincerity, and R.E.M.’s atmospheric pull. Yet these are only reference points—Holman’s own tenor, steady and emotionally precise, wraps around each chord in a way that is distinctly his.

The Second Chance Music album, from which “Second Hand Love” draws, is a document of resilience. Born from extremes in Holman’s life—near-death silences, abrupt turns, and the slow climb toward hope—it doesn’t just tell his story, it offers listeners a place to set down their own. It’s music about the way we survive, the way we stumble, and the way a single song can guide us back to the light.

“Second Hand Love” deepens that narrative. In the album’s context, it’s a quiet pivot, a moment that doesn’t demand attention but earns it. Stripped of production and left to stand on the strength of its delivery, it becomes more than just a performance—it’s an unguarded connection, the kind you can’t plan for and can’t repeat.

With the release of this single and its accompanying video, Kentucky invites listeners not only to hear the song, but to be in the room as it happened. To feel the silence before the first note, the subtle shifts in breath, the echo of each chord against the walls. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most powerful music isn’t built in the studio, but caught in the wild, when everything aligns for just a few minutes and the only thing you can do is press “record.”

Second Hand Love is out now, offering a glimpse into the raw, resonant world of Kentucky—a project still in its first chapter, but already delivering moments that feel timeless.