2 Beers With The Band

Breaking the Stigma: RychusDon on Spoken Word, Mental Health, and Grimey Beats

In the second half of my interview with the incredible UK hip hop and spoken word artist RychusDon, we dive right back into the grind while I sip on a Jackalope Light, locally born and brewed here in Nashville. We start things off with a wild question: if you could have a beer with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? RychusDon takes a completely unique angle, choosing an artist's parent to truly understand the roots of creativity. From there, we unpack what it really means to build an independent music brand in the UK scene. My lyrics in the opening track "Grimey" make a bold statement: true art isn't born from mainstream formulas, it's forged in pure authenticity and underground culture.
We get incredibly real about the logistics of the music industry, talking about how visual branding, merch, and album art shape an artist's identity today. But we don't just stay on the surface. We tackle the heavy topics that the industry often suppresses, specifically discussing the vital role mental health plays in music creation and the unique pressures faced by independent artists in the UK scene versus the US. We also explore the deep connection between the spoken word scene and raw hip hop culture, breaking down the social stigmas that often keep these powerful communities apart.
As a digital creator, I know the hustle is real, so we dive deep into the digital grind—comparing TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, and discussing how to leverage short-form entertainment to build a fiercely loyal fanbase across the globe, especially when connecting with a US-based audience. We wrap up with an honest look at the future of UK music production, the rising influence of AI, and exactly what success looks like over the next five years.

MDV: Bridging Metal, Hip Hop, and the Independent UK Scene

In this episode of Two Beers with the Band, I sit down with the enigmatic artist MDV. To set the mood for a talk about traversing the boundaries of extreme genres, I sampled the Cowboy Hazy IPA from North Pine Street Brewing in Berlin, Wisconsin. This 7% ABV brew provided the perfect, bold backdrop for a deep dive into the dual worlds of metal and hip-hop.
MDV is a true genre-crosser, balancing the aggression of metal with the rhythmic precision of hip-hop. We discuss how his UK upbringing shaped his distinct sound and his refusal to fully commit to just one scene, choosing instead to remain intentionally outside the lines. From the logistics of maintaining a DIY career—including why he still finds CDs to be a vital tool for independent artists—to his hands-on creative process, MDV breaks down how he bridges these cultures rather than just challenging them.

Extroverts in Music: Danny Riggs on Building a Career with Positivity

In this episode of Two Beers with the Band, I sit down with Danny Riggs, a prolific UK-based singer, songwriter, and rapper who is a true multi-instrumentalist, proficient in guitar, drums, percussion, and keyboard. To fuel our discussion on the contrasts between the Nashville and UK music landscapes, I sampled the Wild Honey Wheat from Yazoo Brewing Company. This Nashville staple, known for its smooth, honey-infused profile, provided the perfect local backdrop as Danny and I explored his journey from playing every instrument in the room to building a career centered on artistic integrity.
Danny is a refreshing "extrovert across the board" in an industry often defined by introversion. We dive into his track "ease" and his commitment to representing old-school hip hop values by encouraging positivity and confidence in the younger generation of artists. From the logistics of independent recording studios in the UK to his surprising "useless talent" of extreme flexibility, Danny offers a high-energy look at what it takes to stay motivated and productive as a modern independent creator.
 
 

Shakezpeare: UK Hip Hop, Independent Grind, and the Price of Redemption

In this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I sit down with UK hip hop artist and independent force Shakezpeare. To set the mood for a conversation about the grit and soul of the British underground, I sampled the Nut Brown Ale from Samuel Smith. This classic brew, known for its traditional English character, provided the perfect backdrop as Shakezpeare sipped his coffee and we dove into the realities of the music industry across the pond.
 
Shakezpeare is the definition of a multifaceted creator. We discuss his powerful track "Redemption Is Not Free" and his commitment to maintaining an independent, underground identity in a landscape that often pressures artists to "sell out" for sponsorship to make a living. Shakezpeare shares his "story-first" approach to hip hop, agreeing that the genre is a powerful medium for storytelling, much like the old-school country music that focuses on the narrative within the bars. From his early beginnings and the challenges of the UK music industry to his passion for mentoring the next generation, Shakezpeare breaks down what it actually takes to earn your place and evolve as an artist in the modern era.

Rychusdon: Spoken Word, UK Hip Hop, and the Art of Vulnerability

In this episode of Two Beers with Ben, I sit down with Rychusdon, a unique voice in the UK scene who bridges the gap between the rhythmic flow of hip-hop and the profound resonance of spoken word. To set the mood for a conversation about authenticity and craft, we sampled Level Head from Greene King. This 4% ABV session IPA is a silver medalist at the World Beer Awards, offering a crisp, award-winning profile that perfectly complemented our deep dive into the underground.
Rychusdon is a master of the independent hustle, balancing his roles as an MC, beatmaker, and poet. We discuss the "claustrophobic" creative energy of his hometown, Ipswich, and how the legacy of the Windrush generation shaped his musical identity. Rychusdon shares his "meditative" approach to songwriting, offering a vulnerable look at the emotional weight behind tracks like "Ode to Pete," written as a pressure release following the loss of his father to Alzheimer’s. From his transition into self-production to his commitment to representing the underdog, Rychusdon breaks down the persistence required to maintain a soulful, DIY career in the modern UK landscape.

Scott Southworth: Honky Tonk, and the Secret to Independent Sustainability

In this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I sit down with award-winning songwriter and Nashville veteran Scott Southworth. To set the mood for a talk about traditional roots, we sampled The Baron from Kaiser Crest Brewery in Lewisburg, TN. This 6.2% ABV Brown Ale is brewed using traditional German malts and recipes from Bamberg, resulting in a "clean," smooth profile with distinct notes of nuttiness and milk chocolate.
Scott is the definition of a working independent artist. We discuss his summer anthem, "Granny Used to Honky Tonk," and how he has managed to release seven consecutive projects without ever losing money. Scott shares his "natural skeptic" approach to the Nashville music industry, offering invaluable advice on vetting labels and "smoke-blowers" by choosing to "seek first to understand". From his accidental discovery of the recordings for his new album, Live at the Station, to his successful touring circuit in Europe, Scott breaks down what it actually takes to sustain a decades-long career in the modern indie landscape.

New Release: The Talk (Part 2) — Kalvonix on Mr. Nostalgia and the Pop-Synth Finale

In this concluding installment of New Release: The Talk, we pick up where we left off, diving into the second half of Kalvonix’s genre-bending album, Mr. Nostalgia. We’re breaking down the remaining tracks from the high-energy "TKO" to the emotional bookend "Alone in My Room II." To facilitate the deep dive, I’m sipping on Jackalope White, an All-American lager from Nashville’s own Jackalope Brewing Company. It’s a crisp, approachable beer that kept the conversation flowing as we analyzed the evolution from Track 8 to Track 14.
Kalvonix continues to prove that his shift from rap to 80s synth-pop wasn’t just a phase but a full artistic transformation. We explore the collaborative energy of his track with saintJESTER, the storytelling behind "The Sun Shined Differently Back Then," and the "full circle" feeling of the album's conclusion. We also discuss the importance of ignoring the naysayers and why this melodic, nostalgic sound might just require a permanent "alter ego" for his future career.

New Release: The Talk — Breaking Down Mr. Nostalgia with Kalvonix (Part 1)

In this debut installment of our spinoff series, New Release: The Talk, we’re slowing things down to pull apart the layers of Kalvonix’s ambitious new project, Mr. Nostalgia. While we usually just grab a brew and chat, this time we’re breaking down the sound and visuals from the first note to the final frame. Sampling Nashville’s own Mill Creek Brewing, we dive into Shirt Tugger, a 6.2% ABV American Strong Pale Ale that provides the perfect backdrop for a trip down memory lane.
 
 
Kalvonix, long known in the scene as a rapper, surprises us by leaning heavily into a polished, 80s-inspired pop sound. We discuss the cinematic influences of Michael Jackson and Madonna, the technical work behind alien makeup and "shadow" demons, and how his personal life—specifically the support of his girlfriend—became the "angelic" voice of the album.