Episodes
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Blackbird Studios, 4-Year Backlogs & The Art of Genre-Fluid Songwriting (ft. Gears Inc)
How does a four-piece band take a four-year backlog of diverse, genre-spanning songs and shape them into a sprawling, 15-track album that refuses to stay in a single box? In this episode of Two Beers with the Band, host Chris Schrum sits down with alternative rock ensemble Gears Inc. Recording…
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Betting on Yourself, DIY Songwriting & The Reality of Independent Music in Nashville (ft. Summerlyn Powers)
How does an independent singer-songwriter turn a rained-out gig and an impromptu firetruck interaction into a viral moment—and eventually land on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry? In this episode of Two Beers with the Band, host Chris Schrum sits down with Nashville-based folk-country artist...
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Nashville's Oversaturation, 90-Second Songs & High-Energy Live Performances (ft. Aconundrum)
How does a high-energy pop-rock band blend 80s Van Halen guitar riffs, church choir gospel harmonies, K-pop nostalgia, and jazz theory without being boxed into a single genre? In this episode of Two Beers with the Band, host Chris Schrum sits down with Jeff Kuruma and Josh from Murfreesboro, half...
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From Overcoming Social Anxiety to Performing at Festivals (ft. Young Springer)
How does an introverted kid with severe social anxiety transition into an energetic live performer making waves across the UK underground hip-hop scene? In this episode of Two Beers with the Band, host Chris Schrum sits down with Leicester-based MC, storyteller, and lyricist Young Springer....
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How to Go Full-Time in Music: Why Every Independent Artist Needs 2 Years in Sales
What does it take to build a sustainable, full-time career as an independent UK hip-hop artist? In this episode of Two Beers With The Band, host Chris Schrum sits down with UK rappers Sam The Rapper and 7ury for an unfiltered breakdown of music, mindset, and multi-brand hustle. The duo shares how...
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Financial Freedom Over Fame, Busting Indie Music Myths & Staying Authentic as an Indie
How does an independent UK hip-hop artist transform childhood nostalgia and literary influences into authentic, enduring rap? In this episode of Two Beers with the Band, host Chris Schrum sits down with independent UK MC and poet Douki. Together, they dive into Douki's creative origins, the...
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Overcoming the UK Care System, Building a Sovereign Mind & Refusing to Be a Statistic (ft. 7ury)
How can an independent artist overcome a childhood in the UK foster care system, walk away from a corporate marketing career, and build an authentic music career centered around a "sovereign mind"? In this episode of Two Beers with the Band, host Chris Schrum sits down with UK-based hip-hop…
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Why Realism & Mental Health Advocacy Beat Industry Clout in Independent Rap (ft. Jlooon)
Can raw honesty, emotional vulnerability, and genuine community build a lasting legacy in an era dominated by superficial clout? In this episode of 2 Beers With The Band, host Chris Schrum sits down with Porterville, California hip-hop artist, songwriter, and aspiring author Jlooon. Tracing his...
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Tackling Men's Mental Health, Prison Workshops & "Ugly Truths" Through Conscious UK Rap (ft. Sam The Rapper)
Can raw lyricism, mental health advocacy, and unfiltered truth still thrive in an industry obsessed with quick clout?In this episode of 2 Beers With The Band, host Chris Schrum sits down with UK-based rap artist, poet, and published author Sam The Rapper. Tracing his 15-year journey from…
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Why MCs & Beatsmiths Should Produce Their Own Albums (ft. Rychusdon)
How can independent artists balance spoken word, boom bap hip-hop, and self-production over a decade-long creative journey? In this episode of Two Beers with the Band, host Chris Schrum sits down with UK-based MC, spoken word artist, and beatmaker Rychusdon for an in-depth, track-by-track…
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Building a UK Dancehall & Jungle Fanbase Through Live Club Bookings (ft. Genwe)
How can independent producers transition into performing artists while building a career outside major industry hubs? In this episode of Two Beers with the Band, host Chris sits down with Ipswich-based Dancehall and Jungle artist Genwe to discuss self-producing, performing live, curating events,...
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How Independent Artists Adapt to an Ever-Changing Music Industry (ft. Brittany Elise)
How do independent artists balance touring between Australia and Nashville while navigating an ever-changing music industry? In this episode of Two Beers with the Band, host Chris sits down with country artist Brittany Elise to discuss her creative process, live stage evolutions, staying...
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Scott Southworth: How Indie Artists Can Tour, Film Budget Music Videos & Navigate Nashville
Country singer-songwriter Scott Southworth returns to 2 Beers With The Band for an honest, value-packed conversation on navigating the music industry as an independent artist. Host Chris Shrum and Scott crack open a cold craft brew while dropping actionable advice on budget-friendly video shoots,...
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Pinocchio Rap Musicals & Boom Bap: Douki on Metal Boy, Poetry, and Authenticity
In this episode of 2 Beers With The Band, I sit down with West London rapper, poet, author, and overall creative polymath Douki for an unfiltered, deep-dive conversation. While we dive into his multi-faceted career, I’m sipping on an IPA while Douki cracks open a non-alcoholic Guinness…
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Writing Through Heartbreak: Jay Lee on Raw Emotions, Production, and Local Roots
In this episode of 2 Beers With The Band, I sit down with Scotland-based rapper, producer, and events manager Jay Lee for an exclusive, deep-dive interview. While we get into his musical background, I'm cracking open a Change of Heart IPA from Jackalope Brewing Company—a New Zealand-style IPA...
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The Healing Power of Pain: SB The Anomoly on One-Word Discoverability, DJ Craft, and Writing
In the second half of my interview with the incredibly versatile DJ, published author, and music artist SB The Anomoly, we dive straight back into the mental and physical reality of managing a creative empire solo. While we chop it up, I am sipping on a classic Narragansett Lager, featuring their...
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Spitting Fire Through the Stutter: Lil Red Fire on Raw Authenticity and Indie Promotion
In this episode of 2 Beers With The Band, I sit down with the incredibly talented indie artist Lil Red Fire to talk about music, resilience, and breaking barriers. While I dive into this conversation, I am sipping on a Hitchhiker IPA from Good People Brewing in Birmingham, Alabama—a heavy 7.8%…
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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…
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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…
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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...
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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...
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SB The Anomaly: From Overcoming a Stutter to International Entertainer
In this sprawling, high-energy episode of Two Beers With The Band, I sat down with a man who truly lives up to his name: SB The Anomaly. Before we dove into his multifaceted career, we cracked open a bottle of Chimmay, a potent 8% ABV ale. SB is a whirlwind of talent—an international entertainer,...
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Patrick Sewalk Part 2: Bartending, Home Remodeling, and the Hustle for Creative Flexibility
In the second half of my interview with Patrick Sewalk, we pick up right where we left off, this time sampling Southern Fest from Nashville’s own Southern Grist Brewing. This 5.4% ABV Oktoberfest-style lager has a distinct "sourdough bread" profile—clear, amber, and slightly sweet with a clean,...
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JD Hip Hop Review: Championing the Independent Underground
On this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I’m joined by John Duggan, the force behind the world-famous JD Hip Hop Review. To keep things consistent, we both enjoyed a classic Stella Artois. I picked mine up at the grocery store after John mentioned it was his choice for the day—it’s a clean, 5%...
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Patrick Sewalk: From Songwriting to "Song Making" and the Zen of Deleting Art
In this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I’m joined by Patrick Sewalk, a Nashville-based singer, songwriter, and "song maker." We dive into the distinction between simply writing a song and the holistic process of making one. To keep the creative juices flowing, Patrick brought along The Rose…
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Point Taken: Navigating the Chaos of a 7-Piece Band and "Sitcom Rock"
In this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I’m joined by Noah (lead vocals/guitar) and Colin (lead guitar) of the Nashville-based independent band Point Taken. We kicked things off by sampling Golden Monkey, a Belgian-style Tripel from Victory Brewing Company. At a potent 9.5% ABV, this beer...
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Collaboration as a Craft: Kalvonix on 50+ Duets and Breaking Writer’s Block
In this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I’m joined once again by Kalvonix, a Vancouver-based hip-hop artist and a true "pro" when it comes to social media duets. For this conversation, I sampled the Wizard’s Order IPA from Nashville’s own Tailgate Brewing. This 6% ABV Tennessee craft beer...
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From Getting Booed to 150 Countries: The Resilience of 5th Lettah
In this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I’m joined by 5th Lettah, a hip-hop artist and creative hailing from Denver, Colorado. We opened the show with his track "Flying Nimbus" and dived straight into the "Mountain" water he was sipping on—the carbonated classic Mountain Dew, which we…
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Mick Fury: From LA to Nashville & The Art of the Genre-Hoppin' Brand
In this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I sit down with Mick Fury to discuss his "all over the place" musical journey and the realities of being an indie artist in the modern industry. We crack open a Celebration Bavarian Doppelbock from Ganger brewery—a 6.7% ABV beer that is rich in caramel,...
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Gravistar Booking: Shoegaze, Emo, and the Business of Indie Music in Nashville
In this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I sit down with Derek Clay of Gravistar Booking to explore a different side of the music industry. While the show normally focuses on the bands themselves, we shift gears to discuss the creation of indie music and the logistics required to actually get...
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Les Kerr: Hillbilly Blues, Caribbean Rock n Roll, and the Art of the Story
On this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I’m joined by Les Kerr, a prolific songwriter, musician, and journalist with twelve albums under his belt. We kept things classic with the drinks—Les went with a Corona, a "pedestrian" favorite that reminds him of playing beach bars along the Gulf Coast...
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Brittany Elise: Overcoming Injury To Chase Country Music Dreams
In this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I’m joined by Brittany Elise, a Nashville-based country artist originally from Australia. We crack open some serious drinks for this one—I shared a 2025 Goose Island Bourbon County Stout, a massive 14.8% ABV Imperial stout with notes of bourbon…
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$imbuh: Turning Life Experiences and Trauma into Art
On this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I’m joined by $imbuh to talk about his recent releases and his journey as an independent artist. We enjoyed some heavy hitters for this session, with me sipping on a Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Cocoa Porter (8% ABV)—a rich, medium-bodied brew with notes of...
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Kalvonix: Breaking the "Rapper" Box with Indie Pop, R&B, and ‘Mr. Nostalgia’
On this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I’m joined for a second time by Kalvonix (Mr. Nostalgia) to dive deep into his evolving sound and creative visual storytelling. We kick things off with a Black Chocolate Stout from Brooklyn Brewery—a heavy 10% ABV Russian Imperial Stout that sets a…
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CJ Brewer: The Business of Music and Life as a Special Event Performer
On this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I sat down with C.J. Brewer, a multifaceted musician, producer, songwriter, and special event performer. C.J. gives us an honest look into the reality of making a full-time income in music: while he writes and produces original music, he primarily makes...
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LeVan The Man, Part 2: Meditation, Frequencies, and the Mindset of a Producer
Welcome back to Two Beers With The Band for the second part of our interview with LeVan The Man! After sharing his background as a photographer and producer, we dive deeper into the mindset required to sustain a creative career. LeVan opens up about the crucial connection between mental health…
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ADMONISH Music: The Rapper Building a Legacy of Financial Literacy and Faith
On this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I sat down with ADMONISH Music to discuss his powerful new album, Build My Legacy. This album is far more than just hip-hop; it's a guide to living intentionally. ADMONISH explains that the core theme of the album is financial literacy and teaching...
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KoldKay: How Tyler, The Creator and Kanye West Influenced My Rapping Style
On this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I sat down with KoldKay, a talented rapper and singer-songwriter whose style is heavily influenced by the visionary work of Tyler, The Creator and Kanye West. KoldKay shares the raw, honest story of his artistic evolution, which began when he was just…
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LeVan The Man: The Power of Emotion, Why Every Beat Needs a Feeling
On this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I sat down with LeVan The Man, a multifaceted creative who excels as both a photographer and producer. LeVan shares his precise definition of a producer and the essential skills required for the role. He explains his intentional process of creating…
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Prtysunknxwn: Singer, Producer, Engineer—Inside the Life of a DIY Music Powerhouse
On this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I sat down with Prtysunknxwn (pronounced "Party's Unknown"), a true DIY music powerhouse who writes, records, produces, and engineers all his own tracks, including the song "Outsiders" we heard at the start of the show. He's an artist driven by raw,...
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Stizzie Rae: The 15-Year-Old Rapper Who Translates Beats into Bars
On this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I sat down with a passionate young artist making waves in the rap scene: Stizzie Rae. At just 15 years old and based in Indiana , Stizzie is already a singer, writer, rapper, and artist with a remarkable connection to his craft. He shares how his…
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Xantech: Why I Chose to Be a Solo Artist & The Future of Music Creation
On this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I sat down with an incredible musician, composer, and producer known as Xantech. Xantech’s story is a fascinating dive into the world of modern DIY music creation, where he writes, records, produces, and mixes all of his own songs. We got a taste of his...
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Walker County: How to Thrive in the Country Music Industry Without Burning Out
On this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the incredible sister duo, Walker County—Ivy Dean and Sophie Dawn. For me, hearing their story confirmed what I believe is the most essential truth in music: "You have to find happiness in things that go, this…
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Luna Marcella: The Freestyle Queen of Collaboration—Why Authenticity is Her Legacy
On this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the incredibly versatile singer, songwriter, and artist, Luna Marcella. Luna's story is one of authenticity and self-discovery, showing how a love for music evolved from childhood dreams of fame to a dedicated...
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Bray Smizzi: Why I Took a Break from Music & Why I'm Back
On this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I sat down with Memphis rapper and composer, Bray Smizzi. Bray shared his journey from a young kid influenced by his uncle to a determined independent artist. He talks about taking a break from music to focus on his personal life and how he was drawn…
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Ben Wilbers: The Fallen Incarnates - Finding Your Sound in a Crowded Music Scene
On this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I sat down with an incredible musician and artist who goes by many names, most notably, The Fallen Incarnates, also known as Ben Wilbers. We dove into the fascinating world of a multi-instrumentalist who not only writes and records every part of his…
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Two Beers With The Band is a podcast where we showcase Nashville’s BEST up and coming bands, and enjoy craft beer.
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