Ben Chapman Performs Title Track From New Album Downbeat During Holler Nashville Session Presented by George Dickel

As part of his Holler Nashville Session, presented by George Dickel, soulful crooner Ben Chapman has offered us an enchanting acoustic rendition of his new song, ’Downbeat’.

The gritty, sparse track gives the Georgia up-and-comer the chance the showcase his rugged, evocative vocals, as he reflects on the sinister, hazy late-night goings-on that surround him as ‘Downbeat’ folks descend (“This place gets scary after dark”).

Navigating bar brawls and drug deals, Ben Chapman demonstrates his lyrical prowess, with the stripped-back setting allowing the spotlight to fall on the narrative that drives ‘Downbeat’.

With the rhythmic strum of his guitar combining seamlessly with his signature rasp, Chapman delivers the titular line - “When the downbeat, everything's alright” - almost like a chant, as he ends up finding comfort and familiarity among the downtrodden.

‘Downbeat’ serves as the title-track from Ben Chapman's new album, which will arrive on December 13th. The Anderson East-produced project will also feature a collaboration with Meg McRee - Chapman's partner - on ‘Tonight I'll Be Staying Here with You’, a cover of Bob Dylan's Nashville Skyline stand-out. McRee is a co-writer on four tracks on the forthcoming record, including ‘Finish Where We Started’, ‘Don't You Dare’ and ’America's Sweetheart’.

Speaking ahead of the album unveiling, Ben Chapman mused, “Before I moved to Nashville, I played just about every dive bar, Mexican restaurant, coffee shop, and small town festival you could think of".

"I found that when the music starts playing, it has a hypnotizing effect on people". Chapman continues, "It has the power to make two rednecks stop fighting, make a first date for the two love birds in the corner booth less awkward, or turn a lonely, drunken night around. Music makes everything alright, even if it's just for a moment, and that's what I want this record to do. I want it make this crazy world we live in make sense for a little bit”.

Chapman expanded, “Downbeat shows a side of me that my last two projects didn't. I’ve lived almost every song on this record. The lyrics are better, my tone is sweeter, and I'm finding out who I am, what I want to say, and how to say it”.

Released this week (Friday, September 6), ‘Downbeat’ serves as the latest in a string of impressive singles from Ben Chapman, including ‘Almost Home’ and ‘Temporary High’.

Chapman chose also performed the latter as part of his Holler Nashville Session, presented by George Dickel, with the ‘It Ain't Easy’ singer-songwriter injecting a newfound sense of intimacy into the captivating track for this acoustic set.

The last of the three songs to make its way into his session is the wistful, nostalgic ‘Georgia Dreamin’, which appeared on Chapman's lauded 2023 project, Amber Sound Vol. 1.

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