At 16, Ben Chapman received pivotal advice from fellow LaFayette, Ga., native and songwriter Channing Wilson: to pursue music seriously, he needed to move to Nashville, but not until he turned 21. This ignited a lasting ambition in Chapman.

For several years, Chapman made frequent trips between his hometown and Nashville, attending songwriting sessions and building connections. He honored Wilson's advice precisely, making the official move on New Year's Day 2019, shortly after his 21st birthday. Leading up to this, he relentlessly honed his self-taught guitar skills by playing in countless venues—from "shithole bars and VFWs to Mexican restaurants—basically anywhere that would have me." Through these experiences, he refined his craft and learned what truly resonated with an audience.

One particularly memorable gig was at a Chattanooga biker bar, which Chapman likens to the club in Road House. He recalls, "There was always something crazy going on, but when the music started, everybody would just stop and get down." This atmosphere directly inspired "Downbeat," the title track of his new album. The song features an ominous guitar line that transitions into a groovy, infectious sound, as Chapman emphasizes music's profound ability to soothe, both personally and socially: "When the downbeat comes, everything’s alright.”

His latest album, Downbeat, released on December 13, showcases Chapman at his most confident, embracing what he calls "this southern-funk jam-band country thing." While he initially moved to Nashville to write songs—composing for artists like Flatland Cavalry, Shelby Lynne, Muscadine Bloodline, and the Steel Woods—Chapman is now intently focused on his own artistry. During the creation of Downbeat, he delved into The Band's discography, finding inspiration in their storytelling. “They’re so rootsy and so real, and you believe every word they’re singing, and I wanted to make something like that,” Chapman explains. “The Band reminded me that I have a voice, so I better use it and say what I want to.”

Chapman often finds that songs take time to complete, sometimes months, but several of Downbeat's 10 tracks came together surprisingly fast. For instance, he and his housemate, songwriter Jon Decious, penned “Star of Monterey” casually on their porch. “Finish What You Started” was another porch-side collaboration with Decious and singer-songwriter Meg McRee, Chapman’s long-term wife. Even the album's closing track, a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here with You” from Nashville Skyline, featuring McRee, developed quickly in the studio.

“She’s definitely my favorite co-writer,” Chapman says of McRee, adding with a chuckle, “and I think I’m hers.” McRee co-wrote four songs on Downbeat, including the sweet, simple love song “Don’t You Dare,” another spontaneous porch co-write, and “America’s Sweetheart,” a poignant narrative of dreams shattered by heartbreak and time. Chapman brought the idea for "America's Sweetheart" to McRee and songwriter Sean McConnell after a West Coast tour, reflecting on the plight of homeless individuals he encountered in Los Angeles. “I had been out in Los Angeles and was seeing all of the homeless people and couldn’t help but realize how sad it was, people just walking over them like they weren’t even people,” Chapman explains. “Who all in that bunch came out there to chase a dream?”

Chapman initially considered going to Texas to record Downbeat, but plans shifted after a mutual friend introduced him to Anderson East, another enthusiast of funky music. A few writing sessions quickly led to East inviting Chapman to record at his newly built Nashville studio. Chapman, a longtime fan of East’s, eagerly accepted the opportunity.

“Working with Anderson was a breath of fresh air—he knew the style I was chasing, and he took it to another level,” says Chapman, who is already planning another album with East. “He’s the first producer I've worked with that took each song and made it better.”

Now a Nashville resident for nearly six years, Chapman still makes the drive back to Georgia every couple of months to visit family. However, he's equally at home among the Nashville creatives who, like him, are cultivating fan bases outside the mainstream country music scene. Since 2022, he's bridged his two homes through Peach Jam, a recurring event that has featured fellow Georgians Brent Cobb and Channing Wilson, alongside artists such as Hayes Carll, Lainey Wilson, and Lukas Nelson. “It’s all about the music, and everyone there knows it,” Chapman states. “There’s no ego or assholes—and that’s how I try to live my life, too.”

Continuing to expand Peach Jam is one of Chapman’s goals for the upcoming year, but he’s also intensely focused on his first headline tour, which will take him to venues he’s long dreamed of playing. “I’m growing as an artist and a human and have a clear creative vision,” Chapman affirms. “I'm ready for people to hear this version of myself—my true self.”