On episode 7, Ben flies solo and discusses The Weeknd and his 2025 album Hurry Up Tomorrow

Hurry Up Tomorrow (★★★★☆) is the bookend to Abel’s 2nd trilogy, beginning with After Hours and continuing with Dawn FM. His 6th album continues to boast his angelic vocals and while carrying some repetitive themes from the past albums, serves to reflect the cycle he keeps finding himself in while potentially delivering the moniker’s death.

Visit ⁠⁠⁠The CHAIN ⛓️‍💥 on Instagram⁠⁠⁠ to find links to the playlist volumes, listenable on either Spotify or Apple Music.

Ben also discusses:

Dan Mangan - Basket (vol. 9)

Latour - People Are Still Having Sex (vol. 16)

Kalita - Dear Miss (vol. 16)

Notes: This was the first episode without a guest as Ben was abroad. Dan Mangan provided a voice memo.

On episode 6, Ben is joined by Evan to Exchainge music, chat about the amazing polymath FKA Twigs and her 2025 album Eusexua.

Eusexua (★★★★★), a word created by Twigs while in a bathroom in a club in Prague, describes the pinnacle of human experience - the moment of clarity before a rush of inspiration or orgasm - the feeling of community one feels while on the dance floor. This electronic trance album, her third, also blends elements from house and grunge and with its incredible production provides endless potential for remixes to be played throughout clubs worldwide.

Visit ⁠⁠The CHAIN ⛓️‍💥 on Instagram⁠⁠ to find links to the playlist volumes, listenable on either Spotify or Apple Music.

Exchange songs:

Father John Misty - She Cleans Up (vol. 10)

Bob Dylan - Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You (vol. 13)

Gil Scott Heron - New York is Killing Me (vol. 6 🚖)

Grimes - REALiTi (vol. 13)

Sympathy is a Knife - Charlie XCX (vol. 1)

Notes: This was Evan’s first appearance. He can be found on IG at @chips_for_dinner_

On episode 5, Ben is joined by Sarah to Exchainge music, chat about British electronic duo Maribou State, and their 2025 album Hallucinating Love.

Hallucinating Love (★★★★☆) is a dreamy, mature, soulful electronic album that just makes you want to groove and dance in the summer sun. 💃🕺

Visit ⁠The CHAIN ⛓️‍💥 on Instagram⁠ to find links to the playlist volumes, listenable on either Spotify or Apple Music.

Exchange songs:

Tom Fills - Is It Loud Enough (vol. 2 🐌)

Leon - Lift You Up (vol. 9 😌)

Bic Runga - Sway (vol. 15)

Elliot James Reay - I Think They Call This Love (vol. 10)

070 Shake - Guilty Conscience (vol. 13)

070 Shake - Nice to Have (vol. 9)

070 Shake - Elephant (vol. 10)

Notes: This was Sarah’s first appearance. Tom Fills submitted a voice memo.

On episode 4 Ben is joined for the first time by two guests, Aaron and Jordan, to Exchainge music, talk about Central Cee and his 2025 debut album Can’t Rush Greatness.

On Can’t Rush Greatness (★★★½☆) Cench highlights his rags to riches story with his unique and extremely consistent flow, peppers us with a handful of features from fellow UK rappers, but also gets a little introspective. Through 17 tracks the global star takes the flow from TikTok to the airwaves and continues his commercial success.

Visit The CHAIN ⛓️‍💥 on Instagram to find links to the playlist volumes, listenable on either Spotify or Apple Music.

Exchainge songs:

Helado Negro - Colores del Mar (vol. 4)

Caamp - By and By (vol. 9)

Boney M. - Sunny: Remix by Mousse T. (vol. 2)

Dire Straits - Romeo and Juliet: covered by The Killers (vol. 15)

EARFQUAKE by @feliciathegoat (vol. 4)

Cliquot by @northsidebenji (vol. 3)

On episode 3 of the Chain Podcast, Ben is joined by Ryan to Exchainge music, talk about the Life of Mac Miller and his 2025 album ‘Balloonerism’.

Balloonerism (★★★★☆) is a posthumous gift from the heavens, a fully formed lost album recorded in a 2-week span right around when Faces was recorded in 2014. Malcolm grapples with his substance abuse and how his music and fame contributed to that, with a stellar flow, all while he continues to chase euphoria (and sometimes youforia) and offer it back to us along the way. It’s been 5 years since Malcom’s death and he still continues to be far ahead of his time.

Visit The CHAIN ⛓️‍💥 on Instagram to find links to the playlist volumes, listenable on either Spotify or Apple Music.

Exchainge songs:

The Drew Thompson Foundation - Gasoline (vol. 2)

Snail Mail - Second Most Beautiful Girl In the World (vol. 2)

Mitski - My Love All Mine (vol. 9)

Gracie Abrams - I Love You, I’m Sorry (vol. 12)

Notes: This episode had some technical issues at the end. This was Ryan’s 1st appearance. This album was not rated.

On episode 2 of the Chain Podcast Ben is joined by Nuria to Exchainge music and breakdown Uncle Ringo Starr’s 2025 album ‘Look Up’.

Look Up (★★★☆☆), Starr’s 20th studio album, contains simple universal lyrics and his grandfatherly voice really captures the peace and love✌️❤️ that he has presided over for his 84 years.

Visit The CHAIN ⛓️‍💥 on Instagram to find links to the playlist volumes, listenable on either Spotify or Apple Music.

Exchainge songs:

Tainy & Bad Bunny - MOJABI GHOST (vol. 2)

Friendly Fires - Skeleton Boy (vol. 7)

My Chemical Romance - Famous Last Words (vol. 5)

Klaxons - Echoes (vol. 13)

Niall Horan - Heaven (vol. 5)

Super-Hi & Neeka - Following the Sun (vol. 13)

Notes. This was the first episode recorded remotely and has reduced audio quality. This was Nuria’s first appearance.