Darth Marden Breaks Down: the DIY Music Life, Philosophy, Fatherhood & Full Control

In this episode of Two Beers With The Band, I crack open a cold one with Darth Marden—also known as Michael—a one-man band, philosopher-at-heart, and alt-rock storyteller based in Knoxville. Known for his heavy, dark, guitar-driven sound that dances between Tool, Deftones, and Linkin Park, Darth Marden talks about crafting complex songs as a solo artist, balancing a corporate day job with raising a family, and still finding time to write, produce, mix, and market his own music—plus help promote underground artists via his role at Venue Features.

We get into the philosophy behind his songwriting, why he prefers odd time signatures, and how his music is more about getting the noise out of his head and into the world than chasing fame. Michael also opens up about the emotional weight of fatherhood, his latest track “Leaving” written for his kids, and how his collaborations through the project KMP (with artist Paris) are blending rock and hip-hop in unexpected ways.

🎧 Connect with Darth Marden: 🎶 Streaming Platforms: Search “Darth Marden” 📱 Instagram/TikTok: @venuefeatures 💥 New Collab: KMP debut single drops July