Look who it is!

Nashville session guitarist and producer Sol Philcox-Littlefield joins me on Look Who It Is! for a behind-the-scenes look at how music gets made in Nashville.

Sol has worked with artists including Luke Combs and Aaron Lewis, and shares what life is really like as a session musician. We talk about how musicians get hired for recording sessions, the relationships that keep Nashville's music industry running, and what goes into producing a major-label album.

Sol also shares stories from recording Aaron Lewis's album at RCA Studio A, working on some of Luke Combs' early music, and why giving every project your best effort matters, whether it's a major artist or someone just getting started.

It's a conversation about the musicians behind the music, the friendships built in the studio, and the work that goes into making the songs we hear every day.

From playing nearly empty bars in Nashville to opening for artists like Jake Owen, LOCASH, and Lakeview, country music artist and actor Jet Jurgensmeyer knows what it means to put in the work.

On this episode of Look Who It Is, Dane sits down with Jet to talk about life on the road, his latest single "Sane to My Crazy," and the songwriting process behind his music. Jet shares stories from his early performances, what it's like balancing college with a growing music career, and why those small moments—like hearing someone sing his lyrics back to him—make it all worthwhile.

They also dive into his acting career, working with Nashville's top session musicians, and what's next as he prepares for life after graduation.

From the empty rooms to the bigger stages, Jet's journey is a reminder that every show and every song is part of the story.

Listen now to hear the full conversation!

Devin Trout is back on Look Who It Is! for the first time since his appearance last year.

We catch up on everything that’s changed since then, including touring with Chase Matthew, playing shows around the world, opening for Jason Aldean, and taking on a bigger role behind the scenes. Devin talks about preparing tracks for TV performances, doing more session work, and getting ready to head into the studio as Chase uses his touring band to record new music.

We also get into life on the road, what goes into putting together a live show, learning his role as a rhythm guitarist, some unforgettable tour stories, and what he’s looking forward to next.

A relaxed conversation about touring, recording, growing as a musician, and everything that happens in between.

Stephen Ridley is a British pianist who left investment banking behind and went on to perform in 77 countries around the world.

In this episode, Stephen shares stories about performing for 28,000 people in Uzbekistan, playing piano for 24 hours straight, improvising an entire concert after only seven minutes of rehearsal, and meeting artists including Sting and Robbie Williams. He also explains why more than 160 professionally recorded songs remain unreleased and how some of the best moments in his life have come from plans going completely off course.

Jackson Hymel joins Dane to talk about going from recording pop-rap songs on an iPhone at 10 years old to writing country music and recording professionally in Nashville.

Jackson shares how he accidentally became a left-handed guitarist despite being right-handed, found Young Outlaw Music through ReverbNation, and worked with producer Brent McCollough on “Love Again” and the upcoming “Ups and Downs.” He also opens up about turning his first heartbreak into music, overcoming nerves onstage, and balancing his senior year of high school with building a music career.

Follow Jackson at @jacksonhymelmusic and listen to “Love Again” wherever you stream music.

Cody Ikerd joins Dane on Look Who It Is! to talk about starting the Sidewinders and bringing rock energy to outlaw country.

From playing drums in metal bands to fronting his own country band out of Bedford, Indiana, Cody shares the stories behind their first shows, finding their sound, and earning recognition at the Josie Music Awards. We also get into songwriting, the album The Nineteenth State, and the reality of keeping an independent band going while balancing full-time jobs, family, and social media.

Learn more about Cody Ikerd and the Sidewinders: https://codyikerdmusic.com/

Kate Morris joins Dane to talk about finally taking a chance on music after years of writing songs privately and raising a family.

Kate shares how she went from a terrifying first open mic in 2024 to performing at venues across Southern California, all while balancing motherhood, songwriting, booking shows, creating content, and handling the nonstop workload of an independent artist.

They also discuss the story behind her first single, “Preach,” the self doubt that comes with putting personal music into the world, how her kids have influenced her journey, and why the best songs can feel deeply specific and completely universal at the same time.

Kate also previews her new single, “Tumbleweeds,” a bluesy country rock cautionary tale about chasing someone who was never going to stay.

Follow Kate Morris on Instagram and TikTok: @katemorrismusic

Southern Indiana country artist Hank Ruff joins Look Who It Is to talk about growing up around music, starting out with his dad’s band, and building his own path as an artist.

Hank grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, playing mandolin, listening to bluegrass and old-school country, and eventually finding his own sound through 90s country, live shows, and original songs. In this episode, we talk about his early days playing with his dad’s band, writing songs with his dad, his first middle school love song, cutting outside songs like “Whiskey Always Wins,” and what it takes to keep traditional country sounds alive while still moving forward.

We also get into his band The Hellbenders, playing across the Midwest, opening on bigger stages, social media, songwriting, and why live performance still drives him. Hank’s story is a good look at what it means to grow up in country music, step out on your own, and build a career without losing where you came from.

Kendall Eugene joins Look Who It Is for a conversation about how he got started in music, the long road through rock bands and worship music, losing everything in 2023, getting discovered by The Voice, and writing songs from real life. We also talk about Nashville writers rounds, building a music career while working a full-time job, and the stories behind songs like “Already Gone” and “Dust Bowl Blues.”

Brooke Lee joins Look Who It Is to talk about the years behind the big moments. From grinding late-night Broadway shifts in Nashville to landing a Chevy campaign that aired during the Olympic opening ceremony, Brooke shares what the outside world doesn’t always see.

We also talk about her upcoming EP Desert Darling (out April 17), how the six-song project tells the story of her life from 19 to 25, and what she learned opening for artists like Needtobreathe and Willie Nelson. Brooke breaks down why she refuses to skip steps in this career and how the grind behind the scenes prepares artists for the opportunities that finally come.

New listeners should check out:
• So Beautiful
• Burn to Black
• Kill Me With Tequila (feat. Ryan Beaver)

Listen to Brooke Lee’s music and follow her on social media to keep up with new releases and tour dates.

In this episode of Look Who It Is, I sit down with Jesse DeGroot, co-founder and guitarist of Beneath The Hollow.

We talk about what it really takes to keep a heavy band moving while balancing a full-time job, marriage, kids, touring, and constant writing.

Jesse breaks down:

• Why he went back and relearned guitar after nearly 20 years of playing

• Studying music theory and how it changed his approach

• Working with producer Machine and refining their sound

• Navigating singer changes and long inactive stretches

• Recording, reamping, tone chasing, and why “it’s gotta have some ugly on it”

• The reality of being a regional band and loving it anyway

• The moment someone sings your lyrics back to you

This is a grounded conversation about discipline, longevity, and making music for the band first with no hype, no shortcuts.

Follow Beneath The Hollow:

Website: https://www.beneaththehollow.com

Instagram: @beneaththehollow

Classical and jazz-trained guitarist Michael Rye shares how he went from Suzuki violin lessons at age five to a lifetime of guitar. We talk about his all-instrumental album If These Hands Could Talk and why he wanted it to be 100% guitar with no vocals, overdubs, or studio tricks. Michael breaks down how he thinks about fingerstyle, session work in a remote-file world, and why reputation and referrals are everything when people need you to deliver fast.

He also walks through his upcoming teaching platform, Intuitive Guitar Academy, built like a structured curriculum with beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, plus printable practice materials. We get into practice habits, choosing a first song, how he maintains a large collection of purpose-built guitars, and the real-world gear routines that keep him consistent on stage.

Nashville guitarist and producer Derek Wells breaks down how modern records are really made. We talk demoitis, the creative freedom behind Post Malone’s F-1 Trillion sessions, how Nashville studio work actually functions, and how Derek balances being a guitarist, producer, and A&R executive.

This episode dives into session workflows, creative burnout, saying no to the wrong projects, and the small behind-the-scenes moments that end up living forever in a song.

Nashville singer songwriter Camryn Gardner talks going full time in music, the Broadway grind, writer rounds, co writing, and the story behind her song “Stages.” We also cover the reality of promoting and releasing music as an independent artist and what she is working on next.

Max from the Nashville indie rock band Felix Tandem talks about the gravestone origin of the band name, his “Max vs Felix” creative split, and the story behind their new 90s-inspired single “Hey Now” (out Dec 4).We get into his songwriting process, DIY touring, Nashville’s house-show scene, their first single “Shoplifter,” and his thoughts on AI music, Spotify, and making art without chasing the algorithm.If you’re into indie rock, Nashville music, or behind-the-scenes stories from working bands, this episode is loaded.https://felixtandem.com/https://www.instagram.com/felixtandemmusic/

Pop artist and actress Izabela Rose joins the Look Who It Is podcast to talk about her new single Tipsy Truth, how she wrote it with her family, why she calls it a medicine song, and what it means for this new era of her music.

We get into growing up with Disney Channel, stepping into life as an independent artist, the pressure of doing it without a label, finding her sound in indie pop, writing for the sad girls and the pop girls, and learning how to promote her own music on social media without being afraid of posting too much.

Izabela also shares stories about recording with her dad, working on Wine For Me with Kushion Music and Jase from Soul For Real, her writers camp experience in LA and New York, why she calls her fans friends, representation and curly hair on Disney, and her dream collab with Megan Moroney.

Tipsy Truth is out now on all streaming platforms.

Follow Izabela Rose:
Instagram and TikTok: @iamizabelarose

Echo Pilot joins me to talk about how the band came together in Nashville, how each member found their way into the lineup, and what goes into the collaborative way they write songs. We get into home-studio demos, avoiding demoitis, and what changes when they take the music to a producer for the actual record.

They talk favorite songs to play live, the biggest shows they’ve played so far, the chaos of touring, their influences, harmonies, and how the third album is already shaping up. A genuine look at a hard-working rock band doing it the right way.

Find them everywhere @EchoPilotMusic

Travis Neal from Fraxures sits down to talk about chasing the dragon, what it took to stay alive in the music industry, and how his approach to writing and recording has changed over the years. He breaks down the new record, the Depeche Mode cover, his vocal style, the band’s in-house video work, and the long fight back from cancer that reshaped everything. This one goes deep into the mindset, the craft, and the grind behind Fraxures.

In this episode I'm talking with legendary songwriter Roger Springer, whose career spans more than three decades in country music. Roger shares his journey from Oklahoma honky-tonks to Nashville hitmaker, writing for artists like Mark Chesnutt, Jake Worthington, and Will Banister.

He talks about loyalty, mentorship, and why real country music never truly goes away. From capturing melodies “that come from somewhere else” to helping young artists find their voice, Roger’s insights show exactly what keeps traditional country alive.

Mississippi country artist Dusty Crawford joins Look Who It Is to talk about how an injury ended his chance to play sports and led him to discover music. He shares how his first gig packed out a restaurant, what life’s like raising a son and six-month-old triplets, and his plan to release a new song every month leading up to a summer tour. Real stories, hard work, and a lot of heart from one of Mississippi’s rising voices in country music.