Michael Rye on solo guitar, gear discipline, and building a real guitar curriculum

Hank Ruff: Building His Own Path in Traditional Country

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: Starting over and writing from real life

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: The Years Behind the Big Moments

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.

Jesse DeGroot (Beneath The Hollow) - Staying in heavy metal for the long haul.

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

Michael Rye on solo guitar, gear discipline, and building a real guitar curriculum

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.