What Made You with Deanna Marie

🎶 What made Arlis Albritton the songwriter and music community builder he is today?
From the moment the money hit his bank account after a song he wrote was cut by Diamond Rio, to watching the music industry evolve from CDs to iPods to streaming, Arlis has seen firsthand just how much this business can change.
As the force behind the St. Augustine Songwriters Festival, he’s also helping create opportunities for songwriters and bringing the stories behind the songs to the forefront.
We’re talking about the moments that make it all worth it, the changes that have shaped the industry, and the passion that keeps you going.
🎙️ Listen to the latest episode of What Made You with Deanna Marie!
#WhatMadeYou #DeannaMarie #ArlisAlbritton #Songwriting #MusicIndustry #DiamondRio #Songwriters

In this episode of What Made You with Deanna Marie, Brooke Haynes joins us for a conversation about the experiences, creative choices, and personal growth that shape an artist's journey. We get into the stories behind the songs, the realities of finding your voice in the music industry, and what it means to stay true to yourself while figuring out where you belong. It's an honest conversation about creativity, perseverance, and the moments that make us who we are.
🎧 Get to know the person behind the music in this episode of What Made You with Deanna Marie.

Today’s guest is a Nashville musician who knows what it means to build a life around music—not just chase a career in it.
Tyson Hanes came to Nashville from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, with a guitar, a dream, and a willingness to figure it out as he went. More than a decade later, he’s built a career as a singer, songwriter, bandleader, and one of the many working musicians who make Nashville’s live-music scene what it is.
But Tyson isn’t just interested in playing the next gig. He’s become increasingly vocal about something that affects musicians all over this city: what it actually takes to make a sustainable living in the music business—and what happens when the people creating the music aren't treated fairly.
So today, we're talking about the leap that brought him to Nashville, the realities of life on Broadway, building and leading a band, and why Tyson decided it was important to use his voice not just to sing, but to advocate for the musicians standing beside him.
This is Tyson Hanes—and this is What Made You.

Canadian country artist and songwriter Justine Blanchet joins Deanna Marie to talk about the experiences that have shaped both her music and the person she is today.
Justine opens up about navigating the independent music industry, finding her place in Nashville, and how a deeper relationship with her faith began changing the direction of her life and career. She shares the internal struggle of deciding whether the songs from an earlier chapter of her life still belonged on streaming platforms—and what it means to honor where you’ve been while becoming someone new.
From songwriting and entrepreneurship to faith, identity, and redefining success, Justine shares an honest look at the choices, growing pains, and moments of clarity that continue to shape her journey.
This is What Made You with Deanna Marie.

This week, we’re sitting down with singer-songwriter Randy C Moore for a conversation about a lifetime in music.
Randy takes us through the highs and unexpected turns of his career—from performing on the Grand Ole Opry at a young age and working alongside legendary artists, to navigating the ever-changing music industry and finding what keeps him inspired after decades of making music.
We talk songwriting, taking risks, the lessons that only come with experience, the moments that almost changed the course of his career, and what success looks like from the other side of the journey.
If you love music, Nashville, and the stories behind the songs, this is one you won't want to miss. Tune in and get to know the man behind the music.

On this episode of What Made You with Deanna Marie, I sit down with singer-songwriter Sammi Rae to talk about the road that brought her from Texas to Nashville and the experiences that are shaping the artist she’s becoming.
We get into finding her sound, the stories behind her songwriting, navigating the realities of being an independent artist, and what she’s learned about herself along the way. Sammi also opens up about the inspiration behind her music, the evolution of her artistry, and what she hopes listeners take away from the songs she puts into the world.
It’s a conversation about taking chance

This week on WMY,  host Deanna Marie sits down with The Taylors Duo. This mother-daughter duo has been tearing up stages in Nashville, Tennessee for over a  decade.  Mom Paula Jo Taylor, coined by Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx as “The Viral Granny Guitarist," shreds on lead guitar and adds those close family harmonies, while daughter Amanda astounds you with her powerful vocals. ​We talked about the struggles of working with your family members, growing up surrounded by talent, personal connections with some of the greats, and what kind of magic happens when you're close enough to basically read each other's minds.

Jesus Hernandez has spent years chasing songs in all their forms. From writing joke songs as a kid inspired by Tenacious D and The Vandals, to playing lead guitar in punk bands, to eventually finding his own voice through deeply personal songwriting, his career has been defined by constant evolution. His music has spanned hardcore punk, melodic punk, and intimate acoustic storytelling, with songwriting credits in projects including Fat Judge, Pink Frosty, and A Really Bad Idea. Whether he's writing to process life's hardest moments or simply because a passing phrase won't leave his head, one thing has remained constant: he never really stops creating.

What does it really take to build a lasting career in Music City?
In this episode of What Made You, Deanna Marie sits down with singer-songwriter and guitarist Ben Graves for an honest conversation about the highs, the challenges, and the unexpected turns of life as a working musician. Ben shares stories from decades in the music industry, the lessons he's learned from collaborating with incredible artists, and why staying true to yourself matters more than chasing the spotlight.
Whether you're a songwriter, a music lover, or someone pursuing a dream of your own, this conversation is full of insight, authenticity, and plenty of Nashville stories you won't want to miss.

Singer-songwriter Jacob Martin returns to What Made You with Deanna Marie for an honest conversation about the highs and lows of building a career in Nashville, staying authentic in an ever-changing music industry, and finding purpose through every chapter of his journey.
Jacob shares stories from his career, reflects on the songs that have shaped him, and opens up about embracing sobriety, and how it transformed his perspective on life and music.
From career pivots and creative growth to resilience and redemption, this episode offers an inspiring look at the man behind the music—and the lessons he's learned along the way.