Mixing elements of R&B and soul with their jazz roots, Kiana & the Sun Kings make music that is modern yet timeless, energetic yet contemplative. Their ultimate goal is to create music that is equal in complexity and simplicity, crafting sounds for the jazz player and casual listener alike. The Sun Kings were founded by vocalist Kiana Del as she was searching for a hot group to play her senior recital at Bellarmine University. From there, Del realized the chemistry radiating from the group and decided to take Kiana & the Sun Kings on the road. The Sun Kings can be found entertaining in local eateries, cocktail lounges, music festivals, jazz clubs, and other places in Louisville, Kentucky's thriving music scene. The collective influences of the group include John Coltrane, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Thelonious Monk, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Count Basie, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and even modern players such as Esperanza Spalding, Kamasi Washington, Jon Batiste, and Robert Glasper.

Founded in July 2016 by Kentucky songwriter Billy Swayze, Thunder Sound Studio quickly became one of Kentucky’s premiere destination studios. Thunder Sound is a fully equipped analog and digital complex in the Franklin, Kentucky countryside, just 45 minutes north of Nashville recording studios and Music Row. Seth Pedigo, affectionately called "Paramount Pedigo" by Swayze, is one of many creative humans in the Thunder Sound family. Seth joins us to discuss the special people, such as Billy Swayze and Tiger Merritt, that were the driving force in what is Thunder Sound Studio. From the tape machine in Nat King Cole’s studio to a console which recorded Johnny Cash and many legends, Thunder Sound has incredible karma and a positive, exploratory vibe.  The compound also includes a 3,000 sq. ft. outdoor performance venue and bar; a 3,000 sq. ft. rehearsal hall and 1,800 sq. ft. Hotel California living facility with living room, three bedrooms, cable TV, laundry, kitchen and shower.

Also available is a 3,500 sq. ft. luxury log home with three bedrooms where guests can enjoy fishing, hiking trails and total privacy. Combined with creative people focused and dedicated to helping artists find their sound and the 16,000 sq. ft. facility set on 100 beautiful acres at your disposal, Thunder Sound is an incredible destination recording studio.

Neil and Brad reflect on two years of the Top Hill Recording Podcast and nine months of One Shot One Mic One Song. They also discuss what they would like to see in the future.

The Highlanders Band got its start when co-founders Colin O’Daniel, Sam Olshansky, and Sam Coryell played a show for their employer's summer music concert on a whim. From there, they went on to recruit soulful keyboardist Beck O’Daniel (Colin's brother), as well as lead guitarist Jake McKean and drummer Conner Goldsmith. The six man group built quite a following, filling bars and taverns with family, friends, fans, and music lovers. The Highlanders Band spent a year as a college cover band before deciding it was time to venture more into original music. They released the singles “Whiskey Dreams” and “Get Back” in 2019. After receiving a positive response to their first releases and having an additional year to develop as a band, they released their first full length album, "Different in the Dark", in late 2020. The Highlanders Band is yet another genre-defying Louisville, Kentucky band that can best be described as "Louisville Indie". The Highlanders Band currently plays in the Louisville and surrounding areas as a five-piece. 

Carl Stuck is a songwriter and musician from Louisville, Ky. A staple on the Louisville music scene for years, he is currently involved in multiple musical projects including a solo acoustic based project under his own name and a rock project called Splintered Mind with fellow Louisvillian Phil Bright. During the COVID shutdown, Carl ran a nightly Facebook Live series for 368 straight nights! He has also used his guitar, bass, mandolin, and percussion skills as a live player sharing the stage with national artists as diverse as Randy Owen of country supergroup Alabama, members of Poison, Warrant, Night Ranger and others as well as for Louisville original acts such as the electronic Velvet Saints, and the country Bryan Fox Band.

With an unrestricted freedom of musical expression that is self-described as "Denim psych", Dinero Romero, from Louisville, Kentucky is ready to show everyone the far-out sonic landscape they have up their sleeves. Made up of members of several well-known Louisville acts (The Last Origin, Blind Feline, Brewing Pines, and Punkin), this 7 piece, denim-clad, supergroup is ready to explode onto the scene with their fuzzed out guitars, 60's inspired keys, and a thumping rhythm section anchored with double drummers. Citing musical inspiration from the likes of Frank Zappa, Herbie Hancock, King Gizzard, Grateful Dead and Piero Umiliani, this band ties together musical complexity with an explosive stage show from beginning to end.

Dusty Bo, our guest from Season 4 - Episode 51, is back for our "5 From....." series. From the Episode 51 description - "Dusty Bo is a Louisville, Kentucky alt-rock artist with what many would consider a charmed musical history. Years ago, Dusty packed his bags and moved to Los Angeles with his band. In L.A., he experienced "the dream" of recording at Sunset Sound and NRG Studios, touring the globe, and packing recognizable venues such as the Viper Room, the Troubadour, and The Whiskey A GoGo. However, Dusty wasn't happy and decided in 2017 to leave the band and venture out on his own. Now back in Kentucky and on the solo route, Dusty Bo has built quite a following. With great vocals, great guitar, and musical diversity, you'll never get bored."

The featured 5 songs:

1. No One Else

2. The Red

3. Words Don't Mean Much

4. Ready

5. Life of Love

Blind Feline, our guests from way back at Episode 22, join us once again in the studio to kick off the first of the Top Hill Recording Podcast "5 from...." series. "5 from....." will showcase 5 songs from the podcast guest(s), with discussion. From the Episode 22 podcast description - "Louisville's Blind Feline is a unique and versatile group of talented musicians that can't be described with one musical genre......let's go with funky psychedelic country rock with jazz influences and a blue-grass flair."

The 5 songs in this podcast:

1. Wildwood Flowers

2. Goldmine

3. Record Player

4. Mountain Chief

5. Rain Like Hell

Day Cruise is the musical brainchild of Lochlann Gallaher and Cody Hofmans. The group came from the humble beginnings of Lochlann's mom's basement in 2017. In late 2018 they dropped their first single “Galore”. Less than a month later they released their first EP “Scrambled”. Then came three additional singles - “Clink”, “Deluge”, and “Loopty Loop”. Following the production and release of these singles, the duo decided to expand to a full band. Cody and Lochlann brought on Sam Butler on trumpet, Kendrick Beltran on bass (sometimes saxophone), Lance Oliphant on lead guitar and Seth Willauer on drums to form the current lineup of Day Cruise. In addition to rapping and singing, Lochlann Gallaher plays a keytar synthesizer and Cody Hofmans plays rhythm guitar. The group has been rehearsing and reworking material to fit the new, funky, live sound. You can find them gigging around the Louisville, Kentucky area.

Nick Hill began as the solo project "Phourist". Wanting to expand his sound, he brought on the "Photons". Lineup changes over several years have led to the Louisville, KY foursome of Nick (vocals, keys, guitar), Andrew Critchelow (guitar, synth), Jailynn Lake-Noel (bass), and Scott Boice (drums). Together they are Phourist and the Photons, known for non-linear songcraft, winding musical passages, and adventurous arrangements flanking undeniable pop-rock hooks.