Top Hill Recording Podcast

LUCYTHEDOG is a Louisville, Kentucky band with a blended sound of their own.

Max Donohue is an emerging singer-songwriter blending the melodic appeal of indie-pop with the energy and authenticity of indie-rock. His EP Mixed Signals reflects the influence of artists such as Harry Styles, Noah Kahan, and indie band The Moss, while showcasing Donohue’s own developing sound and songwriting identity. With a focus on memorable melodies, contemporary production, and emotionally engaging songs, Mixed Signals establishes Donohue as an artist to watch within the evolving indie music landscape.

Jarley Yung is a band from Lexington, Kentucky that plays hard rock and blues rock. The band consists of guitarist Miles James, drummer Jack James, and bassist Hilliard "Gentry" Needham.

Kai Muhammad is a singer in Louisville, KY known for his soulful vocals, engaging stage presence, and versatile repertoire spanning R&B, soul, gospel, jazz, and contemporary music. His passion for connecting with audiences and delivering authentic performances has made him a standout voice in the local music community.

Nashville, Tennessee-based singer-songwriter and guitarist Ian Abel brings a powerful, stripped-down approach to the Top Hill Recording Podcast with his solo acoustic performances. Known as the frontman of the Ian Abel Band, Abel has built a reputation for blending heartfelt songwriting with dynamic guitar work that ranges from intimate and soulful to energetic and commanding. An international award-winning guitarist, Ian gained widespread recognition when the Ian Abel Band’s breakout track “Shoes” was licensed by All Elite Wrestling for the Cody and Dustin Rhodes promo featured at the inaugural Double or Nothing pay-per-view. The video earned a nomination for Best Song/Score in a Trailer at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards. Ian has toured as lead guitarist for T. Graham Brown and has shared stages with artists including Dillon Carmichael, Canadian trio The Heels, and Australian artist Brittany Elise. His music has been featured on Spotify and Apple Music and praised by outlets such as 91.9 WFPK, which described his sound as “an expansive, stadium-ready rock sound.” As a solo acoustic performer, Abel offers a more personal side of his music — delivering emotionally driven originals, engaging storytelling, and reimagined versions of his rock-driven catalog with raw authenticity and skilled musicianship. He has performed at the Grand Ole Opry and iconic venues including the Troubadour, Whisky a Go Go, and Viper Room, captivating audiences with performances that showcase both his technical ability and heartfelt songwriting.

Midday Mayday is a Louisville-based punk/metalcore band delivering crushing riffs, chaotic energy, and just the right amount of self-awareness. Describing themselves as “a very professional and serious band that plays our serious songs with professionalism and seriousness,” the group blends heavy breakdowns with an unmistakable sense of humor that keeps crowds guessing. Equal parts aggression and satire, Midday Mayday feels like the soundtrack to your older brother’s burned CD collection — loud enough to shake the walls and sharp enough to leave a mark. Whether they’re tearing through a packed basement show or a local venue stage, Midday Mayday proves that being your older brother’s favorite band is still a title worth fighting for.

Formed in 2020, this young four-piece has quickly built a reputation for sounding far beyond their years. The lineup features Zach Yates on guitar, Shawn Blu holding down the bass, Andrew Barnes on vocals, and Max Comings behind the drums—each bringing a distinct musical voice despite their age.Their sound is a melting pot of American roots and classic styles, blending elements of rock, blues, soul, jazz, funk, country, and folk into something that feels both fresh and familiar. There’s a timeless quality to their music—listeners often find echoes of legendary acts woven into their sound, yet never in a way that feels derivative.The band leans fully into that old-school spirit. From their look to their musicianship, they channel the energy of a different era, delivering performances with a level of confidence and authenticity that’s rare for a group this young. It’s not just nostalgia—it’s a genuine connection to the craft.

We are Cowboy Preachers Club - A group of friends from Louisville, KY bringing together psychedelic, Americana, and even Midwest-Emo flavors in a kaleidoscopic gumbo that still feels at home on a back porch.Songs are long-simmered in a home-studio until the taste is just right—about the strangeness of love, the fiery hope behind loss, and the strength it takes to leave misery behind you, coughing in the dust.Join the club!

Materializing from Louisville, KY, After You Left channels the raw emotion of bands like Title Fight and Joyce Manor while delivering a versatile range of musicality. From slow and somber to melodic and dancey, all the way to hard and heavy, After You Left isn’t afraid to challenge their sound while staying true to the core of their music, which is raw, unfiltered emotion. Founded in 2025, the band features frontman and vocalist Zaq Wilcher, bassist Jared Lewis, drummer Justin Watkins, lead guitarist Ben Michels, and rhythm guitarist Jacob Doss. On the surface, an After You Left show is high-energy and fun, but beneath that energy lies deep emotional expression, with heartfelt vocals and lyrics layered with unique harmonies, catchy guitar riffs, and a solid rhythmic foundation. After You Left brings honesty, passion, and intensity to every stage they step on, creating an experience that connects deeply with anyone who listens.

Adrian Taylor, born Sacramento and raised in Anderson, CA, is a self-taught guitarist who began writing lyrics at the age of 14. By 16, he was performing in local bars, and at 21, he relocated to Louisville, KY, to explore new musical opportunities. Since moving to Louisville, Adrian has opened for several Nashville recording artists, including Thompson Square, Kip Moore, Nikko Moon, and Mitchell Tenpenny.

Jake "Spookie" Smith w/ his band

With a desire to open the mind of the modern music scene, Watkins brings flavors of Classic Pop and Alternative Rock into the world with an experimental twist. Their folk-rock and indie influence comes across in the dynamics of the music. Lead Singer, Taylor Watkins, has created a grassroots following across the country, known for his new age guitar picking and unique vocal performance. The band brings love and energy to the stage and always leaves the crowd with a deeper sense of community. The love for traveling and psychedelic spirituality shines through in the lyrics and keeps the band motivated to spread their message.

Lucy & The Love Letters isn’t just a band—it’s a living, breathing love story told through sweet melodies, vivid memories, and meaningful words. Founded by Kentucky singer, songwriter, and fiddle player Lucy Becker, the project was born from an unexpected spark: a songwriting assignment that ignited a lifelong passion for transforming emotion into music. From that first tune, Becker knew she was meant to write more than songs—she was meant to craft love letters in sound.Blending jazz, pop, and touches of bluegrass, Lucy & The Love Letters creates a spellbinding sound marked by sultry undertones and an unapologetically unique flair. The band features a rotating cast of musicians, each bringing their own influences and sonic secrets to the stage. No two performances are ever the same, making every show a one-of-a-kind experience.Their debut performance unfolded inside the cozy magic of Hidden Chapter Bookstore in Ft. Thomas, Kentucky, followed just two months later by a headlining New Year’s Eve celebration at 21C Museum & Hotel in Lexington, where they partnered with Sora Aerial Arts for a fully immersive night of music and movement.Lucy & The Love Letters released their first single, “Sweetest Shade of Rose,” on August 29, 2025, now available on all streaming platforms. More than just music, the band invites listeners to slow down, notice the beauty hidden in ordinary moments, and let those fleeting details linger long after the final note.

Fuzzstration was formed in 2018 by Eric Rhodes, Matt Seelye and Ryan Smith in Crandall, Indiana. The musical style can be summed up as “modern classic rock” with a wide variety of influences. In 2021, Fuzzstration started the “Fuzzy Pig Festival” in Milltown, Indiana. From building the venue from the ground up, it has become a hit in the local community featuring original bands of any style from the area. 

Louisville, Kentucky based, country-blues artist Andy Branton cut his teeth playing guitar in country and rock & roll bands around the West Alabama bar scene. After years of collecting stories and songs while driving up and down Alabama’s highways and dirt roads, he released his debut EP 47 Minutes Away. Andy assembled a crack team of Birmingham, Alabama’s finest musicians - including Adrian Marmolejo (Early James & the Latest, Zachary Williams & the Dirty Camaros, The StepDads); Les Nuby, formerly of Verbena (Capital Records); Ford Boswell (Early James & the Latest, Zachary Williams & the Dirty Camaros, Will Stewart); and Daniel Raine (Little Raine Band, The StepDads) - to commit his songs to tape. The band worked its magic, cranking out the tunes in just one 8-hour session. One of the highlights from the record, the ballad Time to Go hauntingly captures the utter doneness you can feel when finally leaving a place. It predicts Andy’s eventual move to Louisville, Kentucky as he sings about driving on “northbound 65” with “a new direction now.” You can find Andy making his way around the country - ever writing, ever singing, ever playing, and ever moving.

Eclectric is a Louisville-based rock band whose story began in December 2022 at Bellarmine University. What started as a shared love of playing music quickly grew into a creative partnership between four friends: guitarist Lance Oliphant, bassist Micah Davisson, guitarist Matthew Seelye, and drummer Lucas Wheatley. With Oliphant, Davisson, and Seelye all contributing vocals, the group built a sound rooted in collaboration and chemistry. Eclectric’s music is as dynamic as the band itself—balancing vulnerability with intensity, weaving thoughtful lyrics into powerful arrangements. Their influences reach back to the swirling tones of classic psychedelia while embracing the drive and energy of modern rock, creating a style that feels both familiar and fresh. Onstage, Eclectric thrives on connection. Their performances are not just sets of songs but shared experiences—moments where the band’s passion for music translates into an energy that pulls the audience in. Whether in an intimate room or on a festival stage, they deliver a sound that is alive, immediate, and unmistakably their own. With each show, Eclectric continues to carve out their place in the Louisville music scene, building on the foundation of friendship, musicianship, and the belief that rock is meant to move both the heart and the body.

Jordan A. Wilson, born in Cincinnati, OH, and raised in Carrollton, KY, is a dynamic artist blending nostalgic rhythms with fresh originality. A self-taught guitarist, he began playing at 14, performing solo, in church, and at talent shows. Over the years, Jordan became a key figure in the Cincinnati music scene, collaborating with artists like Joseph Nevels (now Los Angeles), Lauren Eylise, and as a member of KNOTTS, while also leading his own band, the Jordan Wilson Coalition.Base in Madison, IN, the Coalition fuses Blues, Alt-Rock, R&B, Soul, and Funk-what Jordan calls "Alt-Blues, Rock "N' Soul". The sound has been described as a blend of Bill Withers and Jimi Hendrix, sprinkled with some alt-rock seasoning. The band has been billed with Patti LaBelle, Erykah Badu, Thundercat, Eric Gales, Mr. Sipp and Ronnie Baker Brooks at venues like the Rose Center (Dayton), Heritage Bank Center, Megacorp Pavilion, Memorial Hall (Cincy) and more.

Back by popular demand, Southern Indiana’s own Justin Miller and The Elements of Sound returns to Top Hill Recording Podcast! Blending rock, folk, pop, blues, and hip hop into a style that’s uniquely their own, this genre-bending group has become a staple of the Kentuckiana music scene.Fronted by multi-instrumentalist and looping pioneer Justin Miller—who got his start beatboxing and playing acoustic guitar in Louisville—the current lineup features Noel Calilung on bass, Nate King on drums, Jared Burch on keys, Good Time Charlie Dixon on djembe, and Lance Oliphant on guitar. Together, they form a dynamic and soulful crew that’s as tight-knit as the local music community they help uplift.Since 2017, Elements of Sound has been grinding it out on the grassroots circuit—lighting up festivals, bar stages, and backyards nearly every weekend. Tune in as we catch up with the band to talk creative process, collaboration, and what’s next for one of the region’s hardest-working groups.

Back by popular demand, Southern Indiana’s own Justin Miller and The Elements of Sound returns to Top Hill Recording Podcast! Blending rock, folk, pop, blues, and hip hop into a style that’s uniquely their own, this genre-bending group has become a staple of the Kentuckiana music scene.Fronted by multi-instrumentalist and looping pioneer Justin Miller—who got his start beatboxing and playing acoustic guitar in Louisville—the current lineup features Noel Calilung on bass, Nate King on drums, Jared Burch on keys, Good Time Charlie Dixon on djembe, and Lance Oliphant on guitar. Together, they form a dynamic and soulful crew that’s as tight-knit as the local music community they help uplift.Since 2017, Elements of Sound has been grinding it out on the grassroots circuit—lighting up festivals, bar stages, and backyards nearly every weekend. Tune in as we catch up with the band to talk creative process, collaboration, and what’s next for one of the region’s hardest-working groups.

New Gunk is a five-piece instrumental force beamed in from somewhere just outside the known galaxy. With a lineup of trombone, saxophone, guitar, bass, and drums, they conjure sounds that feel both ancient and extraterrestrial—equal parts cosmic ceremony and dancefloor detonation.Born from a collision of groove-heavy experimentation and metaphysical curiosity, New Gunk isn’t just a band—it’s a transmission. Their live sets are equal parts ritual and release, where melody spirals, rhythms pulse like gravitational waves, and horns cut through the void like celestial signals. There's no frontman here—just five sonic channels tuned to a single, undeniable frequency: GUNK.Are you drifting? Searching? Slightly vibrating? That’s no accident. You may be experiencing early-stage ingunkrination. Don’t fight it—lean in. Bring your best shoes for dance bouncing, align your crown chakra, and prepare for contact.Where’s your Gunk at?