Elation Podcast

elationent

Welcome to The Elation Podcast, the show where we dive deep into the exhilarating world of creation and collaboration with professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds. Each episode, we'll bring you one-on-one interviews with exceptional individuals who have found a unique source of euphoria in their professional endeavors. Join us as we uncover their inspiring stories, explore their creative processes, and learn from their experiences.

  1. 3D AGO

    The Business of Music Festivals with Mike Mauer

    Mike Mauer is the VP of Marketing, Data & Technology at Gate 52, and he joins us to break down his unconventional path through the music, live events, and festival industry. We talk about how early hands-on experience in venue operations and artist management shaped his understanding of live events, what led him to move to New Orleans on a leap of faith, and how stepping outside the music industry to work in marketing and data ultimately made him more effective when he returned. We also dig into how festivals actually work behind the scenes, from marketing strategy and ticketing to risk management and community building. Mike shares why the future of festivals is less about chasing massive lineups and more about experience, mission, and audience connection, along with lessons he’s learned about specialization, long-term growth, and putting one foot in front of the other in a competitive industry. Our show's host, David Adams, founded Elation Entertainment, a New Orleans-based multi-media entertainment company. With a solid foundation of 8 years working in the Los Angeles music scene conducting multiple music camps with Grammy Associates, Musicians, and Producers, David brings a wealth of expertise to the table. His experiences have taught him valuable lessons, encouraging him to bring the entertainment industry standards and creative spaces to New Orleans, a place he calls home.  Follow Elation Entertainment Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elationent/ Website: https://www.elationent.com

    45 min
  2. FEB 20

    Finding Your Voice and Staying True in Music with Tonya Boyd-Cannon

    Tonya Boyd-Cannon is a singer-songwriter, artist, and educator whose journey is deeply rooted in New Orleans culture, legacy, and truth. We talk with Tonya about growing up as a preacher’s kid between Mississippi and the Lower Ninth Ward, finding her voice through gospel, jazz, and classical music, and pushing past early discouragement to build a lasting career. She shares stories from selling music out of her trunk to recording with Jean Knight, releasing multiple albums, and her most recent projects, including Clusters and her Mardi Gras anthem “Everywhere Else It's Tuesday.” We also dive into Tonya’s creative process and her deep connection to analog sound, vinyl, and the spiritual energy of classic recordings, along with her perspective on navigating the modern music industry, AI, and staying grounded as an artist. The conversation highlights her work as an educator through a vocal music workshop with the Jazz & Heritage Foundation, where she mentors young singers in artistry, confidence, and life skills. This episode is a powerful reflection on authenticity, patience, and what it really means to stay true to yourself while building a creative life that lasts. Our show's host, David Adams, founded Elation Entertainment, a New Orleans-based multi-media entertainment company. With a solid foundation of 8 years working in the Los Angeles music scene conducting multiple music camps with Grammy Associates, Musicians, and Producers, David brings a wealth of expertise to the table. His experiences have taught him valuable lessons, encouraging him to bring the entertainment industry standards and creative spaces to New Orleans, a place he calls home.  Follow Elation Entertainment Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elationent/ Website: https://www.elationent.com

    39 min
  3. FEB 13

    Inside Django Jazz and the Art of Guitar with Stephane Wrembel

    Stephane Wrembel is a musician, guitarist, composer, and teacher whose work is deeply rooted in the Django jazz tradition. We talk with Stephane about growing up in Fontainebleau, France, the birthplace of Impressionism and home to Django Reinhardt, and how being surrounded by Django’s legacy shaped his musical path. He shares his early classical piano training, the moment he discovered Django jazz at a festival as a teenager, and why that sound became the foundation of his life’s work. We also dig into the discipline and philosophy behind Django-style guitar, the challenges of learning before the internet era, and the mentors who helped refine his voice as an artist. Stephane breaks down his view of jazz as a living framework born in New Orleans, his experiences touring across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, and what he’s learned from global music traditions. The conversation closes with reflections on teaching, balance, aging as an artist, and why passing knowledge to the next generation is just as important as creating new music. Our show's host, David Adams, founded Elation Entertainment, a New Orleans-based multi-media entertainment company. With a solid foundation of 8 years working in the Los Angeles music scene conducting multiple music camps with Grammy Associates, Musicians, and Producers, David brings a wealth of expertise to the table. His experiences have taught him valuable lessons, encouraging him to bring the entertainment industry standards and creative spaces to New Orleans, a place he calls home.  Follow Elation Entertainment Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elationent/ Website: https://www.elationent.com

    36 min
  4. FEB 6

    From Student to Leader: Music, Mentorship, and Legacy in New Orleans with Gregory Agid

    Gregory Agid is a musician and the Executive Director of Second Line Arts Collective, and he joins us to talk about how a single summer at the Louis Armstrong Jazz Camp changed the trajectory of his life. Gregory shares his journey from moving to New Orleans at age 12 with no background in the city’s music culture to being mentored by legends and growing up alongside future icons like Jon Batiste and Trombone Shorty. We dig into how those early experiences shaped his understanding of music as a spiritual practice, a community responsibility, and a powerful tool for personal transformation. We also unpack the realities of being a working musician in New Orleans, the gap between artistry and sustainability, and why education, mentorship, and entrepreneurship are critical for the next generation. Gregory breaks down his philosophy behind Second Line Arts Collective, his thoughts on navigating the music industry without losing integrity, and how artists can embrace new technology, including AI, without sacrificing humanity or culture. This conversation is about legacy, adaptability, and doing the work to make sure New Orleans music doesn’t just survive, but thrives. Our show's host, David Adams, founded Elation Entertainment, a New Orleans-based multi-media entertainment company. With a solid foundation of 8 years working in the Los Angeles music scene conducting multiple music camps with Grammy Associates, Musicians, and Producers, David brings a wealth of expertise to the table. His experiences have taught him valuable lessons, encouraging him to bring the entertainment industry standards and creative spaces to New Orleans, a place he calls home.  Follow Elation Entertainment Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elationent/ Website: https://www.elationent.com

    50 min
  5. JAN 30

    Fighting for Ownership and Equity in the Music Industry with Mia Borders

    Mia Borders is a New Orleans–based musician and the founder of Third Coast Entertainment, and she joins us to talk about her creative origin story, her relationship with guitar and songwriting, and how she found her lane as an artist at a young age. We dig into her early musical education, growing up Uptown, and how those formative experiences shaped the way she approaches music with confidence, intention, and independence. We also get into the business side of being a working musician, how Mia’s background as a paralegal influenced her mindset around contracts, ownership, and protecting her work, plus why she founded Third Coast Entertainment to push for more equity, representation, and opportunity in the music industry. From thoughtful conversations around AI as a creative tool to the realities of being a musician in New Orleans, this episode is about building a sustainable career, advocating for marginalized artists, and using music to bring people together across differences. Our show's host, David Adams, founded Elation Entertainment, a New Orleans-based multi-media entertainment company. With a solid foundation of 8 years working in the Los Angeles music scene conducting multiple music camps with Grammy Associates, Musicians, and Producers, David brings a wealth of expertise to the table. His experiences have taught him valuable lessons, encouraging him to bring the entertainment industry standards and creative spaces to New Orleans, a place he calls home.  Follow Elation Entertainment Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elationent/ Website: https://www.elationent.com

    39 min
  6. JAN 23

    Creating a Real Support System for Independent Artists with Gerard Longo

    Gerard Longo is the founder and CEO of Underground Music Collective. We talk about what it really takes to build a creative platform with longevity, from being intentional with your time and energy to knowing when to say no, clearing distractions, and building a community that actually supports growth. Gerard shares why this past year has been the most impactful of his life and how focus, alignment, and purpose have helped Underground Music Collective evolve. We also dig into the realities of today’s music industry, including why artists need to “know enough to be dangerous” on the business side, how collaboration beats competition, and why old-school networking and showing up still matter. Gerard breaks down the balance between art and business, the value of building complementary teams, and what New Orleans’ creative spirit gets right compared to more corporate music cities. This conversation is packed with perspective for artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs who want to build something meaningful without losing the soul of the work. Our show's host, David Adams, founded Elation Entertainment, a New Orleans-based multi-media entertainment company. With a solid foundation of 8 years working in the Los Angeles music scene conducting multiple music camps with Grammy Associates, Musicians, and Producers, David brings a wealth of expertise to the table. His experiences have taught him valuable lessons, encouraging him to bring the entertainment industry standards and creative spaces to New Orleans, a place he calls home.  Follow Elation Entertainment Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elationent/ Website: https://www.elationent.com

    34 min
  7. JAN 16

    What It Really Takes to Build Artist Buzz with Fiona Bloom

    Fiona Bloom is the owner of The Bloom Effect, a one-stop shop agency helping artists build real momentum through marketing, branding, publicity, and global connections. We sat down with Fiona live at NOLA MusicCon at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Center to talk about her path from college radio DJ to internationally respected tastemaker, and how relationship-driven strategy fuels long-term artist growth. We dig into what it actually takes to build buzz in today’s music industry, why showing up locally still matters, and how artists can stack opportunities beyond traditional PR—from festivals and visuals to collaborations and community building. Fiona also shares her deep connection to New Orleans, the city’s undeniable talent, and what’s still needed to strengthen its music infrastructure, offering real insight for artists focused on patience, consistency, and sustainable careers. Our show's host, David Adams, founded Elation Entertainment, a New Orleans-based multi-media entertainment company. With a solid foundation of 8 years working in the Los Angeles music scene conducting multiple music camps with Grammy Associates, Musicians, and Producers, David brings a wealth of expertise to the table. His experiences have taught him valuable lessons, encouraging him to bring the entertainment industry standards and creative spaces to New Orleans, a place he calls home.  Follow Elation Entertainment Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elationent/ Website: https://www.elationent.com

    31 min
  8. JAN 9

     How Artists Make Money in Sync Licensing with Robin Kindrick

    Robin Kindrick is the owner of Track Dat Sync, a full-service music licensing company, and she joins us live from NOLA MusiCon inside the Jazz & Heritage Center to talk about sync, strategy, and what it really takes to build a sustainable music career. We get into her journey from songwriting to licensing, how placements in TV, film, ads, and video games actually work, and why sync can be a powerful lane for artists looking beyond streaming. We also dig into the bigger picture of the New Orleans music scene—confidence, culture, and where education still needs to catch up with talent. Robin shares insights on radio vs. streaming, why humility matters just as much as confidence, her favorite local artists and venues, and what makes New Orleans special for creatives trying to grow without leaving the city. This conversation is equal parts industry game and inspiration, straight from someone who’s been in it and is still pushing it forward.  Our show's host, David Adams, founded Elation Entertainment, a New Orleans-based multi-media entertainment company. With a solid foundation of 8 years working in the Los Angeles music scene conducting multiple music camps with Grammy Associates, Musicians, and Producers, David brings a wealth of expertise to the table. His experiences have taught him valuable lessons, encouraging him to bring the entertainment industry standards and creative spaces to New Orleans, a place he calls home.  Follow Elation Entertainment Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elationent/ Website: https://www.elationent.com

    24 min

About

Welcome to The Elation Podcast, the show where we dive deep into the exhilarating world of creation and collaboration with professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds. Each episode, we'll bring you one-on-one interviews with exceptional individuals who have found a unique source of euphoria in their professional endeavors. Join us as we uncover their inspiring stories, explore their creative processes, and learn from their experiences.