Elation Podcast

Hilary Saunders is the Managing Editor of No Depression and a Board Member of Folk Alliance International. We sit down with Hilary at the Folk Alliance Music Conference to talk about her journey from classically trained harpist to music journalist, and how she’s built a career centered around storytelling, roots music, and cultural impact. She shares how her work in publishing and her PhD in music and cultural policy connect to the bigger mission of understanding how music shapes communities around the world.

We also dive into what makes Folk Alliance such a powerful space for artists, from global collaboration to real, practical opportunities for growth. Hilary breaks down the realities of today’s music industry, balancing artistry with branding, finances, and mental health, while also reminding us that music is ultimately about people, culture, and connection. This conversation is a real look at what it takes to navigate the industry while staying grounded in the love of the craft.

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

Dee Carreon is an Industry & Engagement Strategist and a member of the Board of Directors for Folk Alliance International. We sat down with Dee live at the Folk Alliance Music Conference in New Orleans to talk about the real engine behind the music industry — operations, strategy, and artist rights. With a background spanning nonprofit leadership, higher education, consulting, and festival management, Dee breaks down why music may feel creative, but it’s built on business. From forecasting and logistics to launching artists the right way, she explains why understanding the structure behind the art is essential for longevity.

We also dive into the biggest challenges facing artists today — ownership, accessibility, publishing complexity, and the fast-moving impact of AI on creative rights. Dee shares why protecting artists is more complicated than ever, why the U.S. system makes it difficult to navigate, and how community spaces like Folk Alliance help keep the industry human. This conversation is about protecting creativity, strengthening community, and remembering that music isn’t just entertainment — it’s the connective tissue that brings us back to each other.

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

Clayton Shelvin is the Executive Director of The Freight and a board member of Folk Alliance International. We sat down with Clayton live at the Folk Alliance Music Conference to talk about what it really takes to build a sustainable career in music. From growing up in Louisiana to running a 500-seat venue in San Francisco that produces 300 shows a year, Clayton breaks down the business side of artistry like finances, foundation-building, community, and why understanding your value is non-negotiable. He shares how turning around a $1.2 million deficit shaped his leadership and why artists can’t skip the fundamentals if they want longevity.

We also dive into the power of New Orleans culture, the importance of loyalty and collaboration in creative communities, and why conferences like Folk Alliance are about building your village, not chasing instant fame. Clayton reflects on unforgettable music moments, restoring the legacy of overlooked artists, the role of AI in music’s future, and why real storytelling will always win. This conversation is about protecting the art, strengthening the industry, and remembering that music isn’t just entertainment - it’s culture moving humanity 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

Jennifer Roe is the Executive Director of Folk Alliance International, and she joins us to break down how one of the most unique music conferences in the world is reshaping the independent music community. We talk about the magic of turning hotel rooms into immersive performance spaces, creating a festival inside a single building where artists, industry leaders, and fans collide in real time. From the intentional design of the conference to the deep sense of community it fosters, Jennifer shares how Folk Alliance has become a powerful hub for connection, collaboration, and artist discovery.

We also dive into the bigger picture with music advocacy on Capitol Hill, immigration challenges for international artists, the economics of streaming, and how AI is changing the creative landscape. Jennifer speaks on protecting artists while embracing innovation, and we explore how tools like AI can empower creators when used responsibly. This conversation is about uplifting musicians, strengthening cities like New Orleans, and building a future where independent artists don’t just survive - they thrive.

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

Trey Smith is the Co-Founder and Chief Integration Officer of The Backline Company, and he joins us to break down what really happens behind the curtain of live music. From supplying drum kits and guitars to handling last-minute curveballs and high-pressure artist demands, Trey explains why backline is both deeply technical and intensely psychological. We talk about his journey from running DIY house shows in Austin to building one of the Southeast’s leading backline operations in New Orleans, and why spotting a gap in the market changed everything.

We also dive into the chaos and magic of major festival moments, navigating artist personalities, protecting your reputation in a small industry, and what it takes to stay calm when thousands of fans are watching, and everything could fall apart. Trey shares lessons on collaboration, professionalism, and building a long-game career in music, plus an honest look at where the New Orleans music scene stands today, and what it needs to evolve.

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

Billy O'Connell is an Artist Manager and Professor of Music Industry Studies at Loyola University, and he joins us to break down what it really takes to survive and thrive in the music business. From working rock clubs in New York at 16 to booking punk legends in LA and managing artists at Sire Records, Billy shares the real stories behind his rise and the hard-earned lessons that shaped his career. We talk about professionalism, grace, and why kindness is still one of the most underrated assets in a small, fast-moving industry.

We also dig into what today’s artists must understand: copyrights, revenue streams, marketing cycles, and why no one is coming to “rescue” you. Billy lays out the blueprint—create awareness, build connection, then convert—and explains how AI and new technology aren’t the enemy, but tools to leverage. As a professor actively building student-run record labels and live music labs at Loyola, he’s focused on preparing the next generation with real-world, hands-on experience. This conversation is a masterclass in longevity, strategy, and staying human in an evolving 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

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

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

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

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