Tag Archives: Rantze + Raves Los Angeles

The Mystic Krewe of Nyx Meets Airlift Mike – And Podcasting.

Scott Walker & Sula Kim at the WDSU Anchor Desk

Scott Walker Consulting was founded in 2018 by Emmy and Murrow Award-Winning News Anchor Scott Walker.

After his top-rated nine year run at New Orleans’ WDSU-TV, Scott walked away from the nightly anchor chair this past summer to try something different – teaching social media skills to today’s youth and acting as public relations consultant to various local businesses.

His email first came into the Airlift Productions Studios and to my attention  November 2018 as he was looking for a little help.

L-R. Julie T. Couret, Captain Julie Lea, Yavonka George “Vee”, making themselves at home on the Airlift Productions couch

As it turns out, one of Scott’s first consulting clients was Julie Lea‘s Mystic Krewe of Nyx, and the ladies were looking to spread their wings – and purses – into internet PODCASTING!

For the uninitiated, in eight short years, the Mystic Krewe of Nyx has grown into Mardi Gras’ BIGGEST parade  – this all-female krewe features over 3,348 women from 48 states in America and around the world!

And this past November, founder Julie Lea was looking for a way to reach out to all the krewe’s members 21st century style with podcasts.

These podcasts could then be accessible 24-7-365 and from anywhere via iTunes and the krewe’s website, keeping all its members abreast of the latest news, as well as providing business and support tips for the krewe’s very successful – and yet very busy – lady riders.

Enter Airlift Mike and Airlift Productions.

Scott Walker selfie, along with Julie Couret podcasting with Airlift Mike

So, Julie Lea and her team, Julie T. Couret and Yavonka George (affectionately known as “Vee”) first appeared at the Airlift Studios last November and, to date, we’ve recorded a total of seventeen 30 minute podcasts.

Think Hoda & Kathie Lee meet “The View” – N’awlins style!

Free-wheeling, off-the-cuff, stream of consciousness, FUN… and the ladies call it “The Purse Chronicles”.

You see, that’s Nyx’s big calling card, as well as its most prized Mardi Gras throw – the purse!

The Krewe of NYX rolls along St. Charles Avenue during Mardi Gras 2019

In Greek mythology, NYX was the goddess of the night, with prophetic powers, older and more powerful than even Zeus himself, and the perfect iconic symbol for this  independent thinking and stunning group of sassy, successful ladies.

Sample just a taste of the FUN with this excerpt from a podcast recorded at the Airlift Studios January 2019, all about the Krewe of Nyx’s love and passion for Mardi Gras….

** Mystic Krewe of Nyx ** Podcast 17 excerpt – Mardi Gras **

Funny, isn’t it, how through the magic of digital 1s & 0s, America’s taste has so easily transitioned from broadcast – to podcast!

As we’ve all gotten a tad spoiled, wanting our entertainment and information on OUR time, OUR schedule, tailored to OUR wants and needs.

Just as the movie world & Blockbuster gave way to Netflix streaming, and the Photo-Mat kiosk gave way to the camera that is the  iPhone in your pocket… Podcasting is here to stay.

Mystic Krewe of Nyx selfie from the Airlift Productions Booth (L-R) Julie T. Couret, “Vee” Yavonka George, Captain Julie Lea

And, for that matter, so is the Mystic Krewe of Nyx!

Scott and the ladies have booked more studio time for the end of this month.

So… “Stay tuned”.

 

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“My experience with Airlift Productions was top notch from the start. My company is based in Los Angeles and I had a client that needed to do a last minute VO session in New Orleans. Micheal was incredibly knowledgeable and accommodating, not to mention a blast to work with! Our session turned out beautifully.” – LIZZ RANTZE, Executive Producer, Rantze + Raves Productions, Los Angeles, CA

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Airlift Productions ~ Audio Alchemy & Digital Magic from NOLA since 1984.

 

It’s A Wonderful Life ~ At Airlift Productions NOLA

Its-A-Wonderful-LifeAs I pause to reflect on this Christmas Eve 2015, I am ever so thankful to have been blessed to live this most authentic life in this most authentic city… in the most interesting of times.

While way too many today commute to jobs they really don’t like, working at hours and tasks they really don’t care for, I’ve been fortunate to spend every single day of my life through the past thirty years living between the arts and the sciences. In New Orleans, Louisiana! 

Music, Theater, Radio, Television and high-end, state-of-the-art technology all collide at hyper speed in the land of my dreams at Airlift Productions in NOLA.

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Airlift Productions, New Orleans

It’s where the warmth of analogue lives … and the lightning speed of digital delivers. Anywhere in the world!

And I get to create digital magic and give clarion focus to dreams and visions with the most fantastic collection of gifted people anywhere on earth.

Just a few cases in point from just the past month here at the Airlift studios

Jake Landry of Right Lane Bandits Records At Airlift Productions NOLA, December 2015
Jake Landry of Right Lane Bandits Records At Airlift Productions NOLA, December 2015

Let’s start with music. Jake Landry, front man for the Right Lane Bandits, is one gifted spirit, I’ll tell you. He’s a cross between Jason Mraz and John Mayer, with some crooner Michael Buble’ thrown into the mix.  

Together with his running partner Paul Piazza on backup vocals and harp/harmonica, Jake paid a visit to Airlift Productions just this past Saturday to lay-down tracks for one of his originals – “Playing You”.

Oh, these women.

*** Jake Landry & Paul Piazza “PLAYING YOU” December 2015 ***

They want to come back with the rest of the boys to beef it up a bit with bass, drums and keyboards, but even at this level, the musicianship, style, and talent are just off the hook, dontchathink?

Meanwhile, Christmastime trolls the internet.

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Betsy, Taylor & Tyler cozy-up to the Airlift Studio mics for a Holiday Classic

Tasked by a Chicago-based advertising agency to coordinate sessions and record the audio for a web-based “politically correct Holiday greeting card”, I went to work.

Playing-off the original “Deck the Halls” tune, and inserting a few terrifically fun and funny interruptions accented by sleigh bells, I recorded this new holiday classic with a trio of very talented professors from our Loyola University here in New Orleans. Now playing at an internet near you.

** A “Politically Correct” Deck the Halls from Airlift NOLA **

And as if music weren’t enough, I get to warm-up the mics for myself as well. Gee, you can take the guy out of the radio… but you can’t take the radio out of the guy!

Mike Church putting in another day at the office on the VERITAS Network .... with some help from Airlift Mike
Mike Church putting in another day at the office on the VERITAS Network …. with some help from Airlift Mike

My relationship with the famous (or infamous, depending on how you choose to view him) Mike Church continues. Mike, of course, is known around the planet for having had the longest-running show in the history of Sirius/XM satellite radio, and has just recently launched his own network and channel.

Yours truly has been tagged to set the pace for the Crusade!

As Imaging Voice & Producer for Mike’s VERITAS Network and the Crusade Channel, I get to throw pop culture (?), movies, television and news makers into the audio Cuisinart – and hit the blend button!

** The King Dude’s ‘Blazing Saddles’ homage re-joiner **

Or imagine, if you can, mixing former Ambassador John Bolton with Homer Simpson — and adding Gregorian chants?

** Mike Church Imaging for the Crusade On Veritas **

My, my, my… this “Wonderful Life” of mine is certainly never boring.

And always a challenge.  But forever a gift!

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Airlift Mike working the Children’s Hospital Telethon in NOLA on WDSU-TV

To have found this most unique way to take all the skills and talents that I was born with – and then blend them into my own business and have it all play out from this most fascinating city is, to my way of seeing it, the most authentic way to live a life. 

And it is my fervent Christmas & New Year’s  wish and prayer for the reader of these words that, if you haven’t yet, you somehow find yours!

Merry Christmas! And here’s to Living YOUR Dream in 2016.

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LizzRantze“My experience with Airlift Productions was top notch from the start. My company is based in Los Angeles and I had a client that needed to do a last minute VO session in New Orleans. Micheal was incredibly knowledgeable and accommodating, not to mention a blast to work with! Our session turned out beautifully.”  ~ LIZZ RANTZE, Executive Producer, Rantze + Raves Productions, Los Angeles, CA 

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 To Communicate is the Beginning of Understanding.

                              Airlift Productions Communicates