“Then I met Ashlye [Keaton], and I realized the Ella Project also was helping musicians. This is invaluable resource to me and all musicians,” he said. “They answer all my legal questions, and it’s incredible that this is free.”

Player has used the Ella Project’s assistance for any number of legal issues, including copyrights, trademarks, contracts, operating agreements, partnership agreements, and establishing his LLC. “No matter what my project, I can count on them for excellent legal advice,” Player added. 

He also gave a shout out to the Ella Project’s Crescendo Program. Attorney Bri Whetstone and musician and music entrepreneur Lou Hill lead the sessions, which are free of charge. It is a series of seven workshops on topics such as copyrights, music licensing, collecting royalties, touring, festival gigs, album releases, and keeping up with the technologies changing the music economy. 

  The Ella Project has assisted Lillian with creating contracts for such and for collaborations such as the 2025 Golden Comanche Mardi Gras Indians official poster portrait of Big Chief Juan Pardo. This agreement serves as a template that can be added to for additional editions and future projects. Aguinaga recounts, “Working with Big Chief Juan Pardo just felt right. Our visions have been aligned in this ongoing collab.  When Ashlye helped in building our contract, she made everything feel easy and seamless. She was really there for both of us and so genuinely gung-ho about our collaboration. It’s super refreshing to have someone that excited to help artists do things the right way.”

Big Chief Juan Pardo of the Golden Comanche tribe was born into New Orleans’ beloved Black Masking Indian tradition. He grew up experiencing family members’ sewing, dancing, singing and masking. He followed his older brother, Wallace Pardo, who was the Spy Boy in the Golden Arrows tribe under the leadership of Big Chief Eugene “Pepe” Esteban. 

 Throughout his career masking, as well as his numerous other artistic pursuits, he said, The Ella Project has been his “lawyer on retention.” Pardo considers The Ella Project team an invaluable resource. They respect the traditions that sprang from New Orleans’ backstreets and work to protect the culture bearers.