One Colorado prison.
Seven musicians from completely different walks of life.
The only music in 150 years to reach the free world.
Die Jim Crow Records (DJC) is the first non-profit record label for currently and formerly incarcerated artists in United States history. This August, we take another step towards smashing systemic racism and mass incarceration in America with our groundbreaking album entitled TLAXIHUIQUI.
Territorial’s TLAXIHUIQUI (pronounced Tla-She-Wiki) was recorded with seven incarcerated musicians at Territorial Correctional Facility in Cañon City, Colorado. A prog-Americana album interweaving Indigenous Nahuatl chant, blues, and hip hop, TLAXIHUIQUI is a powerful musical melding of diverse life experiences.
Including several lifers, Native American and Black artists, a queer Jewish man, and a white musician convicted for five counts of murder, these artists share their path from remorse to redemption. Through this musical journey, we discover there is much more than meets the eye behind a criminal conviction and a prison ID number.
The word tlaxihuiqui translates to “the calling of the spirits” in the Uto-Aztecan language of Nahuatl. Traditional chants of this ancient language anchor the album and stand as a rousing cry for our shared humanity.
The first prison built in Colorado, Territorial Correctional Facility opened in 1871, as United States colonial forces expanded West, usurping Indigenous lands. In the 150 years since the prison’s construction, TLAXIHUIQUI is the first recorded music to make it outside the forbidding walls of Territorial into the free world.
These history-making recordings took place over four intense days in April 2018, and DJC founder and album producer Fury Young remained in close contact with these musicians for the next three years to make this album a reality.
As DJC evolved into a record label in 2019, the album was delayed and soon after the pandemic hit. Over that period, outside musicians contributed vocals and instrumentation from Nashville to New Jersey to the Netherlands, and by mid-2021, the album was complete.
Combining strong and striking storytelling with brilliant musicianship and raw talent, this motley crew of artists came together to create this profound, unprecedented sonic experience.
TLAXIHUIQUI takes listeners on a visceral journey through violence and heartache to catharsis and hope. With these deeply personal songs, Territorial shines a brilliant light on the enduring human spirit in a divided country.
releases August 12, 2021
album credits below
T E R R I T O R I A L :
Kevin Woodley - voice & lyric
Michael Tenneson - voice, lyric, keys, bass, guitars
Dane “Zealot” Newton - voice, lyric, acoustic guitar
Phillip “Archi” Archuleta - voice & percussion
Gilbert “Lefty” Pacheco - voice & percussion
Jose “8Bizz” Talamantes - voice & lyric
Frankie Domenico - voice & violin
N A S H V I L L E P L A Y E R S :
John Heinrich - harmonica, pedal steel, banjo, flute, clarinet, and saxophone
Eugene Moles - electric guitar and dobro
Anthony Valentine - bass
Austin Valentine - drums & percussion
F E A T U R I N G :
Uno recorded at Camille Griffin Graham Correctional Institution by dr. Israel (Columbia, SC). Track 2.
Brian Lawlor self-recorded at his Jersey City abode (NJ). Tracks 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 13.
J.J. Gallagher self-recorded at GVO Sounds (Amsterdam NL). Tracks 3, 5.
John Heinrich self-recorded at SongWriterDemo (Nashville, TN). Tracks 3, 12.
Austin Valentine self-recorded at Valentine Ridge Recording (Bowling Green, KY). Track 6.
Mr. Valentine laid add’l drums on Track 3 recorded by Aaron David Rodgers at Round Room Music (Nashville, TN).
Leila Adu recorded by Fury Young at Disguise Tha Limit (Loisaida, NYC). Track 6.
Fury Young self-recorded at Disguise Tha Limit (Loisaida, NYC). Tracks 1, 5, 9, 12, 13.
Brianna Ibarra self-recorded at home studio (Los Angeles, CA). Tracks 3, 11.
Apostle Heloise recorded at Jereco Studios by Luke Scheeler (Bozeman, MT). Track 13.
Simply, Naomi recorded at home studio by Jack Impink (Philly, PA). Tracks 3, 13.
A - T E A M :
All songs produced by Fury Young for Die Jim Crow Records.
CTCF sessions co-produced by dr. Israel
Post-Production Supervisor: J.J. Gallagher
Post-production editing and arranging by Fury Young
Nashville Executive Producer & Project Sage: Andy Dixon
Executive Producer: Fury Young
Art Coordinator: Sarah Rose Lejeune
Calligraphy: E. Brokencoyote
Cover art: Fury Young
Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility sessions engineered by dr. Israel (Cañon City, CO).
Creative Workshop sessions engineered by Joe Funderbunk (Nashville, TN).
Mixed by Matthew Cullen at The Cat Ranch (Catskill, NY) except for Tracks 2 and 3.
Tracks 2 and 3 mixed by Francisco Giordano at 40 Bramadores Studio (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Assistant Mixer & patron saint: Francisco Giordano
Mastered by Daniel Ovie at Ovie Mastering (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
I. Tlaxihuiqui
Voice and percussion: Phillip “Archi” Archuleta & Gilbert “Lefty” Pacheco
Word interpretation by Archi
Banjo and flute: John Heinrich
Rainstick: Fury Young
II. America The Merciful
Composition, vocals, lyrics, acoustic guitar: Zealot
Rap vocal and lyrics: Uno
Pedal steel and flute: John Heinrich
Bass: Anthony Valentine
Percussion: Austin Valentine
III. Mama’s Cryin
Vocals, lyrics: Kevin Woodley
Composition and electric guitar: Michael Tenneson
Rap vocal and lyrics: Jose “8Bizz” Talamantes
Featured vocalist: Simply Naomi
Backing arrangement/vocals: Brianna Ibarra
Rhodes, clavinet, and Moog: Brian Lawlor
Acoustic Guitar: J.J. Gallagher
Saxophone: John Heinrich
Bass: Anthony Valentine
Drums: Austin Valentine
IV. Remorse
Voice: Michael Tenneson
Organ: Brian Lawlor
Voice recording: Fury Young
V. V
Composition, lead vocals, lyrics and rhythm guitar: Michael Tenneson
Vocals: Kevin Woodley
Backing vocals: Fury Young
Electric guitar: Eugene Moles
Slide guitar and vox fx: J.J. Gallagher
Organ: Brian Lawlor
Bass: Anthony Valentine
Drums: Austin Valentine
VI. Damn Fool
Vocals, lyrics and co-composer: Kevin Woodley
Acoustic guitar and co-composer: Michael Tenneson
Pedal steel: John Heinrich
Tambourine: Leila Adu
Cajon: Austin Valentine
Thank you to Brother Moses whose story inspired this song.
VII. Just Say No
Vocals, lyrics: Kevin Woodley
Composition, rhythm electric guitar: Michael Tenneson
Rhythm and lead electric guitar: Eugene Moles
Organ and Wurlitzer: Brian Lawlor
Harmonica: John Heinrich
Bass: Anthony Valentine
Drums: Austin Valentine
Song concept & sampling: Fury Young
VIII. ‘8788
Composition, vocals, lyrics, bass, synths, acoustic and electric guitar: Michael Tenneson
Violin: Frankie Domenico
Percussion: Lefty
IX. Chicahuac
Voice and percussion: Phillip “Archi” Archuleta & Gilbert “Lefty” Pacheco
Word interpretation by Archi
Banjo and flute: John Heinrich
Rainstick: Fury Young
X. Battlecry ’14
Composition, vocals, lyrics, acoustic guitar: Zealot
Ambient recording: Michael Tenneson at CTCF gym
XI. Woodley
Vocals, lyrics: Kevin Woodley
Composition and rhythm electric guitar: Michael Tenneson
Backing arrangement/vocals: Brianna Ibarra
Rhythm and lead electric guitar: Eugene Moles
Organ: Brian Lawlor
Harmonica: John Heinrich
Bass: Anthony Valentine
Drums: Austin Valentine
XII. Sailer
Acoustic guitar: Zealot
Voices: Lefty, Frankie Domenico, Zealot, Archi
Banjo, pedal steel, flute: John Heinrich
Voice recording and placement, rainstick: Fury Young
XIII. Holy Rain
Composition, vocals, lyrics, rhythm and lead guitar, keys: Michael Tenneson
Featured vocalist: Simply Naomi
Spoken word: Aposte Heloise
Backing vocals: Fury Young
Organ and synths: Brian Lawlor
Bass: Anthony Valentine
Drums: Austin Valentine
[nothing follows.]