Teokalli Studios:
They just wanna make good music

Maya Carpenter
pOke writer

Augustine Canales & Juan Alfaro - founders of Teokalli Studios. Photo by Misty Rogers

There's a lot more to Polk County's music scene than what meets the eye.

About a year ago, Augustine Canales and Juan Alfaro wanted to establish a studio for real artists and real music. So they did.

The men created Teokalli Studios, a hip-hop and R&B studio in Haines City.

Hip-hop and R&B always has been their favorite music, so it wasn't hard to decide what kind of music they were going to produce. Years ago, both had worked with a producer who catered to hip-hop artists, so it was evident they would do the same.

Teokalli is an Aztec word that means 'creative forces,' which fits with what Canales and Alfaro do.

Though hip-hop may be their forte, they welcome gospel artists who want a peaceful and serene atmosphere to record songs.

Recording session at Teokalli Studios. Photo by Misty Rogers

Canales said he isn't in the business to make money. He said he is in it because he enjoys the art of hip-hop. He currently promotes his cousin, Mannie in his music career. He promote many artists, and that's only because people aren't recording for the right reasons, he said.

There are a lot of artists in Polk County who have the drive to be in the industry and then there are some who just want to record because it's something to do, Canales said.

Canales said he is driven by producers like hip-hop extraordinaire, Timbaland. He said Timbaland seems to touch the unknown and comes up with rhymes and beats that no one in the music industry has ever heard.

While most producers are getting their name out there and hoping to have a lot of artists recording in their studio, Canales said he and Alfano like the fact not many people know about their studios because it separates them from the people who aren't about the art and business.

They just want to make good music.