THE PROJECT
Rooted in the ancient
heart of Mexico
Xochipilli's Eye was born from a journey back to Claudio's roots. On a trip home to Mexico City, he reconnected deeply with the wealth and beauty of Prehispanic civilisations — and returned to New Zealand with authentic hand-crafted instruments, ancestral knowledge, and a burning need to share these gifts.
The project weaves together live music, ancient instruments, ceremonial ritual, and cultural storytelling into immersive performances that transport audiences across time and geography — from the mountains of Mesoamerica to the shores of Aotearoa.
Every performance is different. Every gathering is a ceremony.
Who is Xochipilli?
In Aztec mythology, Xochipilli is the god of flowers, music, sacred plants, dance, and creativity. His eye represents the inner vision that opens through art, ritual, and deep listening. The project takes his name as both an homage and an intention.
THE INSTRUMENTS
Ancient voices,
brought to Aotearoa
On his last trip to Mexico City, Claudio brought back a collection of beautifully crafted, authentic Prehispanic instruments — each with its own cultural lineage, sound, and ceremonial purpose.
Drums
Huehuetl, Tlapanhuehuetl & Pow wow
The sacred heartbeat of the cosmos.
Drums like the huehuetl (upright drum) and tlapanhuehuetl (horizontal drum) provided the grounding pulse for all ceremonies.
Musically, they set the rhythm for dances and processions.
Spiritually, their deep, thunderous resonance was believed to open portals to the underworld and allow the tonal (spirit energy) of ancestors to speak. To play the drum is to re-establish the original rhythm of creation.
Voice
Cuicatl
The original instrument and the vessel of the soul. To the Mexica, the word for song (cuicatl) was the same as the word for poetry—in xochitl, in cuicatl ("the flower, the song").
Musically, the voice carries melody, narrative, and the unique timbre of the individual.
Spiritually, song is the force that lifts the heart toward the divine. Through humming, chanting, or lyrical invocation, the voice is used to give thanks, remember history, and transform the singer into a temporary dwelling place for the gods. To sing is to pray with your entire being.
Flutes
Tlapitzalli & Huilacapitztli
The voice of the wind. These vertical or cross-blown flutes, often made of clay, reed, or bone, produced melodies that mirrored the songs of birds and the sigh of the air.
Musically, they carried the "song of the heavens" over the drum's pulse. Spiritually, flutes were offerings to Ehecatl - Quetzalcoatl (the Feathered Serpent, god of wind and life), used to call for rain, guide souls, and express the fleeting, precious nature of mortal life. Their sound is one of prayer, not performance.
Shakers
Ayacachtli & Sonajas
The sound of the sacred rain and the rustle of maize. These rattle-like instruments—often hollow gourds (ayacachtli) filled with seeds or stones, or metal sonajas (bells) worn on ankles—provided complex, shimmering rhythms. Musically, they add texture and syncopation, representing the chaotic, fertile energy of nature. Spiritually, the shaking sound mimics falling rain and the chaff of drying corn. They are used to awaken the earth, invite fertility, and clear stagnant energy, often wielded by shamans during healing rituals.
Conch shell
Atecocolli / Quiquiztli
The call of the sacred east and the voice of the ocean. Made from a large marine snail , the conch shell is played as a trumpet by cutting off its tip and blowing into the opening. Musically, it produces a deep, resonant, buzzing tone that carries over great distances—used to announce ceremonies, battles, and celestial events. Spiritually, the conch is associated with Tláloc (rain and fertility) and Quetzalcoatl as Ehecatl (wind). Its sound symbolizes the primordial waters from which the earth emerged. It clears the ceremonial space, marks the four directions, and is the only instrument that can "speak" directly to the rain clouds. To hear the conch is to hear the edge between worlds.
IN PERFORMANCE
Moments of the ceremony
BOOK XOCHIPILLIS EYE
Bring the ceremony to
your event
Claudio is available to perform as Xochipilli's Eye at concerts, cultural events, yoga festivals, private ceremonies, and special occasions. Each performance is unique, immersive, and unforgettable.
Public concerts & music festivals
Yoga and wellness festivals
Private ceremonies and celebrations
Cultural and educational events
Sound and music immersion evenings