Trujillo Company is On the Rise – Colorado Sound Music Awards

You voted the Trujillo Company as your favorite Colorado band that is On the Rise in 2024

By Adam Perry

The Trujillo Company began its rise in Denver six years ago as a sludgy hard-rock duo featuring Mike Trujillo (vocals/guitar) and Leny Trujillo (drums), who aren’t related by blood but often joke on stage that they’re “brothers from different mothers, but brothers through and through.”

Mike likens the Trujillo connection to the White Stripes, both musically and “the myth of it.”
The band is now a trio, with bassist Mark Hibl joining in 2021, and its first album with the current lineup was last year’s hard-rocking 4 Arrows, a big, heavy album with enticing grooves and emotive lyrics.

“We affectionately refer to Mark as ‘Mark Hibl Trujillo,’” jokes Mike, who is also the father of two Trujillos. The size of his responsibilities are rising as his kids grow into adolescence, and learning that Colorado Sound listeners handed his band the 2024 On the Rise award has him smiling like a proud papa, too.

“You know, it’s really special,” he says. “It shows that we are truly making some kind of impact or difference out here in the music scene. To be nominated, first off, is just enough to make your year, but to actually put it out and win it is something special, and especially in the category where…you think about Dead Pioneers and what they’re doing right now, and the bass player from Pearl Jam is literally wearing their shirt on tour. And 2MX2, there’s a Trujillo in there, so I’m always pulling for them and rooting for them. And Jesus Christ Taxi Driver, all these groups are, whoa – I was honored to be nominated.”

“I think that it goes to show, too, that we do have a lot of support and a lot of love out there, and it’s just really humbling that we won.”

Mike is a Colorado native who ended up in Wyoming for a time and moved back here in 2007. As far as being On the Rise with a continuing upward trajectory, he says “the sky’s the limit.”

“I think if we want to break out a little more, we need to do some more touring outside of Colorado. I believe in us, and I believe in the music that we’re making. I think the next series of songs that we have coming out is going to be something that’s going to capture everybody’s attention really well.”

The Trujillo Company is currently working on an EP to be released in early 2025. The band has an exciting show coming up October 19 at Oskar Blues’ Black Buzzard in Denver.

Meet all of the 2024 Colorado Sound Music Award winners

On the Rise – the Trujillo Company

Colorado Spirit – Swallow Hill Music

Outstanding Stage Presence (tie) – Los Mocochetes

Outstanding Stage Presence (tie) – the Swashbuckling Doctors

Outstanding ‘Secret Ingredient’ – Fort Collins Musicians Association (FoCoMA)

Musician or Band You’d Drive 105.5. Miles to See – 2MX2

Meet all the winners and all our incredible 2024 Colorado Sound Music Award nominees

The 2024 Colorado Sound Music Awards are brought to you by: 

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