“After parting ways with my 1987-established, first artist/performer name of T-Swift in 1998, I chose the name of Carnage The Executioner. At that time, I immediately set out to live up to the rugged and unforgiving moniker that few could experience without questioning its origins. Every time I took a stage or wrote for a song, I displayed an unrelenting intensity that would leave a lasting impression and assert dominance over humanity. It took me almost 25 years to realize I was a servant to the imagination of being a callous beast, which was a direct contradiction to how people saw me off-stage. 

“A shift needed to happen…

“I can now honestly say that Carnage The Executioner was, unknowingly, a made-up character with a disdain for those who I believed betrayed my trust over the years. This name served a notable purpose, as it has given me the power to mask my boyish insecurities with a hard-as-nails image for protection in the real world. For this reason, CTE will continue to hold a place in my artist identify. But that’s not the only legacy I want to leave behind. I’ve now added the customized moniker of “TERRELL X” symbolizes my commitment to positive mindset development and unrestrained personal growth. Adding TERRELL X as a moniker challenges me to present the ‘true me’: a transparent man who’s not afraid to travel the path leading to discovering the best versions of myself. More than a human who’s complacent with simply being, TERRELL X welcomes the task of becoming more than the negative sum of my past life experiences. 

“But there’s more…

“Carrying the birth name of Maynard Terrell Woods directly opposes my need for psychological and spiritual expansion. Therefore, I’ve taken the measure of legally changing and customizing my name to Terrell X’avion. The meaning(s) of ‘X’avion’: intelligent spiritual warrior and survivor; human becoming with unknown potential; super-self seeker ascending to apotheosis. By making artistic and personal transformations to TERRELL X and Terrell X’avion, I’ve embraced the responsibility of reflecting my maturity through the music, as I shed the constraints of my estranged father’s first name and my abusive mother’s last name. These commitments align with the motive to enrich my soul — for both my present and future lives.”

—TERRELL X’AVION