Union Editorial Polishes "Songs from the Hole" for Netflix
"Songs from the Hole," the acclaimed documentary-visual album composed by a young man while he was behind prison bars, has been acquired by Netflix and will be released on the streamer on August 13. At 15, James “JJ’88” Jacobs took a life — only to lose his brother three days later. Having both committed and experienced violent harm, the incarcerated musician explores his identity and untangled his complex emotions through first-person narration and lyrical journal entries, using music as a path to redemption and healing.
Union’s Rodrigo Brazão was brought on by Netflix for the final phase of editing, while Union's Jim Haygood served as Consulting Editor. Contessa Gayles directed the doc, produced by David Felix Sutcliffe, richie reseda, and JJ'88.
“This is one of those films you’re lucky to be part of,” said Haygood. “The way it brings you into an experience of incarceration, pain and forgiveness is both uniquely creative and powerful.”
The collaboration continues a multi-year relationship between Union and Netflix. Most recently, Brazão edited the acclaimed GLAAD-nominated Netflix feature doc Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution, with Katherine LeBlond as Producer and Haygood as Co-Executive Producer.
Releasing alongside Songs from the Hole on Aug. 13 is the EP, containing 13 tracks originally written and recorded by JJ’88 while he was serving time. It was later reproduced by richie reseda, Dylan Wiggins and Tairiq Bright & Garfield Bright III of Twiin Towers, keeping the original prison-recorded vocals. The EP is executive produced by richie reseda, JJ’88, and Rahael Asfaw for Question Culture.
“I wrote this music in the hole to process and heal the trauma I experienced and caused,” JJ’88 told Netflix’s Tudum newsletter. “I wrote this film in prison to share that healing. This is a testament to the power of music, family, and faith.”
Songs from the Hole premiered at SXSW 2024, where it won the Audience Award, Visions category. The film has since earned accolades including the 2024 Jury Prize for Best Documentary Feature at the BlackStar Film Festival, an IDA Award nomination for Best Music Documentary, and the 2025 Cinema Eye Honors Heterodox Award.
The EP is available for preorder here.
