Getting real: Part of how I ended up around the Austin Music Scene (and why Ben Zuniga Is the first musician I’m highlighting)

There will probably always be a story attached to my blog posts, leading into the who, what, where, how’s, and why’s. That’s just how I operate. So yes—expect a little rambling before I get to the point. I was hesitant to even start writing these, but after seeing so much fake, overly polished content online, I finally told myself: “You know what? Screw it. At least I’m being real and you have to start somewhere.”

On Labor Day weekend 2023, I decided to go to a local venue that had given me permission to come out and try taking some live music photos. So, I went for it. Not the best night to test the waters, honestly—it was absolutely packed, and I was getting bounced around like a pinball. Still, it felt amazing to pick up my camera again and actually start shooting.

When I got home and uploaded the photos, I was hit with a little reality check: maybe five or six of them were actually in focus. Ouch. I let myself feel bad for about three minutes… then I got to work on what I had. I did get some really fine focused shots of microphone stands though!

That night at the venue, I met one of the band members—who I will be blogging about at a later time. The next day, he added me on social media. I saw a post about an upcoming event and reached out. It turned out to be a benefit auction for HAAM Day (Health Alliance for Austin Musicians), and I got the chance to go shoot the whole thing.

The event was about an hour away, and I ended up staying for about nine hours. I photographed nine different bands and solo performers, all showing up to support HAAM. One of those artists was Ben Zuniga.

Now, let me just say—it was intensely hot that day. And because I was so afraid of not getting good shots, I stayed out in the heat pretty much nonstop, nearly passing out a few times (no really). But I stuck with it. And I learned a lot. Every time I shoot, I learn something new—but learning how to avoid heatstroke definitely moved to the top of the list. ?

Ben just kind of stuck with me after that—not just because of his music, which I really love, but because of his energy and who he is. I chose him as the first Austin-area musician to highlight in my blog because he made me feel welcome from the beginning. Because of him, and a few others, I started meeting more and more people and have gotten to do what I’m doing thanks to their support.

For someone who is not a social butterfly—that mattered. A lot.

And let me say this, just from my own experience: there are a bazillion musicians and industry people here. There are over 250 live music venues open day and night and musicians doing different shifts, pretty consistently. There are a lot of people here who know each other, and a lot who know of each other but haven’t actually met. Then there are others who don’t fall into either of those. On top of that, the city is full of different music communities that don’t always cross paths—mainly because they just kind of live around their crowd in whatever genre they’re performing in.

I’ve gotten to know people in a lot of the different little clusters around the city, which has been really cool. I kind of like being on my own, doing what I’m doing, without getting too close to anyone. Plus, I dig all kinds of music—so, there you go.

I hadn’t talked to Ben in about a year, but just recently, he tagged me in one of the photos I’d taken of him that day. I reached out, and last weekend I drove down to Bastrop—southeast of Austin—to catch his release show at Neighbors Kitchen and Yard, which has a very cool outdoor stage, take more shots, and listen to his new music. I already knew I wanted him to be the first artist I feature here.

Ben started performing around Austin at just 15, playing with musicians across Texas in genres like blues, country, and rock. In 2021, he launched a solo career and formed the Ben Zuniga Trio, touring around the state. His band consists of Ben, Theodore Zuniga (Drums) and Ryan Lee (Bass).

In 2022, he released his first full-length solo album, People Who Dance—a 10-track blend of Americana roots and rock ’n’ roll. Since then, he’s streamlined his live band into a tight Texas trio and returned to the studio in late 2024.

Last month, he released his newest project, The Sweetheart Sessions—a powerful, well-rounded three-song EP that gives listeners a compelling look at Zuniga’s growth as a Texas songwriter and guitar slinger. It’s a short but dynamic release and it hints at even bigger things ahead.

You can find more information about Ben at benzunigamusic.com