Music took over his life; it’s what set the train in motion. From a young age music guided him. His father introduced him to country music, a genre that has surrounded Aaron Botello since he was very young. From there he evolved into metal and rock music, enjoying such groups as System of a Down and Breaking Benjamin. As he grew, his keen for rock and metal music expanded: Deftones, They Might Be Giants, The Garden, Enjoy and Puzzle. System of a Down, however, has been the biggest influence in Aaron.
“There’s just something about them that was truly groundbreaking, and there will never be another group like them,” Aaron said.
The touch of instruments graced Aaron’s life when his father gifted him a cheap acoustic guitar. Although, for a few years Aaron didn’t want anything to do with the guitar, however, receiving the instrument was a defining moment in his life. After countless lessons with his father, Aaron gave up. Years later, in seventh grade, he picked up the guitar himself and began learning songs from System of a Down, Breaking Benjamin and Deftones. From that point on out, music ran through his veins.
“I think my dad was kind of shocked hearing all this loud noise coming from my room instead of chill country music, but I think that he is happy with what I’ve done and the musical identity that I have created for myself,” Aaron said.
During his middle and high school years Aaron was a percussionist player for his school’s band. However, during his freshman year of high school, he joined a second band; one that he and his closest friends created.
Aaron met his friend Dante in 2015 who then introduced him to the band. He came in as a guitar player, and he soon made the switch to bass guitar.
“I had never touched one in my life before then,” Aaron said, “and I fell in love with it immediately.”
The band was a crazy experience for him, from changing the band names multiple times to performing at the House of Rock in Corpus Christi. Most Wanted, Strangelove, Sourpuss, and numerous other names transitioned in the band.
Rudi Guerrero, one of Aaron’s bandmates and longtime friend, became fond of Aaron’s personality and musicality. Even though they knew of each other through school, it was their band that flourished their friendship. They’ve always stuck by each other, Rudi said, through the worst and hardest times of their lives, they manage to find ways to make it better.
“Everybody who he has played for or in front of has given him great compliments and high hopes for great things and I always found it fascinating to watch him grow and get better,” Rudi said.
Life, however, has made it difficult for the band because of school, work and the pandemic. The band has not come together for a period of time, but Aaron and Rudi hope to reunite in the future.
“I know that those guys will have my back for the rest of my life and I will definitely have theirs,” Aaron said. “I love you Dante, TJ and Rudi.”
Whether his impact is small or a huge breakthrough, Aaron hopes to be a part of the growth of music. He believes his purpose in life is to create joy through music for people and to stir up the powerful feelings he feels with music onto others.
Daniel Lopez, last year’s leader for the tenors of the Javelina Marching Band, remembers the character Aaron displayed during last marching season. His dependability, dedication, ability to learn quickly, open mindedness to new ideas and sportsmanship stood out to Daniel.
“I was nervous being a leader for tenors but having someone like him on the line made it fun and the fact that he knew how to be a good follower lets me know he would make a great leader,” Daniel said.
Music major and roommate Domingo Garza adds that Aaron is a flexible person, down for anything. Whether that be going to Whataburger at the break of dawn, making an album in one day or going to stores like Guitar Center just to play the drums.
One of the most memorable memories Domingo had with Aaron dates back to when they first became roommates. The two rented a small Airbnb in San Antonio for a Texas Music Education Association conference.
“That week was unforgettable,” Domingo said.
Now, as a sophomore student at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Aaron is aiming to make a mark here in the music program and create a legacy. He recently switched his degree from music education to jazz studies. Music is his devotion, listening to and playing, he cannot imagine doing anything else. He equates the feeling of music to experiencing feelings for someone, like butterflies in his stomach; absolutely exciting.
To Aaron, music is constantly changing and evolving, there’s always something new to learn, combine, and create. Music is the messenger, a communicator, and a worldwide string that connects every human being together
“Music is like a universal language that knows no boundaries,” Aaron said. “People will say what they really want to say, and while not everyone will like the same stuff or what is being said by an artist, or may not like the way something sounds, there will pretty much be something that everyone can enjoy.”
