STAGE RUSH
TMN DIARIES
A Weekend Inside the Mind of a Young Journalist at Austin City Limits Music Festival
Hit play to watch the ACL Music Festival recap by Aja Haywood. Cover photo: Cage The Elephant by Pooneh Ghana for Austin City Limits.
Most people say music festivals are chaos — and they’re right. But I ran toward that chaos head-first. I wanted to capture the sounds, the energy, and the stories happening at Austin City Limits. And thanks to TMN and Pablo Herrera, its founder, I got to experience the festival not just as a fan, but as a young journalist learning in real time.
AUSTIN, TX. By Aja Haywood
I didn’t know exactly what to expect. I just knew I wanted to see everything — not only the stages and performances, but the movement of people, the atmosphere, and what it really means to work behind the scenes documenting culture.
Here’s what I learned inside the noise, heat, and heart of Austin City Limits.
The First Impact
The moment I walked through the gates, it hit me: the excitement of being at the center of one of the most-loved music festivals in the U.S. Crowds gathered for artists like Empire of the Sun, John Summit, Sabrina Carpenter — thousands of people moving with the sun, the dust, and the beat.
It was overwhelming, yes — but also electrifying. I felt anticipation. Curiosity. A feeling that something important was about to happen.
The Challenge: You Can’t Capture Everything
One of the first things I learned is that festival journalism isn’t about perfection. It’s about persistence. There’s always something happening — a performance, a reaction, a moment you want to catch. And unfortunately, teleportation and time travel still aren’t a thing.
There were moments of pressure: What if I miss something? What if I lose the shot?
But I realized the goal is to capture what you can — with intention. To stay present. To keep moving. That’s the real work.
“One of the first things I learned is that festival journalism isn’t about perfection. It’s about persistence. There’s always something happening — a performance, a reaction, a moment you want to catch. And unfortunately, teleportation and time travel still aren’t a thing.”
TMN® Creator Aja Haywood at ACL Music Festival. Photo by Pablo Herrera for TMN®.
The Zinadelphia Interview
Interviewing Zinadelphia was the moment everything clicked. I came prepared. I was nervous — really nervous — but something shifted when we sat down.
I understood that artists aren’t untouchable figures. They’re human. They’re on their own creative journey, just like all of us.
What I learned:
A good interview is built on listening.
You don’t have to hold the moment too tightly.
When you’re present, the conversation opens up naturally.
That interview didn’t just teach me how to interview — it taught me why storytelling matters.
“I understood that artists aren’t untouchable figures. They’re human. They’re on their own creative journey, just like all of us.”
Interview with Zinadelphia. Photo cover: Frankie Vergara for Austin City Limits Fest.
Looking Back
Two weeks later, what stays with me isn’t just the music. It’s the work — the dust, the porta-potties, the 30,000 steps a day, the rush of moving from stage to stage with cameras, batteries, notebooks, and adrenaline.
Festival journalism is intense. It’s also one of the best ways to find out what you’re made of.
I walked away with:
SD cards full of memories
A deeper appreciation for live music
And a stronger sense of who I am creatively
I now have so much respect for the people who live inside crowds, documenting culture as it happens. And I’m incredibly grateful to TMN® for giving me this opportunity to learn, grow, and find my voice.
“Festival journalism is intense. It’s also one of the best ways to find out what you’re made of.”
Hit play and join us
Visit our ACL YouTube playlist with 50+ videos — interviews and crowd moments — and follow along for exclusive ACL 2025 coverage and more. Every view helps us create real opportunities for the next generation of young creators.
Phoenix performing at ACL 2023. Photo: Nell Carroll/American-Statesman.
Thanks to Colectivo Piloto , our main sponsor, and to ACL Music Festival for supporting our educational mission and making this coverage possible.
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