Federico Zúñiga

Federico Zuniga Jr. began his musical journey at the age of 10, having been first influenced by his musician father’s love for jazz and classical music. As a teenager, he found solace in the rebellious sounds of punk and rock, a stage in his life which introduced him to the art of music writing and performance. At the age of 19, while performing with group Lado Oriente, Federico discovered Son Jarocho of Veracruz, Mexico, from local instructor Artemio Posadas. Since then, he has had the pleasure of performing alongside various groups like Chuchumbe, and, at the Festival de la Candelaria, with Son de Madera, and Zach De La Rocha from Rage Against the Machine in Tlacotalpan, Veracruz, Mexico. He has also toured with Son de Madera throughout various states in the U.S.. In 2011, he humbly passed traditional music experience through a year-long course he instructed at Downtown College Prep Middle School in Alviso for twenty students four times per week.

That same year he was asked to participate by Grammy nominated producer Hector “Hec-dog” Perez on the Sistema Bomb record dubbed “Electro Jarocho,” alongside Jarocho masters Ramon Guetierez, Patricio Hidalgo, Liche Oseguera, Andres Flores, Los Cojolites, Asdru Sierra from Ozomatli, Roco Pachucote from La Maldita Vencidad (now with Moyenei Valdes in Sonidero Mieztiso), and Bolivian/Spanish MC Hector Guerra. The album was nominated for a Grammy for best Latin Rock Urban Alternative album for 2013. He relocated to Los Angeles in 2012 and has been an active member in the Latin alternative scene performing and recording in all styles of music.

Currently, he teaches Son Jarocho alongside Jarocho master Cesar Castro for the arts in corrections program via the Alliance for California Traditional Arts at Norco State Prison which services over 20 inmates on traditional Son Jarocho and restorative justice practices. 

He just completed his Bachelors Degree in Music with a concentration in Bass performance at the Los Angeles College of Music.