Steve Caprio interview (aka Ominous Words) July 2006
where_ur_at : step-on magazine > interviews > ominous words

Ominous Words has been making music with a message straight outta California for quite a few years now. He's been performing at numerous snowboard events on the West Coast, one of his tracks was used on Marc Frank Montoya's section in the Bear Mountain snowboard video, and the release of his second album is due this year, so we thought we'd get the low-down from the man himself, music producer and lyricist Steve Caprio.


AW : What is ominous words all about?
SC : Progression, independence, education, standing up for beliefs and never settling.

AW : Who is involved, just yourself or others too? How much involvement do they have?
SC : I write all of my own lyrics which are based on my own thoughts and experiences. Most of my beats come from d.j. Abzorb, though I have worked with other producers such as Doeboy, Musha, Bobbi Londo, Xavier Chavez and others. The process is simple, i go to the studio, pick a beat, write to it and record it.

AW : So when and why did you start making music?
SC : I use to bang on stuff and strum guitars when i was younger and we would pretend we were in a band and put together little shows in the living room for our families but never made more then noise. I started writing peotry when I was in jr. high and recorded my first song on a karaoke machine in the bathroom to a nate dog instrumental. I never took the time to learn an instrument though. i've been in several bands but they never worked out. I've been freestylin and writin for over 16 years but didnt start makin "music" if thats what you wanna call it, untill about 2 or 3 years ago.

AW : How would you classify your music?
SC : In a shop it would be in the hip hop section.

AW : How do you produce/edit the tracks? Is it a question of sitting on a mac or do you use more technical stuff? Have you changed the way you make your music as your audience has grown?
SC : It depends on which producer I am working with on how it goes down. Most of my tracks were recorded by d.j. Abzorb on a four track in his bedroom, no computer. I have recorded different ways and I like the simple stuff. I dont like the huge studios and all the shit they do so that when your song is done it doesnt even sound like you. I write my verse and then record it. I refuse to punch in on my verses, I like to drop it the way I would live. We gotta studio now and it's simple. We have an AKG mic, preamp and a computer with sonar. I'm not to worried about production and sounding like the "standard". I am more focused on my lyrics.

AW : Speaking of your lyrics, your website and music seems to contain a lot of old proverbs and sayings, where do they come from, what's your inspiration behind your lyrics?
SC : Everything on my site and in my music is in my own words and comes from my experiences. I like to read and am inspired by people like Einstein, JFK, Davinci, Martin Luther King, Mark Twain and so many others. The true pioneers of our time, people who pushed and forged new ground. It seems as though today people are comfortable with t.v. and 9 to 5's and afraid to lose sight of their posessions. Ask yourself, what would you die for? Then fight for it.

AW : Are you consciously staying independent or are you looking to get signed to a label?
SC : I am happy being independent and I like having full control over myself. I have F.U.S. tattood on me and one of it's meanings is "Forever UnSigned". I guess if a label came to me and gave me cash to put their company logo on my c.d. and I could keep doing what i'm doing then why not? but I don't see that happening. I'd rather sell 5,000 cd's for $5 on my terms then 500,000 for $1 on someone elses.

AW : Fair enough...Where have you done gigs lately and which venues worked the best?
SC : I avoid the local bars and the always revolving show circuits. I like lyrical driven diverse shows where people come for the music. I've played at resorts with tons of people but not everyone wants to hear my lyrics.. I've been banned from some places. the best shows are the ones I put together cause I get to pick the artists, location and concept.

AW : When is the album "Kill the Static" coming out, and what should people expect?
SC : It should be out within the month. I'm not in a race to put out as many cd's as I can. When I think of what I do and what I want to accomplish from this I think of people like Bob Dylan and Bob Marley... I want to make music that changes the world and alters how people think. People should expect honesty.

AW : How do you find balancing time on snow with time on the mic?
SC : Well, this year was one of the hardest for balancing anything. I am working on moving to the mountains so I can ride all day and record all night but until then... I was just in Mammoth last weekend and I have access to studios from Mammoth to the beach so I am fortunate in that way. The hardest part is gas prices.

Q. If you had the choice of being a superstar rapper or a superstar snowboarder, which would you choose?
SC : Niether. I like being able to go get a burrito and a beer without being bothered. The only reason I do stuff like this interview is cause I think a lot of people are fake and worried about the wrong things and I want kids to see that you dont have to follow trends or fit in to what the "norm" is. We are all stars in are own right, you can be you and successful, not everyone has to like you.


AW : Well that seems like wise words to end on. Anything else you want to add or comment on?
SC : I just want to see a more conscious world. People have no clue as to what fast food, sugar, caffiene and all of this pollution is doing to them, let alone how to stop it. It doesn't matter if someone is good at hip hop or snowboarding, anyone can do that. I think medical researchers, teachers and volunteers deserve more respect. I can't wait for the day that state breaks the chains from federal and marijuana is legalised, not just for me to sit on the couch and get stoned with a bag of chips but for other reasons such as madicable and it's fibers. 1 acre of hemp produces the same amount of paper as 4 acres of trees. Our Constitution and first American flag were made of hemp fibers. Check out www.ssdp.org for more info and to see what you can do to help freedom. Stay true to yourself and never give up, life is what you make it.

Steve's website is www.operationfreemind.com/ominous

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