Tracking Back: Onoe Caponoe

As we prepare ourselves for the release of INVISIBLE WAR, the new album dropping at the end of the month, we take it back, right back. Time to learn what formed the incomparable mind, that is Onoe Caponoe.

1. What is your earliest memory of music as a child? We’re talking nursery rhyme early.

I have no idea... my parents told me when I was around 2, I would listen to records by myself with headphones on all the time...my parents like good music...so what ever I was listening to it was funky..

2. What music were your parents/guardians into? What was played around the house growing up?

Funk, Soul, Reggae, Jazz, bit of Prog Rock, Jungle, Garage ... all the good shit

3. Did you have any tapes or records bought for you? 

Errrrm..I really can’t remember shit from when I was a lil kid.. I have a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles record and a Bart Simpson’s record... so I guess someone got me those as I was a goddamn baby!

4. What is the first music video you can remember? 

We had lots of Michael Jackson videos in the house....also Earth Wind & Fire and this Reggae compilation video with random music videos. We didn’t have Sky with music channels so I used to watch those all the time.

5. What was the first record/tape/CD you bought for yourself? It can be a single or album.

When I was 12 I started going to shops searching for electro boogy break dancing compilation CDs.

6. What music were you into in the early days at school? Were your friends into the same thing?

Ah some kid showed me Korn when I was 12 and I got into them heavy for a couple years lol.

7. As a teenager did this change? 

Not really I use to like Rage Against The Machine and a few other bands like NOFX....I guess the usual kid shit tbh.

8. Did you play an instrument at school and can you still play it?

Yeh drums and guitar..... yeh I have a mad sloppy style but I love it.

9. Give us a fond memory of one track at high school/college. Any house parties, road trips, holidays...

I performed Every Me and Every You at my school when I was in year 7 and sang it in a high pitched nasal swag to try sound like the lead singer Brian Molko. I always used to ask this teacher if I could perform at the start of assembly.

10. What was your first experience of rap music? How did it make you feel?

Errm I think it was Raekwon - Wu Gambinos..... go listen to that shit now! To be honest, everything was bullshit until I heard that, it wasn’t even like music to me. I can’t explain it but it really made my brain change. I continued listening to rock music mainly though at that time.

11. What’s the earliest Rap music video you remember?

I can remember being like 8 and Tupac being on TV and my sister saying that he’s good looking. Then my sisters boyfriend looking awkward and saying….well, good luck to you if you end up with someone like that!

12. After discovering Rap, which artists did you listen to the most?

At first I would only listen to electro boogy instrumentals. Then when I really clocked on to what was going on I got heavy into everything from Queensbridge. From Mobb Deep to Tragedy Khadafi and Prince A.D.

13. What made you pick up a pen and start writing bars, or what gave you the confidence to start to compose music yourself?

Ah it was literally a joke. My friends had recording equipment and said do u want to come mess about.

14. Would you say your sound today carries influences from your childhood?

Yeh 100%, it’s a melting pot of a lot of the music I like. I also feel I have to make love songs and songs about love were always playing in my house so... you do the maths.

15. Do you have any idols in music? Have you met any?

I actually don’t even understand that word idol...  Errrmm...I remember years ago when I met Jehst that was cool as I used to listen to him growing up so that was a big deal to me, his music is amazing! I dunno though. If I really like someone’s music, I would rather just enjoy the music. I don’t need to meet the person and all that.

16. Finally let’s end on an embarrassing question. What is your guilty pleasure today in modern music?

This is my jam

‘Invisible War’ LP is released on the 31st of January 2020 on limited edition signed transparent vinyl, (limited to 100) limited edition green vinyl (limited to 150) , CD, tape and on all digital / streaming platforms. Make sure you pre-order yours now to avoid disappointment.