Some NIU students take music from a hobby to something bigger. For junior English major Octavio Ocampo, this transition has been a goal for quite some time.

Ocampo writes and performs his own unique style of hip-hop music. His single, Gabriel’s Hymn, was released on Halloween.

Ocampo, who goes by Lunatic 8 in the music world, said his music has a dark, haunting vibe to it.

“I consider my music to be a big theatrical show,” Ocampo said. “It’s like listening to the sad clown of the circus rap about tragedies in his life.”

Although Ocampo writes personal lyrics, he places a lot of emphasis on the music.

“My instrumentals are greatly influenced by my childhood,” Ocampo said. “They are samples from a lot of songs and culture I grew up with. That way, a part of me is embedded in my music.”

Ocampo plans to release more songs and full-length albums in the future.

“I’m definitely releasing an online-only EP, Dark Lunatic 8, in the future and another full length album, Super 8,” Ocampo said.

Though he is certain more music will be coming, he is still deciding how he wants to make it available.

“I’m still in the debate of releasing on iTunes or giving out free my two new mix tapes, Return of the Sixth Samurai and True Grit, which…will be a double release sometime [in] early 2013,” Ocampo said.

Gabriel’s Hymn can be heard on iTunes, Spotify, Xbox Music, Amazon MP3 and iHeartRadio.