About Steve

Guitarist, composer and producer, Steve Ouimette started making music at age 5 when his parents bought an organ for the family and offered lessons to both he and his sister. The Kimball Entertainer organ was not nearly as refined an instrument as the piano but it offered something special that no piano had…electronics! Profoundly intrigued with the sound of the organ distorting when the bass pedals kicked in, Steve was instantly hooked on the possibilities it offered. Several years and many Kiss, Van Halen and Zeppelin records later he added drums to the mix, but by age 12 it was the guitar that became his lifelong passion. Obsessed, he practiced countless hours a day and became fully immersed in multitrack recording and the limitless creative options it afforded. By 17 he won his first national guitar competition (OK, 2nd place) and two years later he made his first appearance in Guitar Player Magazine…a magazine he would return to years later as an established artist. Torn between rock and classical music he decided to split his education by playing and recording with local bands while getting his degree in Classical Performance and Composition from California State University, East Bay. After graduating college he signed with a major label for a disappointing yet brief stint before moving into the emerging computer games and music industry.

Holding both creative and technical positions at a variety of music and game companies including fives years at Microsoft he solidified his chops while running a recording studio and creating original music for games and other media. Needing the stimulation of fulltime creative work, Steve formed his own music production company in late 2005. By early 2007 he began his long-standing association with Activision on their highly successful Guitar Hero series. Since Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock, he has participated in every release of the game, contributing exacting re-created cover tracks to original compositions and sound design.

Though best known for his covers work (Steve has created over 75 tracks in the past two years, guitarist/bassist/producer) he is emerging as a serious composer of energetic, moving and dramatic music…music that incorporates antiquated acoustic instruments with electronic elements and major label quality production. Understanding that the best way to expand as a composer and artist is to work with inspiring musicians and talented individuals, Steve has forged a lifelong bond with a core group of players and studio professionals that continue to push him to the limits of creativity. It is Steve’s drive to break new sonic ground and offer a fresh musical perspective that elevates game play and enjoyment to every project he works on.

Steve is also a full time contributor to Premier Guitar Magazine where he writes a monthly column, articles and reviews of guitar-related equipment.