Cryptic Street: 10 question interview

Cryptic Street are coming all the way from Malta to play for us on 11 August and we can't wait to welcome them! We got to know them a bit better with 10 questions ...

Who would you most like to cover one of your songs?

Anyone covering our songs would be the biggest honour! Though if I had to pick, Bass Drum of Death.

If you could add one member to your band – any person, living or dead, musical or otherwise – who would it be, and what would they play?

That’s a tricky one, though I think having Zack De La Rocha (RATM) on vocals with Leona would be an interesting idea, to say the least.

What was the last song you wrote, where were you when you came up with the idea, what inspired it, and how did it turn out?

The last complete song we wrote was ‘Las Niñas Locas’ – a song which we actually wrote in more than one country (Leona wrote the lyrics on a train in Madrid – as the name implies)! It pretty much started because we were in the mood for a fun track since at that point we were excited and looking forward to a handful of gigs overseas.

Which was your favourite gig you’ve a) played and b) watched?

Either our album launch or our opening performance for Acid Mothers Temple in Glasgow. The former was the latest big milestone for our career, though the latter was equally great because getting to see the main band in the front having a blast while you play is honestly amazing.
Hands down when I went to see Opeth in November 2016. Getting to see that band bringing their songs to life in person was just so beautifully surreal.

Recommend a record you think our readers might not have heard of.

I assume that there’ll be some that know of this, but Fever the Ghost’s Zirconium Meconium is a quirky listen.

What’s your best piece of advice for young musicians?

Listening, learning, and practicing to move forward is the most important thing. Always write and record ideas, go to gigs, talk and listen to other musicians. Learn the importance of moving forward with exposure without neglecting the importance of moving forward musically!

Your top 3 most beloved albums ever – go.
The Way of All Flesh – Gojira
Watershed – Opeth
Dormant Heart – Sylosis

What are your musical goals?

My personal goals are to see what my musical voice can develop into – as well as to see how far it can reach.

What’s the most important thing we need to know about you/your band right now?

We’re currently working on a bunch of new material that we really look forward to sharing with you!

Give your top 5 contemporary bands/musicians

Opeth – Their prog influenced metal just really resonates with my enjoyment of heavy music featuring fancy melody work.
Gojira – My original ‘angry music with a cause’ inspiration – It’s the kind of stuff you could angrily kick down a door to, with a prominent and consistent message on environmental activism.
Sylosis – Even though they’re sadly on indeterminate hiatus, this is a band that I’ve been well into for the past 5 years at the very least, their guitar melodies and drum work especially.
Tesseract / Amos Williams (bass) – An amazing band all round, but Amos gets a special mention since he’s known from taking inspiration from the likes of Les Claypool and Victor Wooten and adapting their concepts into his own, vastly different genre.
Nolly GetGood (ex-Periphery) – He gets a mention for having the most tightly written bass riffs and the killer tone I take inspiration from.