We have only admiration with the dedication they show to their work and the feeling that this is a quite well- knit group. Read our interview with Cryptic Cadet below where they talk about their new album and the band’s personality!
Describe your sound in three words please!
desert poetry grooves
How did you choose the name “Cryptic Cadet”?
Mark: We each made a list of about a dozen names, got together, and scratched out the ones we didn’t like, and of the three remaining, Cryptic Cadet was the one we both liked the most. We feel that you can get lost going down the rabbit hole of band names, when in actuality, anything will do. Look at the Beatles. Silly name for a band, yet their work defined the name.
Cameron: The name Cryptic literally means “having hidden meanings”, which refers to a lot of the dualities in Mark’s lyrics, and a Cadet is a first year pupil or trainee, and we try to always maintain the mindset of the student. Always learning. Always expanding our skillsets. Not only in music, but in life as well.
Talk to us about your forthcoming album “Disconnected”. What should we expect to hear?
Disconnected lives in its own world, somewhere between the planets of jazz, rock, and pop. It’s a work made in the old school fashion. Live musicians playing real instruments recorded with real mics and mic pres, but at the same time with a very guerrilla approach. All the drums and keys and preproduction were done in our own home studios. Then we travelled to Annapolis to add guitars with Matt Ascione. Vocals, courtesy of Olivia Rubini, were done in her dad Ritchie’s studio in Delaware, while we produced remotely over a Face Time connection. We finished by traveling to Tuscon to record Tim Lefebvre (Bowie, Black Crowes, Tedeschi-Trucks, Wayne Krantz, SNL) on bass, who is an old friend of ours, in his home studio. It’s pop music with jazz sensibilities and a 1970’s recording aesthetic.
Your sound is characterised by great grooves. Tell us a song with a groove that you wish you have composed yourselves.
Cameron: Black Cow by Steely Dan
Mark: It’s not really a groove, but at the end of the score for Crimson Tide, Hans Zimmer used a hymn usually associated with seafarers, Eternal Father, Strong to Save, with The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and a men’s choir…that makes my hair stand up every time.
What do you enjoy most? Writing music or performing your music live?
Mark: That’s a tough one. I’ve made my living solely as a performer since 1990, but none of it had to do with my own music. I’ve played thousands of shows but my refuge has always been the studio, where I could be creative without any constraints. So I’d have to say I prefer the studio, simply because playing live long ago became a job. And, there are just SO many things that can get in the way of the listener having a really pure experience live. Whatever is a product of the studio, that pure experience is just as you intended it to be every time. It’s repeatable for the listener, and as a kid who grew up LIVING with my stereo, that really appeals to me.
Cameron: Live is temporary. Studio is permanent.
Mark: Right on, man.
You’d love to perform live…where?
Mark: Red Rocks.
Cameron: That’s what I was gonna say!!!
Mark: I’ll wrestle you for it.
You seem to know each other well. We’d like to hear what you have to say about each other’s funny characteristics, an embarrassing story etc.
Cameron– We mostly communicate in memes.
Mark– That’s actually sad but true. It also makes it difficult to have to scroll back through our texts to find something serious, because you have to swipe through days and days of stupid memes. Our wives don’t even ask us anymore why we are laughing at our phones.
What is your ideal place for vacation?
Mark– Key West
Cameron– Thailand
Thanks Cryptic Cadet!
Follow Cryptic Cadet
Facebook/Website/Instagram
Secret Eclectic 