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M4M: GIVE US A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THE BAND?
CRYPTIC: CRYPTIC HAS BEEN TOGETHER FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS. WE CONSIST OF MITCH HOGLIN ON GUITAR
AND VOCALS, LUKE ATON ON BASS GUITAR, AND ANDY GAGNON ON THE DRUMS. WE ARE STRICTLY A ROCK
BAND THAT LEANS TOWARD MORE MODERN, ALTERNATIVE, “IT-COULD-BE-ON-THE-RADIO” KIND OF ROCK. IT
ALL STARTED IN MITCH’S BASEMENT WITH JUST HIM AND ANDY JAMMING ON WHATEVER THEY COULD THINK OF,
WHILE AT THE SAME TIME TEACHING THEMSELVES HOW TO PLAY THEIR INSTRUMENTS. THEY PICKED UP LONG
TIME FRIEND JASON HERMSTAD ON BASS GUITAR AND STARTED PLAYING SHOWS AROUND THE TWIN CITIES.
AFTER ABOUT THREE YEARS IT WAS TIME FOR JASON TO PART WAYS AND ANDY AND MITCH BEGAN
SEARCHING FOR A NEW BASS PLAYER, WHICH THEY FOUND IN WAIT TILL WEDNESDAY BASSIST: LUKE ATON. HE
JOINED THE ROSTER IN EARLY 2007 AND CRYPTIC’S BEEN GOING STRONG EVER SINCE, PLAYING EVERY MAJOR
VENUE IN AND AROUND THE TWIN CITIES. ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, CRYPTIC TEAMED UP WITH KINETIC MUSIC
FOR BOOKING AND MANAGEMENT, WHICH HAS LEAD TO A LOT OF INTERESTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE
BAND. WHICH BRINGS US TO TODAY.
M4M: THE MINNESOTA MUSIC SCENE IS PRETTY DIVERSE AND HAS SOME STRONG BACKBONE, HOW DO YOU
GUYS FIT WITHIN THE MIXTURE OF THE SCENE?
CRYPTIC: WELL IT SEEMS THAT IN THE SCENE WE’RE IN, THERE AREN’T A LOT OF BANDS THAT HAVE THE KIND
OF SOUND THAT WE HAVE. WHEN IT COMES TO METAL AND PUNK-BASED MUSIC, THERE IS AUTOMATICALLY A
BUILT-IN FOLLOWING. WHEN IT COMES TO MORE STRAIGHT-FORWARD MODERN ROCK, IT’S MORE OF AN
UPHILL BATTLE. WHEREVER WE GO, AS SOON AS WE START PLAYING, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY HEAD IN THE
ROOM TURNS TOWARD THE STAGE. EVEN PEOPLE THAT DON’T LIKE OUR GENRE FIND SOMETHING TO LIKE IN
OUR MUSIC.
M4M: THE BAND HAS A LARGE COLLEGE FAN BASE, HOW HAS THAT HELPED DEVELOPED THE BAND?
CRYPTIC: OUR COLLEGE FANS ARE REALLY THE BACKBONE OF THE BAND. THEY COME OUT TO ALMOST
EVERY SHOW AND SHOW THEIR LOVE AND SUPPORT FOR WHAT WE DO, AND IT HAS CHANGED THE WAY WE
PLAY MUSIC. IT’S SO AMAZING THAT IT HAS ALMOST BECOME WEIRD TO PLAY SHOWS WITHOUT THEM
SCREAMING OUR LYRICS AND JUMPING UP AND DOWN TO THE MUSIC. ON SOME OCCASIONS PEOPLE HAVE
SUFFERED MINOR CONCUSSIONS BECAUSE THEY WE’RE GETTING INTO OUR TUNES A LITTLE TOO MUCH.
M4M: WHAT'S IN THE FUTURE FOR CRYPTIC?
CRYPTIC: IN THE MIDDLE OF MAY CRYPTIC IS GOING INTO STUDIO AT THE DEVILS WORKSHOP IN MINNEAPOLIS
TO RECORD THREE SONGS FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES. HOWEVER, WE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE PUTTING
TOGETHER FIVE SONGS FOR AN EP WHICH WE’RE GOING TO BE OFFICIALLY RELEASING TO THE FANS
SOMETIME AT THE END OF THE SUMMER. WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING WHAT FIVE SONGS WE’RE RECORDING IN
OUR NEXT ONLINE VIDEO BLOG. AFTER THAT, IT’S ALL FORTUNE AND BRIGHT LIGHTS, RIGHT?
M4M: YOU GUYS RECENTLY DID AN ONLINE INTERVIEW, WHAT WAS THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE?
CRYPTIC: IT WAS A HELL OF A GOOD TIME. WE WENT IN AND DID A LIVE RECORDING OF TWO ACOUSTIC
TRACKS, AND AFTERWARDS THEY INTERVIEWED US FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES. IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE
JUST TO GET OUT ONLINE TO THE WHOLE WORLD. WE HAD PEOPLE LISTENING IN FROM ALL OVER THE US. IT
WAS A LOT OF FUN AND WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING AGAIN.
M4M: THERE ARE SOME FAVORITE SONGS THAT APPEAL TO A LARGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE, WHICH SONGS DO
YOU FEEL YOU CONNECT WITH THE CROWD, THE MOST?
CRYPTIC: FOR WHATEVER REASON, OUR FAN-FAVORITE IS “BACKSEAT ASHTRAY” WHICH HAS BECOME OUR
UNOFFICIAL “HIT SONG”. OTHER TRACKS OFF OUR FIRST CD THAT HAVE HIGH APPEAL ARE “ALL I AM (TELL ME I’
M THE ONE)”, “THE ORANGE SONG”, AND “EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK”. PRETTY MUCH EVERY ONCE OF OUR NEW
SONGS SINCE OUR FIRST CD: “IF A KISS COULD CURE MY DISEASE” HAVE HAD AN AMAZING CONNECTION WITH
THE FANS. THEY WALK AWAY SINGING THEM FOR DAYS.
M4M: "IF A KISS COULD CURE MY DISEASE" IS FILLED WITH TRIAL AND ERROR ON RELATIONSHIPS, HOW WILL
THE NEXT CD PORTRAY THE LEARNING FROM THESE EXPERIENCES?
CRYPTIC: THE FIRST CD DEALT WITH THE GOOD AND THE BAD, BUT THE NEXT CD IS GOING TO TAKE IT TO THE
NEXT LEVEL. WE SEE THE REALLY BAD, AND THE BEST THAT RELATIONSHIPS CAN OFFER. WE ALSO
EXPERIMENT WITH SONGS THAT ARE BASED MORE AROUND STORYTELLING. WE’VE GOT A SONG BASED ON
THE IDEA OF THE BOARD-GAME CLUE, CALLED “COLONEL MUSTARD”. THERE’S ALSO A TRACK CALLED “EVIL
STEPSISTER” THAT’S ABOUT THE WICKED STEP SISTER CHARACTERS FROM ALL THOSE CLASSIC FAIRY TALES.
WE’RE TRYING TO HAVE MORE FUN WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING SONGS AND WANT PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO BE
ABLE TO ENJOY WHAT WE’RE DOING A LITTLE BIT MORE.
M4M: WHAT ARE SOME BANDS THAT HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR STYLE OF WRITING/SOUND, ETC...
CRYPTIC: SOME BANDS THAT INFLUENCE US ARE: THEORY OF A DEADMAN, DEFAULT, TRAPT, ALTER BRIDGE,
MATCHBOX TWENTY, STAIND, LIFEHOUSE, NICKELBACK, CREED, AND WHO CAN FORGET THE ALMIGHTY
BEETLES…
M4M: YOU CURRENTLY HAVE VIDEO BLOGS BEING PUT UP ON YOUR MYSPACE ALONG WITH YOUR ACTUAL
WEBSITE (CRYPTICISCOMING. COM)...WHAT ARE THEY ALL ABOUT?
CRYPTIC: THE BLOGS ARE REALLY A WAY FOR US TO STAY CONNECTED TO THE FANS ON A DAY TO DAY
BASIS. THEY CAN LEARN ABOUT ALL OUR UPCOMING STUFF ON THEIR TIME IN A WAY THAT’S ENJOYABLE. WE’VE
JUST BEEN HAVING A BLAST MAKING THESE, AND IT’S A GREAT WAY FOR PEOPLE TO SEE THE PERSONALITY
OF THE BAND OFF THE STAGE. THE BLOGS ARE ALL ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT.
M4M: WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU STRIVE FOR AS A BAND/PERSONALLY FOR THE BAND...
CRYPTIC: WE JUST WANT PEOPLE TO ENJOY WHAT WE’RE DOING. WE WRITE THE KIND OF SONGS THAT WE
LIKE LISTENING TO, SO WE REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT TO THE EMOTION AND THE
ENERGY IN OUR MUSIC. WE’VE MADE A LOT OF FRIENDS DOING THIS AND WE’RE ALL ABOUT HAVING A GOOD
TIME. WE’RE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO BECOME BETTER MUSICIANS, AND WE WORK EVERY SHOW TO MAKE IT
BETTER THAN THE ONE BEFORE IT. WE’RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW FANS.
CRYPTIC: CRYPTIC HAS BEEN TOGETHER FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS. WE CONSIST OF MITCH HOGLIN ON GUITAR
AND VOCALS, LUKE ATON ON BASS GUITAR, AND ANDY GAGNON ON THE DRUMS. WE ARE STRICTLY A ROCK
BAND THAT LEANS TOWARD MORE MODERN, ALTERNATIVE, “IT-COULD-BE-ON-THE-RADIO” KIND OF ROCK. IT
ALL STARTED IN MITCH’S BASEMENT WITH JUST HIM AND ANDY JAMMING ON WHATEVER THEY COULD THINK OF,
WHILE AT THE SAME TIME TEACHING THEMSELVES HOW TO PLAY THEIR INSTRUMENTS. THEY PICKED UP LONG
TIME FRIEND JASON HERMSTAD ON BASS GUITAR AND STARTED PLAYING SHOWS AROUND THE TWIN CITIES.
AFTER ABOUT THREE YEARS IT WAS TIME FOR JASON TO PART WAYS AND ANDY AND MITCH BEGAN
SEARCHING FOR A NEW BASS PLAYER, WHICH THEY FOUND IN WAIT TILL WEDNESDAY BASSIST: LUKE ATON. HE
JOINED THE ROSTER IN EARLY 2007 AND CRYPTIC’S BEEN GOING STRONG EVER SINCE, PLAYING EVERY MAJOR
VENUE IN AND AROUND THE TWIN CITIES. ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, CRYPTIC TEAMED UP WITH KINETIC MUSIC
FOR BOOKING AND MANAGEMENT, WHICH HAS LEAD TO A LOT OF INTERESTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE
BAND. WHICH BRINGS US TO TODAY.
M4M: THE MINNESOTA MUSIC SCENE IS PRETTY DIVERSE AND HAS SOME STRONG BACKBONE, HOW DO YOU
GUYS FIT WITHIN THE MIXTURE OF THE SCENE?
CRYPTIC: WELL IT SEEMS THAT IN THE SCENE WE’RE IN, THERE AREN’T A LOT OF BANDS THAT HAVE THE KIND
OF SOUND THAT WE HAVE. WHEN IT COMES TO METAL AND PUNK-BASED MUSIC, THERE IS AUTOMATICALLY A
BUILT-IN FOLLOWING. WHEN IT COMES TO MORE STRAIGHT-FORWARD MODERN ROCK, IT’S MORE OF AN
UPHILL BATTLE. WHEREVER WE GO, AS SOON AS WE START PLAYING, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY HEAD IN THE
ROOM TURNS TOWARD THE STAGE. EVEN PEOPLE THAT DON’T LIKE OUR GENRE FIND SOMETHING TO LIKE IN
OUR MUSIC.
M4M: THE BAND HAS A LARGE COLLEGE FAN BASE, HOW HAS THAT HELPED DEVELOPED THE BAND?
CRYPTIC: OUR COLLEGE FANS ARE REALLY THE BACKBONE OF THE BAND. THEY COME OUT TO ALMOST
EVERY SHOW AND SHOW THEIR LOVE AND SUPPORT FOR WHAT WE DO, AND IT HAS CHANGED THE WAY WE
PLAY MUSIC. IT’S SO AMAZING THAT IT HAS ALMOST BECOME WEIRD TO PLAY SHOWS WITHOUT THEM
SCREAMING OUR LYRICS AND JUMPING UP AND DOWN TO THE MUSIC. ON SOME OCCASIONS PEOPLE HAVE
SUFFERED MINOR CONCUSSIONS BECAUSE THEY WE’RE GETTING INTO OUR TUNES A LITTLE TOO MUCH.
M4M: WHAT'S IN THE FUTURE FOR CRYPTIC?
CRYPTIC: IN THE MIDDLE OF MAY CRYPTIC IS GOING INTO STUDIO AT THE DEVILS WORKSHOP IN MINNEAPOLIS
TO RECORD THREE SONGS FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES. HOWEVER, WE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE PUTTING
TOGETHER FIVE SONGS FOR AN EP WHICH WE’RE GOING TO BE OFFICIALLY RELEASING TO THE FANS
SOMETIME AT THE END OF THE SUMMER. WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING WHAT FIVE SONGS WE’RE RECORDING IN
OUR NEXT ONLINE VIDEO BLOG. AFTER THAT, IT’S ALL FORTUNE AND BRIGHT LIGHTS, RIGHT?
M4M: YOU GUYS RECENTLY DID AN ONLINE INTERVIEW, WHAT WAS THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE?
CRYPTIC: IT WAS A HELL OF A GOOD TIME. WE WENT IN AND DID A LIVE RECORDING OF TWO ACOUSTIC
TRACKS, AND AFTERWARDS THEY INTERVIEWED US FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES. IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE
JUST TO GET OUT ONLINE TO THE WHOLE WORLD. WE HAD PEOPLE LISTENING IN FROM ALL OVER THE US. IT
WAS A LOT OF FUN AND WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING AGAIN.
M4M: THERE ARE SOME FAVORITE SONGS THAT APPEAL TO A LARGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE, WHICH SONGS DO
YOU FEEL YOU CONNECT WITH THE CROWD, THE MOST?
CRYPTIC: FOR WHATEVER REASON, OUR FAN-FAVORITE IS “BACKSEAT ASHTRAY” WHICH HAS BECOME OUR
UNOFFICIAL “HIT SONG”. OTHER TRACKS OFF OUR FIRST CD THAT HAVE HIGH APPEAL ARE “ALL I AM (TELL ME I’
M THE ONE)”, “THE ORANGE SONG”, AND “EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK”. PRETTY MUCH EVERY ONCE OF OUR NEW
SONGS SINCE OUR FIRST CD: “IF A KISS COULD CURE MY DISEASE” HAVE HAD AN AMAZING CONNECTION WITH
THE FANS. THEY WALK AWAY SINGING THEM FOR DAYS.
M4M: "IF A KISS COULD CURE MY DISEASE" IS FILLED WITH TRIAL AND ERROR ON RELATIONSHIPS, HOW WILL
THE NEXT CD PORTRAY THE LEARNING FROM THESE EXPERIENCES?
CRYPTIC: THE FIRST CD DEALT WITH THE GOOD AND THE BAD, BUT THE NEXT CD IS GOING TO TAKE IT TO THE
NEXT LEVEL. WE SEE THE REALLY BAD, AND THE BEST THAT RELATIONSHIPS CAN OFFER. WE ALSO
EXPERIMENT WITH SONGS THAT ARE BASED MORE AROUND STORYTELLING. WE’VE GOT A SONG BASED ON
THE IDEA OF THE BOARD-GAME CLUE, CALLED “COLONEL MUSTARD”. THERE’S ALSO A TRACK CALLED “EVIL
STEPSISTER” THAT’S ABOUT THE WICKED STEP SISTER CHARACTERS FROM ALL THOSE CLASSIC FAIRY TALES.
WE’RE TRYING TO HAVE MORE FUN WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING SONGS AND WANT PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO BE
ABLE TO ENJOY WHAT WE’RE DOING A LITTLE BIT MORE.
M4M: WHAT ARE SOME BANDS THAT HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR STYLE OF WRITING/SOUND, ETC...
CRYPTIC: SOME BANDS THAT INFLUENCE US ARE: THEORY OF A DEADMAN, DEFAULT, TRAPT, ALTER BRIDGE,
MATCHBOX TWENTY, STAIND, LIFEHOUSE, NICKELBACK, CREED, AND WHO CAN FORGET THE ALMIGHTY
BEETLES…
M4M: YOU CURRENTLY HAVE VIDEO BLOGS BEING PUT UP ON YOUR MYSPACE ALONG WITH YOUR ACTUAL
WEBSITE (CRYPTICISCOMING. COM)...WHAT ARE THEY ALL ABOUT?
CRYPTIC: THE BLOGS ARE REALLY A WAY FOR US TO STAY CONNECTED TO THE FANS ON A DAY TO DAY
BASIS. THEY CAN LEARN ABOUT ALL OUR UPCOMING STUFF ON THEIR TIME IN A WAY THAT’S ENJOYABLE. WE’VE
JUST BEEN HAVING A BLAST MAKING THESE, AND IT’S A GREAT WAY FOR PEOPLE TO SEE THE PERSONALITY
OF THE BAND OFF THE STAGE. THE BLOGS ARE ALL ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT.
M4M: WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU STRIVE FOR AS A BAND/PERSONALLY FOR THE BAND...
CRYPTIC: WE JUST WANT PEOPLE TO ENJOY WHAT WE’RE DOING. WE WRITE THE KIND OF SONGS THAT WE
LIKE LISTENING TO, SO WE REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT TO THE EMOTION AND THE
ENERGY IN OUR MUSIC. WE’VE MADE A LOT OF FRIENDS DOING THIS AND WE’RE ALL ABOUT HAVING A GOOD
TIME. WE’RE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO BECOME BETTER MUSICIANS, AND WE WORK EVERY SHOW TO MAKE IT
BETTER THAN THE ONE BEFORE IT. WE’RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW FANS.
| ALL THING'S CRYPTIC |
| BUY THE ALBUM HERE |
Minneapolis-based rock trio, CRYPTIC, has a knack for delivering
provocative lyrics, inventive drumming, and slithering melodies,
while at the same time, preserving an emotional narrative in each
one of their songs.
Guitarist/Lead singer Mitch Hoglin and drummer Andy Gagnon
started writing music in 2000. They released two EPs to friends and
family, but felt that they wanted to further develop their sound.
CRYPTIC started playing venues in the Twin Cities in the spring of
2004, and quickly began drawing attention to themselves. Over the
next two years, the band started writing material for a full length
album. CRYPTIC added bassist Luke Aton, (formerly of Wait Till
Wednesday), a few months after their debut album entitled: "If a
Kiss Could Cure My Disease" (available now), was released.
provocative lyrics, inventive drumming, and slithering melodies,
while at the same time, preserving an emotional narrative in each
one of their songs.
Guitarist/Lead singer Mitch Hoglin and drummer Andy Gagnon
started writing music in 2000. They released two EPs to friends and
family, but felt that they wanted to further develop their sound.
CRYPTIC started playing venues in the Twin Cities in the spring of
2004, and quickly began drawing attention to themselves. Over the
next two years, the band started writing material for a full length
album. CRYPTIC added bassist Luke Aton, (formerly of Wait Till
Wednesday), a few months after their debut album entitled: "If a
Kiss Could Cure My Disease" (available now), was released.
From the heart-breaking tones of the ballad, "Every Day of the Week", to the deceptive song-structure of "Those Days", the album has
something for everyone who loves music. The acoustic waltz, "Wearing Me Empty" is a bittersweet love song that tugs on the heartstrings,
while the angst-ridden lyrics of "Right Here Right Now" evoke the feelings of a bad breakup, and give the album it's title, "If a Kiss Could
Cure My Disease". With their new album available anywhere in the world, CRYPTIC is quickly garnering fans all across, and outside of
Minnesota.
The variety of moods in CRYPTIC's music, make it hard to lump them with any one genre. Their sound pleases fans who range in interests
from hard rock to alternative rock, and everything in between. With 2007 just around the corner and their number of fans increasing,
CRYPTIC is looking forward to their new album and a new lineup of shows in and outside the Twin Cities.
something for everyone who loves music. The acoustic waltz, "Wearing Me Empty" is a bittersweet love song that tugs on the heartstrings,
while the angst-ridden lyrics of "Right Here Right Now" evoke the feelings of a bad breakup, and give the album it's title, "If a Kiss Could
Cure My Disease". With their new album available anywhere in the world, CRYPTIC is quickly garnering fans all across, and outside of
Minnesota.
The variety of moods in CRYPTIC's music, make it hard to lump them with any one genre. Their sound pleases fans who range in interests
from hard rock to alternative rock, and everything in between. With 2007 just around the corner and their number of fans increasing,
CRYPTIC is looking forward to their new album and a new lineup of shows in and outside the Twin Cities.
| THE INTERVIEW |