Maltese All-Female Band Ready To Let Their ‘Titty Monster’ Loose Tonight
Who’s afraid of the big, bad … Titty monster? Clearly not all-femme quartet; Cryptic Street. They’ll huff, they’ll puff, they’ll blow the house down!
Following a change in lineup and genre, the girls are all hyped for the launch of their debut album entitled (you guessed it) ‘Titty Monster,’ taking place this evening at Badass Burgers at Razzett l-Aħmar.
Photo: Matthew Attard
‘Cryptic Street is a four-piece musical riot, ready to rock your patriarchal ears and mess with your brain.’
Way back when in 2016, current lineup Leona (vocals), Janelle (guitars), Leanne (bass) and Michelle (drums) injected their creative energy and fiery personalities into a new era of the band. The Cryptic girls took to Barcelona to test-run their new sound on tour. 2017 then saw the jet setters touring the UK, as well as recording an album with the aid of talented producer David Vella (Temple Studios Malta), who has worked with Rammstein, Siousxie and the Banshees.
Lovin Malta spoke to the bold and unique sisterhood about their music and album launch. Let’s get cracking.
Photo: Neelam Khan Vela
What has shaped your music?
Every band member listens to various styles of music, which in turn has molded our sound to what it is today. Leanne (bassist) is influenced by two elements; metal, which is the genre she listens to mostly, as well as jazz since she was taught by a jazz player. The literal opposite can be said of Michelle (the drummer), who is heavily influenced by jazz but was, at a point, taught by a metal drummer. Leona (main vocalist) is also influenced by jazz legends such as Nina Simone, yet also performance vocalists such as the iconic Debbie Harry (Blondie) and Iggy Pop. Janelle (guitarist) is mostly self-taught, influenced by the alternative sounds of bands such as Warpaint, Jeff Buckley, as well as the recent wave of garage rock.
The Writing Process…
Despite our conceptually-different influences, what united the styles was raw emotion and inner conflict during the writing period. Our writing process usually kicks off with some dismal experience one of us would’ve gone through which ends up turning into a hilarious story. From tales of sexual mishaps to confusing times, our diaries can all be found in music form in ‘Titty Monster’.
We want more!
Other than collaborating with other artists and all things music, we involve ourselves in different kinds of art. We’re really into designing our own posters, planning stage outfits and coming up with merchandise ideas that reflect our personality and attitude. Above all, we all have very strong opinions on women’s involvement in music and the arts, gender equality and why the punk attitude is relevant today.
What can we expect from your album launch?
Expect a lot of craziness and onstage antics, followed by a L O C A Party thanks to DJ Steve Meli. We also have some awesome new merch for sale, including the CD itself, tote bags, t- shirts and SOCKS! Our merchandise is a representation of our DIY aesthetic – coupled with collaborations with different artists – in order to create original, exclusive pieces through which your unique sense of style will truly shine.
So if you’re up for a burst of punk attitude with a dash of psychedelic, inner conflict and hell-raising fun tonight, you know where to head to! (Clue: Razzett l-Aħmar.)
Keep up with Cryptic Street’s antics on Facebook, Instagram or on their official site!
Photo: Matthew Attard /Graphic Design: Sarah Falzon (White Noise)