Lock on to sound of Cryptic Keys

IT took Dail MacDonald’s return to Inverness after working in London to unlock the lyrics now at the heart of Cryptic Keys’ songs.

With old friend, guitarist Michael MacGillivray, Dail formed the three-piece with singer Rhia Innes from Dores.

Since then, a series of dates, some recording and Michael job taking him offshore for three weeks at a time means the band are doing their best to keep up the momentum when they can all be together.

Tomorrow (Friday) they play Inverness venue Mad Hatters before Saturday’s test in the city’s battle of the bands at the Eagle Bar.

Dail said: “Me and Michael have known each since school at Millburn, but I went away to Glasgow, came back – realised how boring Inverness was – then went off to London for a few years to work.

“I was in a phone shop in Brixton – pretty much the only white person there – but after work there’d be people breakdancing, beatboxing and I’d bring along my guitar and we’d do some rapping over the top. It was an amazing experience.”

But London’s high cost of living brought Dail back and he started working on music again with Michael.

They formed Cryptic Keys once they’d heard Rhia sing.

“I’d been songwriting for years, doing a one man and guitar thing. Down in London, I played at a few open mike nights and things like that and was doing some spoken word poetry.

“I have so many songs, but I never really put myself out there that much. Now that we’ve got the band, it’s given me that incentive to go for it really.”

Cryptic Keys came from Dail and Michael playing music at a house party, someone mentioned “Rhia sings” so she was invited round.

Rhia's choice:

“Before you knew it we were all jamming and we went ‘Hey, that doesn’t sound too bad ...’ and Cryptic Keys was born,” Dail explained.

Rhia’s dad has taken great pictures of the band, Dail’s friend designed the gothic key that has become their logo and the songs at the core of their identity seem to come easily.

From first song Be My Stone which was a classic Cryptic Keys moment – Michael’s guitar riff inpiring Dail coming up almost instantly with words to go – they had 10 songs in three weeks.

Michael also does his own solo set using a loop pedal and the band made their debut with three songs during one of his sets at Hootanannys – and the band was invited back to play.

Michael's choice:

Cryptic Keys have also had their first taste of recording with Inverness guitarist Marc Clement, including first song Be My Stone.

Jumping Trains – which you can hear on their Soundcloud – came almost as easily.

“I’d originally written the words for a poem, but I thought they would go together quite well with a riff from a 2.30 in the morning jam! It only took about half an hour before the song was written!”

It showcases both Dail’s and Rhia’s strangely similar-sounding voices.

Dail said: “When he was recording the song, Marc said it is very unusual to have such a similar tone from two voices unless the people were related!”

The band has dubbed their music “upbeat acoustic”.

“With Michael working offshore, we just have to throw ourselves in the deep end when he comes back,” said Dail.

“We want to keep putting ourselves out there, sending our music to BBC Introducing and those kind of things.”

It helps that Dail loves playing live.

“I love being onstage – it’s just a kind of nervous thing, it all just explodes!”

There are a few surprises planned for Saturday’s battle of the bands performance.

“Yes, we have a few tricks up our sleeve for that set,” laughed Dail.

Cryptic Keys appear with Naked Red and Bring Back VHS at Mad Hatters, Inverness, tomorrow (Friday) and on Saturday they play the Eagle Bar, Inverness, as part of this week’s battle of the bands heats. For more info on the band, go to their Facebook.com Cryptickeys and hear Jumping Trains at: soundcloud.com/cryptic-keys

Dail's choice: