‘Ceramic’ is released today (16th May) as a new single by Mojave Phone Booth, the husband and wife duo of Mitchell J Doran and Tobey Torres-Doran who initially began making music together in the late ’90s as members of the cult industrial rock act Snake River Conspiracy.
“‘Ceramic’ was written on a Moog synthesizer with self-sampled drums and other pre-programmed sounds, plus a mistake that actually became my favourite instrument in the track”, explains Mitchell. “I also sampled a burning electric motor and distorted it through a Marshall guitar amp, and layered it in throughout. It’s the first and last sound you hear in this track. The words in the song tie into the larger concept of our new album. What happens on Sunday?”
The album in question is their upcoming third record as Mojave Phone Booth, ‘Blood Doctor Volume One’, which melds abrasive textures, melodic song structures and propulsive electronic rhythms into a singular combination of sounds. Relentless and meticulous, with immaculate attention to detail and surgical precision, they have crafted their most aggressive and experimental work to date.
Tobey Torres-Doran was the lead vocalist and frontperson for Snake River Conspiracy, touring the world with bands such as A Perfect Circle, Queens of the Stone Age, Filter and others. In addition to being signed to Warner Records, she also sang as a session vocalist on various recordings for Warner/Reprise Records.
Mitchell J Doran was employed in his teens as a session musician and recording engineer on releases for labels such as Warner, working with the likes of Queensryche and Dio. He was then recruited to Snake River Conspiracy as lead guitarist and programmer, thus beginning the creative relationship with Tobey that eventually became Mojave Phone Booth.
Their second and most recent album, ‘Hollow The Numbers’ (2023), was a testament to fearless creativity. Written and recorded in their home studio in the Bay Area of Northern California, it was a stellar example of their ‘studio as instrument’ approach. Not only did they draw from an eclectic collection of analog gear, but they also elevated the craft by building much of that equipment themselves.
Once again written and recorded in their home studio, ‘Blood Doctor Volume One’ is the next iteration of their creative process. In addition to playing synths, drums, bass and guitars, Mitchell also records and produces the band’s albums. “Sounds we were inspired by this time were recycling trucks, mechanical telephone switching systems and electronic voice phenomena”,hecontinues. “We used a wide range of instruments and equipment to create a careful selection of textures.” Arresting in its immediacy, ‘Blood Doctor Volume One’ draws its listeners into a world of palpable tension and searing emotional depth. Imbued with otherworldly sonic innovation, Mojave Phone Booth thrives in the space where industrial rock meets analog electronic experimentation.
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