Christopher Moore, bassist and occasional vocalist for the experimental rock trio Ladoga, recently joined us in studio to talk about the band’s latest release, "Bone, Stone, Rambo, Dino." As it turns out, even the EP’s quirky title tells you something about their creative process—it’s a mashup of the words from each track title.
“We’re an instrumental rock band first,” Moore said. “The music always comes before the titles. Those usually come from our group chats, inside jokes, or just whatever sounds interesting.”
The band—Moore, guitarist Ethan Debelak, and drummer Ryan Lundin—has been crafting its sound together for over a decade. Their influences are wide-ranging: think post-rock textures, ’70s prog energy, and what the band jokingly calls “jazz-sty”—a blend of jazz and something a little nastier.
Ladoga's approach to writing is collaborative. “Ethan is kind of our de facto band leader,” Moore noted. “He usually brings in the initial riff, and we build from there. As a bassist, I don’t just hang in the low end—I’ll go wherever the melody needs to go to complement what Ethan’s doing on guitar.”
Watch Ladoga live at Factory Coffee in Kalamazoo from May 2025 (Courtesy of Back to the Beat Productions on YouTube):
Their rhythm section dynamic is built on trust. “Ryan’s drumming is experimental and loose. He doesn’t play the same fills every time, but after playing together for ten years, I know he’ll always come back around when it matters.”
The trio recently recorded "Bone, Stone, Rambo, Dino" at Da Yooper’s Studio in Ishpeming with Jim Belmore and Jesse DeCaire. “It’s a magical place, with history and a relaxed energy,” Moore said. “But we don’t mess around when we’re there—we come in tight, ready to record with few takes.”
Watch one of Ladoga's PRF Camp-In videos from 2020:
Mastering was handled by Mike Roche of Broadside Productions, a longtime friend and collaborator of Moore’s. “Mike was the first engineer I ever worked with when I was seventeen. He’s come a long way from his original 12-by-16-foot studio shed, but even back then, he pulled off some amazing things in a tiny space.”
Listen to Moore speak with Public Radio 90's Kurt Hauswirth:
(This interview was aired as a part of a broadcast of The Shuffle on Saturday, May 31st, 2025, and was also edited for clarity and broadcast)
For Ladoga, the process is rooted in friendship and curiosity. “We’re not trying to be famous,” Moore said with a laugh. “We just want to enjoy ourselves and make good, loud, weird music together.”
Ladoga's EP "Bone, Stone, Rambo, Dino" is out now digitally, with plans for a physical release in the fall.
