Spacemoth
ABOUT
Devotion to music has driven Spacemoth's Maryam Qudus —a performer, composer, and producer based in Oakland—for as long as she can remember. At age twelve, she traded chores for guitar lessons; at sixteen, she took on after school jobs to pay for voice lessons. From a young age, Qudus was determined to find a place for herself in music, and after years of building a reputation as a sought-after producer and studio engineer, she’s found a prominent place for herself. She’s collaborated with countless artists, including clients like Toro y Moi, Spellling — and La Luz, who she joined as a full-time member after producing the band’s most recent album “News of the Universe”, out on Sub Pop.
Qudus’ earliest creative pursuits began with her solo project at John Vanderslice’s legendary San Francisco co-op-turned-studio, Tiny Telephone. Working with Vanderslice opened new artistic avenues for Qudus: “Seeing the lit-up VU meters on the console and multiple tape machines running really inspired me. I realized the studio is an instrument and if you know how to use it, you can completely transform your music.” She began studying at Bay Area recording arts non-profit Women’s Audio Mission, eventually interning both there and at Tiny Telephone before becoming a staff engineer at both. Studio tricks picked up from clients like Tune-Yards, Sasami and Frankie and the Witch Fingers gave new inspiration for her own arrangements. And in between sessions, she was able to toy with electronic ambience and tape experimentations for Spacemoth—her latest solo project.
Spacemoth’s debut album, No Past No Future is rich in intergalactic, avant-pop. The bulk of performance and production for Spacemoth comes from Qudus herself, who favors vintage synths like the Yamaha CS-50 and Korg Polysix alongside fluttering tape manipulations, creating cosmic, lush soundbeds, drawing comparisons to beloved projects like Broadcast and Stereolab. Every track flow with Qudus’ low timbered vocals, in harmony with the watery, glowing synthesizers that anchor the album. From this release and her extensive discography as a producer, it’s clear Spacemoth’s Maryam Qudus brings limitless sonic potential, and it’s anyone’s guess what gorgeous, clever songs she’ll turn up next.
VIDEO