The Space Lady (US)

RIYL: Broadcast, outsiders, Yellow Magic Orchestra, The Knife, Kraftwerk, Joe Meek, Moondog, Laurie Anderson, Delia Derbyshire, lo-fi pop, Laraaji, psychedelic pop, sci-fi, Dr Who, Suzanne Ciani, Breadwoman.

Emerging from the vibrant streets of late-1970s Boston, The Space Lady, born Susan Dietrich, began her musical journey with a humble accordion and a distinctive winged helmet. Her ethereal renditions of contemporary pop songs quickly captivated passersby, offering a unique auditory experience that transcended the ordinary street performance. A decade later, she relocated to San Francisco, where her presence became a beloved fixture among the city's eclectic artistic community.

A pivotal moment in her career occurred when her accordion was stolen and destroyed. Undeterred, she invested in a then-novel Casio keyboard, augmenting her setup with a phase shifter and headset microphone. This transition infused her music with an otherworldly quality, transforming familiar pop melodies into cosmic soundscapes that resonated deeply within the underground music scene. Her performances, characterized by haunting vocals and minimalist electronic arrangements, have been described as "bathed in echo and a warm blanket of hiss," with her voice being "utterly without guile on her Casio covers and Outsider Art explorations" .

After a hiatus beginning in 2000, The Space Lady re-emerged in 2012, bringing her celestial music to a new generation of listeners. Her resurgence led to performances at esteemed festivals such as Flow Festival, Pohoda, Le Guess Who?, Down the Rabbit Hole, and Donau Festival, among others. Her 2013 album, "The Space Lady's Greatest Hits," received critical acclaim and was featured in NME's "101 Albums to Hear Before You Die" .

The Space Lady's music defies conventional genre classifications, blending elements of synth-pop, psychedelic pop, and space music. Her minimalist approach and sincere delivery have earned her a dedicated following, with Dazed Digital noting that her work is "heart-warming, eccentric, and unselfconscious," demonstrating that "you don’t need ego and fancy gear to make great pop music" .

In recent years, she has continued to enchant audiences worldwide. Her enduring appeal lies in her ability to transform the mundane into the magical, offering listeners a transcendent experience that opens hearts and minds.