In conversation with: Space Drum Meditation

To celebrate the release of their new EP SDM007 — recently reviewed on our channels — we invited Space Drum Meditation to expand on the ideas behind the record. We spoke about their inspirations, creative process, and the evolution in their production approach that shapes this latest chapter.


Marking the EP’s release, the duo gathered their community at Golden Pudel Club in Hamburg for an all-night session from 10 pm to 6 am, stretching the record’s tension and textures across a broader, continuously evolving dancefloor arc.

Have a good reading and listening!

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☉ What was the main inspiration behind this ep?

“For this record, we wanted to blend our musical vision with a more upbeat, psy-driven approach. We always aim to fuse the organic with the electronic, combining ancient, tribal elements like percussion and flutes with electronic synth and futuristic soundscapes. This time, we focused a bit more on psychedelic, rolling percussive rhythms.”

☉ How did the creative process develop, and which machines or software did you use for the production?

“Our creative process has been continuously evolving. We’re always adding new elements to the studio that influence the way we work, from instruments to software, and even the way we arrange ideas. Every project brings a slightly different approach, which keeps the process fresh. We usually start a track by recording sounds, especially flutes, bells and percussion or any other instrument from our collection using microphones. The first loop often sets the track’s tonality and overall direction. These recordings are then processed in Ableton or routed through our outboard gear to shape grooves and create electronic textures and atmospheres.
We use a lot of delays, reverbs and pitch modulation to build rhythms and patterns. For synths and sound processing, we work with both analog gear and in-the-box VSTs. Many of the sounds come from the SWEinigisr synth, which has a very raw and aggressive character. The Akai MFC42 is our go-to filter LFO and processing unit, it’s great for adding non-linearities and giving digital sources a more organic, analog feel. Most sounds are routed through it at least once during the production process. At the end, it’s a process of layering many small details while keeping the track reduced but rich at the same time.”

☉ Compared to your earlier releases, this record shows a clear evolution in your production approach, including your choice of BPMs. What drove this change?

“This was driven by several factors. We don’t try to stick to one genre, we have our own sound, but we like to explore any style that inspires us. The psy-trance influence came to us a few years back when we received bookings within this scene, one of them through Val Vasher, who booked us for a psy-trance festival in the Croatian forest and has supported us all the way. Experiencing all the psychedelic sounds there on the dancefloor made us do this record.”

☉ What led you to release your music almost exclusively on your own label?

“We founded our first label at a young age and it always felt natural to release our music that way. One of us also worked in vinyl distribution for a couple of years, so we gained early familiarity with the entire process. Having our own label gives us full creative control, from the artwork to promotion and allows us to release music exactly as we imagine it. We also value the direct connection and feedback from listeners. That said, it’s not exclusive. We always enjoy collaborating and connecting with other labels and producers. Our label is meant to grow into a space for like-minded artists whose sound and vision resonate with us.”

☉ How was the release party at Golden Pudel Club in Hamburg? What kind of atmosphere emerged during the night?

“The atmosphere was incredible. We played an eight-hour set from 10 PM until 6 AM, and it was a really special and memorable night for us. The Club holds a unique vibe you can rarely find anywhere else. The crowd is always open-minded, creating a space where we feel free to explore shifting energy levels, tempos and styles without limits.”

☉ You performed an all-night DJ set during the release party. What should listeners expect from the upcoming live recording?

“You can expect a tribal, psychedelic blend of House, Goa and Psy influences, mainly with an old-school feel. It’s hard to tell where one genre ends and the other begins, it all flows together. This mix stands out from our usual ones, being a bit less dark and serious as it focuses strongly on this specific aesthetic we’ve been wanting to explore for a while. Most of the tracks are over 20 years old, yet they still feel completely timeless to us. Even though the BPM is slower than on our new EP, the overall vibe still connects. Hope you enjoy the mix!”