Dutch Producer Mau P Talks Debut Album, Evolving Sound at Billboard House @ SXSW

The rising dance music star discussed his musical inspirations, transition from Maurice West, and approach to his first full-length release.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 1:52am

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Billboard cover star Mau P visited the Billboard House @ SXSW on March 15 to discuss his musical journey and upcoming debut album. The Dutch producer reflected on his early inspirations, including growing up in a musical household, and how his sound has evolved from his previous work as Maurice West to his current darkly groovy, sexy and playful style as Mau P. He also shared his approach to balancing big festival sets with more intimate club shows, and his goal of creating a timeless debut album that focuses on strong songwriting over production tricks.

Why it matters

Mau P's rise to headlining status over the past four years has been fueled by his ability to blend big, mainstage-ready sounds with a more club-focused, approachable vibe. As he prepares to release his first full-length album, his comments provide insight into his creative process and vision for establishing a lasting musical identity beyond the current trends.

The details

In the interview, Mau P discussed how his upbringing in a musical family, with a singer mother and session musician father, laid the foundation for his career. He revealed that he initially saw music as a 'last resort' option, also considering careers as a designer and camera operator. However, his deep immersion in music from a young age, with access to instruments and a home studio, ultimately led him to focus on production and DJing. Mau P also spoke about his transition from his previous alias Maurice West, explaining that the knowledge he gained from creating big, festival-ready sounds allowed him to develop a more club-oriented, 'sexier' style as Mau P. This versatility has enabled him to perform at both massive events like Coachella and more intimate parties like CircoLoco.

  • Mau P visited the Billboard House @ SXSW on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
  • Mau P's headlining set at The Concourse Project in Austin was originally scheduled as part of Billboard Presents THE STAGE at SXSW 2026 at Moody Amphitheater, but was moved due to severe weather.

The players

Mau P

A Dutch producer who has risen to headlining status over the past four years with a signature sound that blends big, mainstage-ready EDM with a more club-focused, approachable vibe.

Katie Bain

A senior music correspondent at Billboard who interviewed Mau P at the Billboard House @ SXSW.

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What they’re saying

“I could always just go downstairs and play whatever instrument was available. To me it was just like, 'If I don't know what to do later in life, I can always fall back on whatever my parents were doing. Music was almost like the last resort, if I didn't think of anything else to do that was not music.'”

— Mau P (Billboard)

“When I transitioned into Mau P, it felt like my whole background of doing Maurice West was being put to use for a different kind of direction. I had this knowledge of really big sounds that were made for really big stages, and the only goal was to get everybody jumping up and down. My thought was, 'How do I package that into a sound that's sexier and also approachable for the clubs and not just for the big stage and the big speakers, but also just for your earbuds.'”

— Mau P (Billboard)

“It's a very thin line between me being able to play CircoLoco, but also me being able to play an hour at Coachella in a headline slot and still make it entertaining for people, and not just in a way that it's fireworks and flames, but where I'm mixing for a very long time. I wanted to show people that I'm actually taking my time DJing and doing this craft.”

— Mau P (Billboard)

“I'm not trying to follow what's popping right now. I'm just trying to take it back to the core, so it's not going to be dependent on like, 'I mixed those drums really well and that has the fattest bass ever.' Like, you know me, it will have the fattest bass ever. But it still has to be timeless.”

— Mau P (Billboard)

What’s next

Mau P is currently working on his debut album, which he announced in January 2026. The album is expected to showcase a more stripped-back, songwriting-focused approach compared to his previous high-energy productions.

The takeaway

Mau P's evolution from his early days as Maurice West to his current Mau P persona highlights his ability to blend big, festival-ready sounds with a more intimate, club-focused aesthetic. As he prepares to release his debut album, his comments suggest he is aiming to create a timeless body of work that showcases his versatility as a producer and songwriter, rather than simply chasing current trends.