Mau P Shares Insights on His Debut Album Journey at Billboard House during SXSW
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Mau P, the current cover star of Billboard, made an appearance at the Billboard House during SXSW on March 15, where he engaged in a discussion about his music career ahead of his performance at Austin’s The Concourse Project. This show, initially part of Billboard Presents THE STAGE at SXSW 2026 at Moody Amphitheater, was relocated due to severe weather conditions.
In an interview with Billboard senior music correspondent Katie Bain, the Dutch producer discussed his musical upbringing. He revealed that he was heavily influenced by artists such as Snoop Dogg and Pharrell, along with jazz music played by his father during car rides. “My dad would always play jazz in the car that I had no interest in at the time, but it always stuck in my head,” he noted.
Mau P’s talent is rooted in a musical family; his mother was a singer, and his father worked as a session musician, music teacher, and conductor. Their home featured a music studio on the first floor, which allowed him to explore various instruments. “I could always just go downstairs and play whatever instrument was available,” he explained. He viewed music as a safety net, stating, “If I don’t know what to do later in life, I can always fall back on whatever my parents were doing.”
Over the past four years, Mau P has transitioned to headlining performances with a unique sound described as darkly groovy, sexy, and playful. He previously worked in the mainstage EDM scene under the name Maurice West, and this experience has profoundly shaped his current direction. “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,” he shared.
Mau P has effectively bridged the gap between festival performances and intimate club sets. Reflecting on his viral set at Coachella last April, he said, “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.” His goal is to demonstrate the artistry of DJing rather than relying solely on flashy visuals.
Beyond his performances, Mau is dedicated to creating his debut album, announced in January. He emphasizes a return to musical fundamentals, focusing on creating songs that hold up even when played on a piano. “I’m not trying to follow what’s popping right now. I’m just trying to take it back to the core,” he stated, insisting that while the music will feature strong bass, it will also be timeless.
“Like, you know me, it will have the fattest bass ever,” he affirmed, “but it still has to be timeless.”
