Mau P is the newest force in electronic music, a true testimony to the genre’s ability to continually reinvent itself while staying loyal to its underground roots. He is also SoundCloud’s latest Ascending artist, a monthly celebration of extraordinary musicians from around the world who are doing things their way.
Hailing from Amsterdam, Mau P, born Maurits Westveen, has rapidly established himself as a maverick in the global electronic music scene. The transition from his earlier career as Maurice West, our first introduction to him as a DJ and producer, to his current moniker marked not just a bold reinvention, but also a deeply personal shift:
“I feel like Mau P is really who I am… Whatever I create, what I make and what I come up with — it’s Mau P.”
From any perspective, it was a courageous move that has paid off in spectacular fashion.Rooted in his Dutch heritage and fueled by an unwavering commitment to artistic authenticity, Mau’s sound is a masterful mixture of underground grit and festival-ready euphoria. His breakout track, “Drugs From Amsterdam,” became an instant anthem, resonating with audiences around the world. The success of this debut single set the tone for an impressive string of releases, including “Gimme That Bounce,” “Metro” with Kevin de Vries, “On Again,” a collaboration with legendary producer Mike Dean, and “Receipts” alongside Diplo featuring hip-hop star Gunna.
LISTEN TO ‘RECEIPTS’ ON SOUNDCLOUD NOW
Mau’s ability to craft tracks that dominate both the airwaves and the dancefloor has made him a standout talent. In addition to his impressive catalog of original releases, Mau has demonstrated his versatility and earned respect within the industry through remixes for some of music’s most iconic names. In 2023, he reworked tracks by Swedish House Mafia, Calvin Harris and Armand van Helden. Reflecting on these collaborations, Mau shared,
“When an artist asks you to take their art and give your spin on it… Calvin Harris, Swedish House Mafia and Armand van Helden… people I’ve looked up to my whole life, to be given that opportunity to work with their art is really amazing.”
Speaking recently at SoundCloud’s Insider Knowledge session, one of the standout events in SoundCloud’s partnership with ADE 2024, Mau’s transparency and passion shone through greatly. Joined by SoundCloud CEO Eliah Seton and Global Head of Music Emmy Lovell, Mau reflected not only on his own journey but also on his unwavering focus on connection, both with his listeners and with other producers.“I feel like on SoundCloud, we have this different sort of vision where it’s a little bit more open than the other platforms that we release music on,” he explained. “When people go on SoundCloud, I feel like they also know that they step into that world, and the way they comment and interact is like a free conversation. People will say the craziest stuff — either good or bad — and all comments are welcome."
Mau’s passion for building community extends beyond his own success. He also spoke about his weekly XXX Radio SoundCloud series, which has grown rapidly in engagement.
“There are producers on there that I support who will find my radio shows and be like, ‘thank you so much for playing my song.’ Then people can find those producers by going to their profile. It’s like a whole big machine of me supporting new guys, because I used to be like that, I used to be commenting on radio shows too. So, it’s amazing I can do that for other people now.”
This ethos of connection and shared experience has also played a vital role in the organic spread of Mau’s music. Reflecting on how fans have helped amplify his unreleased tracks, he said,
“…a lot of my releases have sort of been done through navigating the SoundCloud plays on rips uploaded by fans that love the song so much they were like, ‘I gotta get this on SoundCloud just so I can listen to it over and over.’”
These rips often come from DJ sets Mau has shared online, which include bootlegs or edits that haven’t been officially released yet. Fans, eager to hear these tracks repeatedly, upload them to SoundCloud, creating a ripple effect that builds buzz and anticipation for the official release. For Mau, SoundCloud isn’t just a platform; it’s a dynamic ecosystem where his journey, his listeners and his fellow producers are all interwoven in a meaningful and collaborative way.
Mau’s latest single, “MERTHER,” released by Defected Records, samples Ini Kamoze’s “World A Music” in a way so different to what we’ve heard before, transforming a classic element into a house track that stands at the genre’s peak. This is house music at its highest.
LISTEN TO ‘MERTHER’ ON SOUNDCLOUD NOW
CREDITS: Content: Sata Studios, Design: No Void Studios
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