When doing our annual features to highlight our friends in the LGBTQIA community, we came across Delusional Records this past Pride month and knew we had to reach out to learn more about them. With that, meet Maude Vôs, a producer, educator, sound designer, DJ, Live artist and founder of Delusional Records. Maude's passion is curating music from under represented artists and cultivating community through education, mutual aid and resourcing. Sonically, she produces a body of work that spans genres and encompass field recordings, modular synthesizers, and collaborations with vocalists.

When not wearing one of her many hats Maude says, "I try to spend as much time in nature as possible, usually hiking, swimming and adventuring. I love yoga, spa time & reading."

How did you get into your industry / What motivated you?

My journey in audio hasn't been quite linear. I started as a vinyl collector and enthusiast when I was in my teens, obsessed with Miami breaks, DNB and dubstep. Back then, I frequented the discount bin and asked other DJs for the records they no longer played. I built a little drum and bass collection, learning to mix the same 25 records. I then was able to transition to Serato fairly easy and began playing sets locally.

Meanwhile, I began learning production from a few mentors, as I really was fixated on creating my own sounds. I spent hundreds of hours on YouTube, as it was very hard to find classes or programs back then. I knew I wanted to continue learning and building my tool box so I decided to enroll in college and obtained two degrees one in Media Music and another in Recording Technology.

While in college, I began working for the nonprofit Spyhop, teaching audio production and recording to at risk youth and young women. In the midst of all of this, I began using the synthesizers at my school and fell in love with the tangible aspects of hardware synthesis. I frequented the synth shop, ultimately putting together a modest live set with Ableton Live, a microkorg, the volca bass and a few pedals. I began releasing tracks and finding my footing with creating full bodies of work with concepts and intention.

Delusional Records was born in 2021 after a few years of releasing tracks and desiring my own imprint to continue my community work. I wanted to share my industry knowledge and assist women, LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and API folks with the path to releasing records. I continue to teach sound design and industry workshops in Los Angeles. Prior to the pandemic, I was a studio tech, optimizing studios and selling speakers in Los Angeles. During this time I was able to build out my studio with industry discounts, support from my coworkers and my first hand knowledge. So when the pandemic hit I was able to have a great space to create and come up for air from the grueling industry work.

What is a day in the life like?

Everyday for me is so different. I think this aspect makes life so interesting and unique but also can boarder on chaos. Somedays, I'm in production / creation mode where I do nothing but sound design and composition. Other days, Im working on Delusional Records listening to demos, creating press releases, sending promos, and working with distribution. And then there are days where I'm prepping DJ sets, putting together stems and such for my live sets or working on education for a workshop. To maintain balance, I try to get hike or yoga sesh in daily.

In your opinion what has been your favorite / the coolest thing you've worked on?

I really felt like I hit a big stride with my recent release 5th Generation Angel. It really encompasses every aspect of my sound. This record is experimental electronica that is cinematic yet warehouse worthy, touching on sounds from all of my favorite genres. There's even a meditation track on this EP called Luminous Dawn featuring the vocals of Alice.km.

A few other amazing moments have been to have my track Leave Your Body featuring the vocals M-0ther synced in Billie Porters Movie, Our Son and being featured in the book Patch and Tweak with Korg (six pages of patches, studio tips, etc).

Delusional Records continues to fill my cup with all of the unbelievable artists I am so grateful to work with. The label has released 19 stunning releases, been nominated for best breakthrough label by DJ MAG and has worked with over 75 artists at this point.

What has been / is the most difficult part of your job?

Time management can be a struggle for me. I have implemented the organization program Asana (shout out to my brother for the assist on this), which has been so helpful in planning each release. I also now have an intern which has been absolutely life changing. I think also finding what you can delegate to others is so helpful.

What advice do you have for someone wanting to get into pursuing what you’re doing?

I think you have to start somewhere and its not going to be perfect or polished, but in the process "of doing" you will find your footing.

I also think not waiting, meaning, making that EP to the best of your ability, start the label with the resources you have, ask the artist you love for a remix. At first it can all be so overwhelming, so start small, track by track and perfecting the process. It's all in "practice", repetition and commitment.

Also, ask for advice, help, etc. from others in the industry that you admire. As for resources, I love Bandcamp, it's a great platform to begin the routine of releasing music. Find local industry mixers, open mics / decks, workshops in your community!

Are you a vinyl collector yourself? What drew you to it? If not, why the vinyl industry?

Yesss! I love tangible pieces of art. I began collecting records because of the culture around DJing and it was one of the few ways to listen to the underground music I loved. I also love a good hifi system. My father built speaker cabinets when he first moved to the US so we had a lot of hifi in my childhood home. I also love sampling old white labels, and other abstract recordings. I'm currently working with a record on hypnosis from the 1960s for samples and its been a blast!

What types of things are happening in your industry / with vinyl that you’re excited or worried about? i.e. innovation, or trends you’re seeing.

I do feel like there is a new generation that wants to play records which is so exciting. I see artists paying homage to the culture by making bootlegs out of old classic electronica tracks. I also have been seeing artists push sound design to new universes which is been so inspiring. I love all the maxforlive devices that allow you to imagine sound design in new ways.

I do think hifi, turntables, and vinyl distribution are at an all time high which makes me worried that there is still a barrier in this medium. In a more general sense, AI sound design makes me insanely nervous.

Who has been influential to you and your growth as a professional in this industry? 

Seeing artists like Suzanne Ciani or Bjork carve their own paths was so inspiring. I'm also so inspired by FLINTA engineers like Piper Pane, Heba Kadry and Ebonie Smith.

More recently, my manager Alex has aided in creating release and remix opportunities for my work allowing my art to reach new listeners. There had also been numerous mentors, collaborators, engineers that have really aided in elevating my skill, technique and processes.

Anything else you’d like to add; if not tell us what you're listening to: 

A few of my favorite releases recently have been...

Qua - SAUCO / Yetsuby - b_b / Laced - oko / Polygonia- Da Nao Tian Gong / Chewlie- Transforming Matter

Favorite FLINTA Run Labels: Woozy (ran by Ema) / Kindergarten (ran by Ma Sha) / Nehza (ran by RONI) / Sounds of Naga (ran by IHA) / Pressure Dome (ran by Yushh) / Pipipi (ran by Deep Creep).