With more than 28 years spent shaping Montréal’s electronic music landscape, François Lebaron has experienced the culture from virtually every angle: DJ, producer, promoter, label founder, talent buyer, curator, and community builder. From the early days of Montréal’s underground rave scene and his work with Trigger Recording to co-founding AIM Festival and developing projects such as Hoopalaï and Delavelour, his career has consistently been driven by one thing: a deep belief in the power of music to bring people together.

Today, Delavelour represents a new creative chapter. Following the release of his 2022 album Paranoid Fantasies, Lebaron has been extending the record’s life through a series of vinyl releases featuring reinterpretations from artists he admires, including Fred Everything, Lee Curtiss and Isolée, while continuing to develop his own label, Poésie Angulaire. At the same time, his live project has evolved from its MUTEK Montréal debut in 2025 into a new hybrid show presented at Osheaga this summer, blending house, disco, leftfield influences, and nostalgic vocal elements.

Beyond the studio and stage, Lebaron continues to invest in the spaces and experiences that make Montréal’s music community unique. Through intimate House Kitchen events and the Parasol Society day-party series with Elio Elia, he is exploring new ways to bring people closer to artists and back to the communal roots of house music.

We caught up with François to discuss the evolution of Delavelour, the philosophy behind Poésie Angulaire, his new live show, the importance of intimate events, and what comes next as he prepares to take the project to international audiences.

WWD: Hello Francois, welcome to When We Dip! Let’s start by talking about your artist project Delavelour. Your new 12-inch release on your own label, Poésie Angulaire, features remixes from Fred Everything and Lee Curtiss, alongside a collaboration with Annaroza. What was the vision behind this record, and how did these collaborations come together?

This series of vinyl releases stems from my 2022 album, Paranoid Fantasies. The idea was to invite artists I admire to reinterpret the tracks, giving both the album and its songs a second, or even longer, life through fresh perspectives and obviously larger audiences.

WWD: Launching your own label is always a statement of intent. What does Poésie Angulaire represent creatively, and what kind of artists and music are you hoping to champion through the imprint?

Poésie Angulaire is a platform with a distinct artistic and sonic direction. We don’t believe in forcing a specific sound or formula; instead, we seek out artists who bring a singular vision and a unique perspective. Our focus is on cultivating original voices that approach electronic music from a different angle.

WWD: After premiering your live show at MUTEK Montreal 2025, you’re now bringing it to Osheaga Festival this summer. How has the live project evolved since its debut, and what can audiences expect from this next performance?

When I invited my friend and Osheaga’s main talent buyer to come see my show, I had zero expectations. She came backstage afterward and told me she was impressed, but even then… you never know.
Then, in the spring, I got the call to perform at Osheaga this year. My first thought was, I can’t present the same show—I need to create something more hybrid.

I spent about a month figuring out the direction, listening to a bunch of unreleased tracks, and building an entirely new live show.

I’m really happy with where it landed because, at my core, I’m more disco and house than techno, even though my earliest influences came from Detroit. So I created a show that blends house with leftfield, disco-leaning sounds, nostalgic but engaging lyrics and I’m really proud of the result.

WWD: You’ve been active as a DJ, producer, promoter, label owner, and curator for more than two decades. Has developing a live performance challenged or changed the way you think about creating electronic music?

My entire life journey has shaped the way I create music. I’m still inspired by my friends in the studio, experiences I lived through more than 30 years ago or by artists I collaborated with two decades ago. Looking back, it feels as though those moments were meant to nourish my creativity and ultimately lead me to where I am today.

WWD: Alongside your studio work, you’ve been developing HOUSE KITCHEN, a series of intimate events that have become an important part of Montréal’s underground community. What inspired the concept, and why do these smaller, community-driven gatherings still matter today?

The idea of producing events in a very small venue with big-name artists had been on my mind for a long time. I also had this vision of centering it around a kitchen—whether in a loft or someone’s home, I wasn’t exactly sure yet, but I kept coming back to the image of people gathering in a kitchen.

Then one of my friends, Benoit Lamy, who owns a cooperative small rental space that has this huge kitchen, and I felt like nobody renting it was really using the space the way it was meant to be used. We started brainstorming together around the kitchen concept, and the name House Kitchen came naturally.

I first used the space for a New Year’s Eve event called Spaceloft, and a few months later, House Kitchen was officially born. Since then, we’ve hosted artists like Danny Krivit, Marshall Jefferson, Louie Vega, Fred Everything and many more. Spaceloft is still a NYE event though.

I think people are craving that kind of proximity with artists. They want smaller, more intimate experiences. For me, that’s getting back to the true essence of house music.

It also feels like the timing is right. For the past several years, the scene has been heavily dominated by techno, progressive, and trance. Now I feel the cycle is turning back toward disco and house, and, thankfully, people are embracing that sound again.

WWD: You’re also behind the PARASOL day parties with Elio Elia. Daytime events have become increasingly popular around the world in recent years. What makes PARASOL unique, and what kind of atmosphere are you trying to create?

At a glance, Elio and I make a great team for multiple reasons. The idea we’ve been discussing is to create a brand centered around meaningful experiences—creating unforgettable moments, memories, and emotions by bringing together my community and Elio’s.

My long-standing experience in music and event production—including co-founding AIM Festival and producing some of the original raves in the ’90s—brings a cutting-edge creative and production vision to the project. This is complemented by Elio’s strong community-driven approach and ability to bring people together.

Together, we want to create a cross-generational gathering for people who share a passion for music, while building a distinctive brand that can grow organically and evolve over time.

We’re not in a rush. We want to build something authentic, sustainable, and lasting—allowing the community and the brand to evolve slowly but surely.

WWD: Looking back over your career, from the early Trigger Recording days and organizing legendary Montréal raves to have created AIM Festival to launching musical projects like Hoopalaï and Delavelour—what continues to inspire you creatively after more than 28 years in electronic music?

First of all, it’s a deep passion for this culture, for the dj and studio work but also for the music and entertainment industry in general. The real pay from this is when I produce an event, or release a record, book an artist, create a happening where people can connect and remember they connect at this moment I created, it makes me super happy. I’ve connected so many people together over the years through electronic music, it’s insane, and I’m proud of that.

WWD: Between the new release, the growth of Poésie Angulaire, your recent live performance at Osheaga Festival, and your event series, it feels like you’re entering a particularly exciting chapter. Looking ahead, what can listeners and the Montréal community expect from Delavelour over the coming months?

Delavelour is a project that has been evolving steadily through live performances, and I’m now looking to export it strategically to international audiences. I feel that I’m at the right stage, both creatively and professionally, to take this next step. Additional vinyl releases are also on the way, featuring collaborations with Jori Hulkkonen and Prins Thomas.

WWD: Thanks for chatting Francois! 

Thanks to you!

Delavour: Instagram / Spotify
Parasol: Instagram
Space Loft: Instagram

Grab your Delavelour vinyl here.
Osheaga live recording here.
Mutek live recording here.
House Kitchen next show (The Ritual W/ Louie Vega & Anané) here.