When we first spoke with Mike Wallace in mid-2025 it was really just to enquire if he was interested in ‘testing’ the DELIA synth to determine if it would suit his creative process and be a useful studio addition. It wasn’t long after taking delivery of the synth that Mike came back to us with the idea of creating an entire album using just the DELIA synth — of course we said yes!
Within a few weeks Mike had sent us several album tracks and already had a theme and name for the album, ‘Crawling Toward The Sun’. Needless to say, we were pretty excited about the project and the parallels it draws to classic ’60s and ’70s experimental synthesizer concept albums like Mort Garson’s Mother Earth’s Plantasia, Gershon Kingsley’s Music to Moog By, and Wendy Carlos’ Switched-On Bach.
Mike Wallace X DELIA
The whole project came together very quickly and before we knew it, Mike had shared the album and artwork! During the process and recordiing of the album we asked Mike a few questions about his experience using the Delia synth and what made it the right choice for a single instrument concept album.
What is your favourite feature of DELIA?
The motorized knobs that allow you to save presets with instant recall.
It really helps my brain stay focused & get to work.
What makes the motorized knobs so special?
I tend to get lost in the sauce when sculpting sounds, which can be good thing but also distracting & side track what I originally started. Having sounds I already know will work in my composition saved & organized helps me stay focused when composing.
What is your main use for Delia?
I love to use the Delia for Pads, Bass, and Brass sounds.
What is it that makes Delia a preferred choice over other similar devices?
The combination of the onboard effects & the drive knob allow the user to have immediate control over the output & adding classic effects. This also saves time in the studio for a need to pick & patch into selected preamp / effect racks. Saved studio time = saved money.
For sound design, what so you consider the best part of the DELIA synth?
I think having both the high & low pass filters help a tonne when writing music.
What Melbourne Instruments feature do you wish you had on other synths?
Very simple, the motorized knobs!
If you could add a couple more features to DELIA, what would be the obvious choice for you?
Would be nice to see the Delia come stock with some plucks / mallets / keys as I tend to go to other instruments when in need. These can of course be quickly created, but having more options as part of the package when opening would be a nice feature.
(Editor’s note: More sounds and preset banks are available for download).
Listen
Here’s a selection of tunes from Mike’s new album for your listening enjoyment. Check out the full album at Bandcamp (released as Digital and Cassette).