For anybody out there who is remotely into that lovely genre we call house, it would be almost sacrilegious to say that one has not been blessed with hearing the smooth, soulful sound that is Ryan Raddon, better known as Kaskade. With two full length albums and several mix CDs under his belt, this DJ/producer/artist who finds his origins in the beautiful city of Chicago, does not seem like he is going to let up. And rightly so, because with numerous US Billboard hits, groundbreaking solo albums, countless house compilation appearances and accolades from the most esteemed of peers, Kaskade is soaring the waves of success like a phoenix.
Owing his roots to Chicago, he remarks that the city that has had “a huge influence on my art and who I am as a person. It helped mould who I am at a formidable time”. Kaskade identifies, “The Smiths, Yaz, The Cure, Depeche Mode,” and others as his musical influences while growing up. He eventually shipped off to Salt Lake City, where he received a college education at the University of Utah. In his sojourn there he also established an extremely popular house joint - The Manhatten Club – that ran successfully for 5 years, and set up his own record store. In 2000 he finally settled down with his wife in the beautiful bay area of San Francisco. Landing a position as A&R assistant at none other than Om Records, Kaskade has been a prominent face in the house music scene ever since, working alongside such luminaries such as Mark Farina and Andy Caldwell. On the impact of such illustrious company, he noted “being around artists that you admire pushes you to continue to do what you love while trying to put your own spin on things”.
It can be said quite confidently that Kaskade is a major figure in house music today. Though, as we have all come to no doubt realise, in today’s contemporary society even the most endeared of sounds to the masses can struggle to truly crossover into the boundaries of commercial success. Kaskade isn’t phased though, and when asked on the future of house music in terms popularity and substance, he replied, “I always think that it is really ready to burst but it seems to keep moulding and transforming staying ahead of the popularity curve”, and on the state of the global house scene in general, “It seems like it is growing all over the place including here in the US. It always amazes me how global the scene has become”. Well with the impact artists such as Ryan have had on the scene and helped it expand, the wake of the world to house music doesn’t seem all that astonishing to this writer. Indeed it was Kaskade - amongst others - who developed many people’s (myself included) new found love for house music and its many stylistic variations. ”[It’s] cool to bring people to something that I have loved so much… I am continually moving forward and pushing the sound that I love – house.”
Stylistically, Kaskade claims not to have had many major factors contributing to a significant change in style, “it is nice when technology helps to make your life easier to help create things”, and there aren’t many who can truly justify the convenience that technology has brought to creators of music, though for Kaskade he seems to have just used the avenue to push the boundaries further in a 24 hour day, rather than “ease” back a tad. Asked if he ever felt overwhelmed with a triple task job at Om and a family life to match, he replied “Ummmmm, always. I am typing answering these questions in the middle of the night after returning home for the first time in 14 days. I would not have it any other way. I am blessed to be doing what I love”. No doubt time spent, “on the next full length that will hopefully get out later this year!”
On the impact of location on his set content, he noted “all the rooms I play in anywhere in the world usually speak to me on some level as to what music needs to be conveyed. I might not listen sometimes but it is necessary to change it up to try and make something special happen at each show”. Australians will hope the same when he touches ground here, again. Knowing his fondness for taking animals across the border, the suggestion of a kangaroo popped up, on which he replied, “having a pet Kangaroo would be the coolest thing ever, here in the US that is. I would be the toast of San Francisco!” On his imminent arrival in Oz, Ryan seemed to echo the sentiments of so many of us down under “can’t wait!” Luckily we don’t have to wait much longer either.
Don’t miss Kaskade playing a run of dates along the east coast this March:
Sun Mar 12 – Sounds on Sunday, Sydney (BUY TICKETS)
Sun Mar 12 – Better Days, Melbourne
Fri Mar 17 – Base Bar, Magnetic Island
Sat Mar 18 – Platinum, Gold Coast
