Kaskade Interview

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Kaskade is the brainchild of new US deep house producer Ryan Raddon. Born in the suburbs of Chicago, his interest in house music developed during the 80’s, within the very birthplace of the entire genre. Now based in San Francisco, he has become increasingly established in the global house scene with releases on labels such as Om, Naked and Inspirit Music to name a few. He has DJ’ed with Mark Farina, Miguel Migs and Jay J, taking him to far-flung destinations including Korea and all over the West Coast, Canada and now Europe.

With an album due to drop in 2003 and a steady flow of quality singles out at the moment we figured it was about time to catch up with Ryan and find out what the whole Kaskade thing was about …

DHN - 2002 has definitely been a good year for you. But to start with just takes us back a few years. Where did it all begin and how did you first enter the music industry?

Kaskade - It all started as a kid in Chicago. House music here, house music there, house music everywhere. I know people get tired of hearing the Chicago shtick but it only gets brought up so much because it influenced so many people at an early part of this whole movement.

DHN - So you started DJing - or just checking out the clubs?

K - I was a dancer first. I liked going to a club and just sweating my ass off to some very cool cutting edge stuff. There was a lot of energy in the scene back then. I started buying and playing records to try and hold on to the memories of those very insane nights. I started dj'ing in the mid 80's and slowly started putting a studio together. I released my first record in 97. It sucked, but it was a start.

DHN - When did you go full time into the industry - was it when you started releasing or later?

K - That is an interesting question. I’ve never really thought about it. I have never considered it to be a fulltime thing just something I have done. Thinking back though, 95 is when this became a full time thing. I was working a lot on music and I got my first club gig. And at University a club gig put me through school. That’s when I realized it could be more than a hobby. It could be something that I could make money at too

DHN– So at what sort of time did the whole Kaskade thing kick off?

K - The Kaskade ting came in to play in 2001. I came to San Francisco and was really inspired by everything that was going on like Soulstice and all the live stuff working within the deep house. I then realized that to take it to the next level it was going to have to be more than me and my trusty sampler cutting up old disco records. I did a few records with some vocalists and some studio musicians thinking that it would just be a one time thing but the response to the record "What I Say" on Om was big.

DHN - What took you to San Francisco in the first place?

K - SF is where it is all happening. A place where deep music lives. There’s no place else like it in the US at the moment I was very attracted to what was happening here and it seems like a good fit. The place really feels like home to me now.

DHN– Okay so on to your releases… Tell us a bit more about the name Kaskade. What made you choose it?

K - When I put the records out I almost did it under my name Ryan Raddon but I liked the idea of coming up with a whole new name. I felt like the project was so much bigger than just me so I reached out and grabbed the name Kaskade. I liked the sound of it. It sounded soft and hard at the same time, kind of like the music.

DHN– So is Kaskade just you or the whole band?

K - Kaskade is my name. I have many other people that I go to regularly now. I use 4 or 5 different vocalists and many of the same studio musicians. I also write with a few different people too, but this is my baby and everyone involved knows this. All the people I work with are extremely cool and have amazing talent thus the success of the project. I would really like to see it evolve to a live show but for the moment it is a DJ thing.

DHN - Well you’ve certainly been firing on all cylinders of late. Tell us a bit more about your most current releases as Kaskade …

K - It has been crazy busy lately. I’ve been going nuts to really get the name and the sound out there. I have the “Jet Lag EP” on Naked, “I Feel Like” on Om, which is the first single to the full length that will be out on March 18 2003 (very exciting!). And also there is “The Gift EP” on Jamayka and “Keep On EP” on Lowdown. Not forgetting of course a remix of Amma “On My Own” which is out now on Inspirit and “Lost Groove on Moezee Muzik. That is all the really recent stuff but the spring is going to be big too.

DHN - The Jet Lag EP is certainly one of the better Naked releases of late …

K - Yeah. Many people have been saying that lately, I think they are switching gears a bit. I sold that track to them almost a year ago when they were really doing the house thing.

DHN - What do you think of the Quantic remix on that 12”?

K - It’s always interesting to hear your own stuff remixed. The mix was a little jumpy for me but Quantic has done some amazing stuff. I actually wanted to hear another house rendition but that is what I mean when I say switching gears...

DHN - And how is the current single for Om doing?

K - It is out in the US at the moment and is doing well. People seem to like it. Huge vocal from Joslyn. Smoooooth. I think she is on 5 or 6 of the tracks out of 13 on the album. She’s amazing. I am lucky to be working with somebody so talented and all my other home boys out there that make it happen. Finn Bjarnson, Yoni Gileadi, Craig Poole and other vocalists Amy Michelle, Amanda, Rob Wannamaker. My peoples they are the best.

DHN - Okay moving onto to your forthcoming material … At DHN we’ve had the privilege to hear a sneak preview of the forthcoming Kaskade longplayer. The early version we have sounds very good …

K - Well I’ve changed it a bit to get a few more house tunes on there and took some of the slower stuff out. I am so stoked on the way it turned out. I think it’s a strong first album.

DHN - What are your plans for releasing the album then?

K - It’s going to be dropping on Om around March time. I am finalizing the artwork this week. All the singles have helped generate some buzz so hopefully Om can create a bit of a groundswell. I will tour my butt off and go play every last little dirty club to try and spread the music a bit and heighten the awareness. I think people are starting to recognize my tunes now and I need to let them know that it’s me.

DHN - And so what is the next single to be taken from the album after “I Feel Like”?

K - “It's You, It's Me” is the next single, and also the title of the album. I think this will drop a month or so before the album - so early 2003. There’s a funny story about this tune though. I initially thought it would make a nice bonus track for the album vinyl but when people heard it the response was huge! Needless to say it is on the album and the second single. People really seem to love it. It makes me happy when I play it and get such a great response.

DHN - So when Deep House Network fans get to check you out gigging what can they expect?

K - I will give them a lot of unreleased Kaskade tunes. I always have a few of those up my sleeve. So, you will hear some nice deep stuff with an edge but I can also get a bit chunky funky on them. The Chicago manages to always come out a bit.

DHN - Okay, so before we sign off… what are your last words for all those Kaskade fans out there reading this interview…

K - I would have to say - thanks for all the support and hopefully I will be coming to play in a town near you soon …

DeepHouseNetwork [DHN]

Play Kaskade in the Insoul Shooter game.

Selected Kaskade Discography

Kaskade – Jet Lag EP – Naked Music
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Kaskade – I Feel Like – Om
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Kaskade – Lost Groove – Moezee
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Kaskade – The Gift EP – Jamayka
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Kaskade – Keep On EP – Lowdown
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Kaskade presents – Sounds Of Om 3 CD – Om
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Kaskade presents – Sounds Of Om 3 LP – Om
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Kaskade – Gonna Make It – Om
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Kaskade – What I Say – Om
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Amma – On My Own (Kaskade / Andy Caldwell / The Beard mixes) – Inspirit Music
Buy | Listen

Naked Music NYC – Reconstructed Soul #3 (includes Kaskade mix) – Om
Buy | Listen