The Beat Goes On: Arjan Interviews Kaskade

August 27, 2007

Kaskade (aka Ryan Raddon) is one of the very few club DJs who is able to successfully capture a smooth and subtle soul vibe in his music. Instead of cooking up some plain beats and beeps like many of his peers do, Kaskade infuses his productions with dancefloor-ready, melodic hooks that give them a poppy edge. The DJ/producer/songwriter returns this month with a brand-new remix record titled "Bring The Night." It is a compilation of his favorite remixes including his chart-topping remix of Nelly Furtado's "All Good Things." The disc follows his 2006 artist album "Love Mysterious."

Kaskade grew up in Chicago where he first got into dance music listening to Frankie Knuckles spin at Club Medusas. After moving to Salt Lake City, he funded his studies at the University of Utah by starting his own record store and DJing at a local radio station. After he moved to San Fransisco, he landed a gig as A&R Manager for indie dance label OM Records, which was the perfect opportunity for Raddon to get his own demos heard. Under his Kaskade moniker, he released his first album "It's You It's Me" in 2003 and his breakthrough effort "In The Moment" in 2004. Time to sit down with Kaskade and quiz him about his latest effort.

Why did you decide to do a remix compilation?
When I do an artist album, people get 12 or 13 tracks that I wrote and produced. This album was a great opportunity for me to show the DJ side of me. I find that in the DJ world sometimes the music gets a bit lost. People like to hear the music in the mix. So I approached the label and I said I want to do a mix CD because I'm getting so many requests from people for certain remixes.

How did you select the tracks?
When I'm doing a mix CD, I like to send out emails to friends of mine who are producers and ask them for their upfront music. I also look in my DJ bag to see what I'm playing in the clubs. In the studio, I figure out what tracks fit together. I just think about what I would want to hear in the car, in the bedroom or when I'm getting ready to go out. In the end, it really represents what does well for me in the club.

What is it about your style that appeals to people you think?
It's interesting. People that go out like to hear dance and electronic music but they also like to hear music that is recognizable; older songs that have been mashed up or hits that have been remixed. So that's what I always include in my sets. When I'm on the road, I play a lot of my own music almost to the point that it seems self-serving, but I find that if I don't do that people get upset. They also want to hear my own tracks.

For people not familiar with your music, how would you describe it?
I make epic, emotional dance music. There's always an epic flavor to it, but it is more organic than what is currently out there. It is funny that a lot people listen to my music and they say 'oh this is dance music?' and I say of course. Dance music can have melody too! If people like Justin Timberlake or Nelly Furtado come to me for a remix they like the fact that I'm a songwriter as well and they want to hear a different spin on their song. It sort of an entry level dance sound. I started playing in small cocktail bars but now I play huge crowds and my thing has always been to keep the sound small and soulful but adding an epic flavor to it.

The DJ landscape is incredibly competitive. How do you stay fresh?
I don't feel that. I have carved out my own sound I think. I'm not like Paul van Dyk or DJs like that. You have that whole group of DJs and they all are the number one DJ in the world. I have never aligned myself with that. I do my own thing.

You have been very successful with your own artist albums. Are you not itching to write your own music again and work with vocalists?
I'm always itching. I just enjoy writing music. I'm actually in the studio right now, locked away. I'm always working on stuff and hopefully some new music is coming out early next year.

Are you a classically trained songwriter?
Not at all. I am actually a trained singer.

I have never heard you sing on any of your songs!
That's because I'm my own worst critic. I'm not that good [Laughs]

When I saw you spin in town, I think half of the room was filled with your gay fans.
I love it! I love that they come out to support me. I love playing gay clubs. They get so into the music. It's a blast. Totally. It's cool that I write music that appeals to them too.

You recently produced a great remix of Timberlake's "LoveStoned." How do you go about making a remix?
Actually, the lyrics and vocals are very important to me as a starting point. If I can just hear the acapella, I can imagine the song in my head and how I would have produced it. I like to come in with a blank slate if possible.

A lot of your mixes are not easy to get and a lot of people share them online. Does it help you or hurt you?
Five years ago, it hurt me and I wanted people to stop because it is stealing. Now, I still think it needs to stop but I'm much more aware that it has helped me too. I played a huge room in Asia for example, and I know I didn't sell a lot of records there but the the crowd was singing along to the music. How can that be? That's because they're sharing the music. I wish the distribution was more worldwide and people could get it legally.

Arjan Interviews Junior Senior

August 17, 2007

Junior Senior are two shiny happy people.

Time to have a chat with the openly-gay Jeppe Laursen to talk about the album and more. (Jeppe is pictured on the right in the photo.)

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Three Out Artists to Watch

August 08, 2007

Many pop artists decide to stay mum about their sexuality. And they have their reasons for it. Some feel it might jeopardize their mainstream popularity, while others are still coming to terms with their identity and are not ready to open up about something so personal.

There are, however, plenty of singers who have no problem being openly gay in their personal and professional life. Three of them are emerging from the crop and are worth keeping you eye (and ears) on.

Ari Gold is one of New York's most prominent gay pop singers. With his good looks and smooth, sultry vocals, he has built a reputation as one of the gay community's most prominent heartthrobs.

Gold is gearing up to release his third album on October 2. The disc, titled "Transport Systems,” was inspired by the concepts of movement and progression, transportation and transformation.

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