One of the hottest names in dance music these days is that of Kaskade, the DJ/producer/artist responsible for the huge hits "Its You, It's Me" and "Steppin' Out." A native of the Chicago area now living in San Francisco, Kaskade (his real name is Ryan Raddon) has long been a part of the West Coast house music scene and instrumental in the success of the SF-based music label Om Records (behind the scenes as an A&R executive and as part of their stable of DJs and artists). is now recognized as a giant within the dance music industry with broad global appeal. Chart topping successes, sold out venues the world over when he spins, and the licensing of "Steppin' Out" to Budweiser for use in a television ad campaign are all testaments to the fact that Kaskade is at the top of his game. He's also a very busy man who graciously took some time out to answer questions that would allow BOI readers to get to know him a little bit better. Where exactly in the Chicago area are you from? I grew up in the suburb of Northbrook and attended Glenbrook North High School. It was made infamous for its "Powder Puff Football" hazing incident that received national attention. Go Spartans! When was your first exposure to house music? It's hard to pin point as a lot of things all kind of happened at the same time. I was really into breakdancing and so I was constantly tuned into WBMX radio station to hear the latest music. I remember the mixshows with the Hot Mix 5, but Julian "Jumping" Perez sticks out in my mind. As for clubs, I started going to Medusa's in 1985. I really think that was the seminal year for me as I discovered that house music was more of a movement than just some music on the radio. You attended college in Utah in the early 1990s, so what was the house music scene like out there in those days? There was no house music scene to speak of, just a few random guys that had come from other places similar to me, but no scene. I realized that if I wanted to listen to house music I was going to have to start to dj outside of my bedroom. I put my first party together and played music I loved to an audience that had no idea what I was trying to do. There was no local source for records so I was ordering all my music over the phone from Gramaphone back in Chicago. Do you have any formal musical training? I am trained as a vocalist. I was in choir in high school and also in a chamber singing group. How did your association with Om Records come about? I had shopped some tracks to them over the years and when I decided to move to San Francisco I looked them up once I got here. They were the only people in the city that I knew at the time. Your music has a uniquely organic quality to it and isn't nearly as electronic sounding as most other dance music tracks. Do you think this fresh melodic approach is one of the keys to your success? think so, but it really is hard to know why people are drawn to certain sounds. In dance music there is a lot of clutter out there so it was important to me to develop my own sound and to write memorable melodies. How excited were you when you first heard "Steppin' Out" on TV in the Budweiser commercial? I was watching Saturday Night Live and U2 was the musical guest. They had just finished playing and it cut to the commercial and on came "Stepping Out." It was a really cool moment and one that I will not easily forget. Compare and/or contrast the personalities of Kaskade and Ryan Raddon. No difference really, I just came up with the Kaskade name because I was trying to avoid it all being about me. That plan did not really work but it was a nice idea at the time. From a professional standpoint how do you view yourself? I am a songwriter who enjoys producing his own music oh yeah and on the weekends I like to play records. It did not start that way - it just kind of turned into that after many years of putting music out. I think I was first a dj and the rest just happened over time. Has the advent and growing popularity of internet sites such as Traxsource and iTunes been monetarily beneficial to you and other dance music artists? Yes, these sites have really changed the business and it seems like a lot more money is making its way back to the artist. In the old model there were too many middlemen between the artist and the person trying to buy the music. The internet is cutting out a lot of those people and in the end it is really going to bring in a new wave of creativity. It is an exciting time to be a part of it all. You've had DJing gigs at some of the most famous venues around the world and spun in front of a wide variety of audiences. What's your favorite type of gig? My favorite gig is a 2-hour set - because I am old and I get tired - played in a small room with 300 to 600 people, with a really wicked sound system that you can feel, and a crowd that is up for it. These are the best nights with folk's sweaty, fist pumping, and screaming for more. That is what it's all about. For more info about Kaskade, check out www.kaskademusic.com or www.myspace.com/kaskademusic Interview by Michael Pleasants