Do you remember the moment when you decided that you wanted to make music for a
living?
Kaskade: Music has always been a part of me.
In the beginning, I was just trying to dodge getting a real job. I never
dreamed that it would go the way that it did.
You produce consistent hits in dance
music. How do you find inspiration to create new music every month?
Kaskade: I am always trying different things
in the studio to keep it fresh. I move around between styles from ambient to
deep to more club-oriented stuff. Whatever is inspiring me now is what I will
work on.
I don't try and spend too much time on any one song. If it’s
not working, I trash it and start over.
Which synths/drum machines do you use
to create the initial draft of your songs?
Kaskade: I have created my own sound banks
over the years. I use drums and synth patches to get an idea going before I
dive in too deep. Korg Micro makes it easy to get simple things out.
I
am also a big fan of the live bass and Rhodes to get a organic feel to things.
You can check out my studio rig to see all the stuff I use. I keep everything
simple so I don't get distracted from the creative process.
What's the best way to create an
intimate, "small-room" House track?
Kaskade: Live elements keep the sound more
intimate and real. It works in a lounge environment where people want to hear
the soul.
How do you create "big room"
tracks?
Kaskade: I like to use drums that really crack
through. I also use a lot of reverb and delay to help give them that feel.
Another trick is to stack multiple sounds together to add more depth - For
example, you can play the same synth part 5 times with 5 different patches and
make it sound big. I use well over a hundred channels with multiple plug-ins
for a typical production.
When trying to create a "big room"
track, many producers get a Trance-sounding record instead of Hed Kandi-style
House music. How do you create the perfect House lead?
Kaskade: Typical house sounds can be found in
the Juno or other classic synths or Rhodes. On one of my bigger tunes “Gonna
Make It,” I mic’ed up a Baby Grand piano to get the sound that I wanted. Try
lots of stuff until you find what you like. If you do not like the sound, keep
digging.
For House music, try to automate your audio filters. I would
automate the send, wet/dry level, resonance and frequency for my filter
sweeps.
How do you know when you've found a
great vocalist?
Kaskade: My vocalists need to be cool people
and easy to work with. With any vocalist, you need to talk to him or her and
convey the words and melody that you have written in order for the performance
to be convincing.
You will know when you are working with great
vocalists when it feels right, and that makes all the difference. Any
awkwardness will come out in the recording. All the people I work with are
great and that’s why I continue to go back to them -- Joslyn Petty, Marcus
Bently, Haley Gibby, Sunsun, Tamra Keenan, Becky Williams, Latrice, and the list
goes on.
What was your first major pop remix,
and how did you get the job?
Kaskade: Justin Timberlake's “Like I Love
You”. The A & R guy called out of the blue saying he had heard one of my
tracks on a compilation and wanted the same sound for the remix. I turned in
the remix and they ended up not using it. I gave out my version to a few
friends and it made the rounds. Soon, it was bootlegged and I was hearing it
everywhere. Everyone form Grand Master Flash to Mark Farina was playing it.
After that, the phone just continued to ring.
Other than Justin, you have also
remixed the likes of Seal, Nelly Furtado, and Britney Spears. What advice can
you give to producers who want to remix Top 20 artists?
Kaskade: Spend time developing your own thing.
Once you do that, people will recognize you and come for "your sound."
You're also a professional DJ. What
equipment do you bring to your DJ gigs?
Kaskade: I always have my laptop loaded with a
Pro Tools micro, Reason and Live. I have my kick/snare/hats/bass/lead separated
onto individual tracks. This gives me more control so I can manipulate the
program.
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