Change often is the solely fixed, however blazing infernos tearing by Pacific Palisades, Kaskade’s dwelling for the final 15 years, was a brand new form of change for him.
After 24 days of burning, his complete life appeared totally different. Between excursions, the famed DJ and dance music producer, born Ryan Raddon, spent nearly all of his time at Palisades sizzling spots just like the Village. Now he frequents Santa Monica and Brentwood by pressure. Of the 30 households in his church, solely 4 of their homes stay standing, together with his. Sadly, his brother’s home was misplaced to the fires.
“The group is destroyed. It doesn’t exist anymore. It’s exhausting to not be indignant,” Raddon says, remarking that he’s been questioning if he ought to keep within the Palisades. His three daughters grew up there. Does he take away their childhood dwelling?
When requested how this sudden and unprecedented shift affected the music he made for “undux,” his first album since 2015’s “Automated,” Raddon takes a number of moments to gather his ideas.
“I’ve executed fairly a little bit of press for this file, and also you’re the primary particular person to carry that up,” he admits. He made two makes an attempt to put in writing a brand new album within the final three years, however he was already going by private struggles earlier than the fires. Divorcing his spouse of almost three many years and watching two of his daughters go away dwelling led to melancholy songs that didn’t really feel proper to launch. Finally, he determined to complete the physique of labor, it doesn’t matter what.
“I would like to simply make this, see what it’s and get by it,” Raddon says. He was in a position to full it with the assistance of songwriters he’s identified for years, similar to Cayson Renshaw, Finn Bjarnson and Nate Pyfer. “It’s therapeutic to sit down down and work with one other songwriter. [Telling them] I’ve quite a bit happening I need to write about.”
The title of the album is “undux,” pronounced “undo,” as a result of every little thing happening left him feeling undone. The result’s a set of tracks that skews deeper and fewer euphoric than earlier Kaskade albums.
Raddon ventures away from his customary four-on-the-floor home music and into damaged beats on “Began Over.” Heat orchestral strings and Renshaw’s ghostly vocals function automobiles for giant emotional builds over the scattered drums, portray a sonic image of how messy the heavy moments can really feel.
“If Solely” is a clear, guitar-driven indie dance tune that instantly recounts Raddon’s expertise within the aftermath of the blaze: “It’s all ashes / What the hell simply occurred? / In some way I’m nonetheless standing / However I’m asking what for?”
The title of Raddon’s album is “undux,” pronounced “undo,” as a result of every little thing happening left him feeling undone.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Occasions)
There may be nonetheless music on the album befitting of Raddon’s dozens of main-stage units he performs yearly. The lead single, “DNCR,” coasts on banging piano chords and an lively kick. However he wrote the upbeat songs after working by the taxing feelings he introduced into the method.
“Any time you’re being trustworthy, and also you’re going into the studio, you possibly can’t keep away from that stuff,” Raddon says. “This was a tough file for me to make.”
When Raddon’s supervisor heard “undux,” he was glad Raddon was feeling higher, however he additionally delivered a stern warning: Solely die-hards would admire the softer strategy. Labels echoed this impression earlier than the Vancouver-based digital powerhouse, Monstercat, signed the album.
“After I despatched the file out, folks typically weren’t having it,” Raddon says. “Labels that I had labored with up to now, and another folks which might be making noise within the area proper now, stated, ‘Name us again if you’re doing dance music.’”
“Undux” consists of dance music. But it surely’s not all peak-time bangers like his largest hits, similar to “I Keep in mind” and “Ambiance.” Within the years following “Automated,” most of Raddon’s output was that form of music. Streaming shifted listening habits away from lengthy gamers and towards playlists and algorithms, each of which favor singles. Singles within the dance realm traditionally do one of the best numbers-wise after they’re primed for reside.
Raddon’s most intensive releases on this interval had been his 5 “Redux” EPs. The Redux venture channels his earliest years of DJing, when he was targeted on protecting the dance flooring transferring. Kaskade releases get folks transferring, too, however songwriting defines that music. Utilizing lyrics and melodies to inform the kind of tales he wanted to share after the fires.
“Making a single’s neat, however if you sit down within the studio, there’s a lot strain. I would like to have the ability to play this at 2 a.m. in my set. That’s a bizarre field to work in,” Raddon shares. “After I’m making an album, there’s no considered that. Let me simply write and create.”
“The best factor for me is seeing dance music get a bit little bit of respect. [There’s been] a lot success in bringing the music to a wider viewers. It’s been a protracted highway,” Raddon says.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Occasions)
It is sensible that Raddon spent so a few years producing for the reside area. Proper across the launch of “Automated,” he began a historic run on stage. In 2015, he introduced the biggest viewers to an EDM act within the historical past of Coachella. In 2021, he was the primary artist to play for a public viewers at SoFi Stadium. In 2022, he broke the file for the most important digital music headlining live performance in North America on the L.A. Coliseum with Kx5, his collaborative venture with deadmau5.
Raddon has additionally been known as upon to carry his artwork type to skilled sports activities. In 2024, he turned the primary Tremendous Bowl in-game DJ, and that Could, he was the first-ever beginning grid DJ at a Method 1 race throughout Miami’s grand prix.
Regardless of so many particular person wins, Raddon is most thrilled concerning the constructive change this “decade of triumph” represents for the whole scene. He turned one of many first figures of dance music legitimacy when he broke by together with his 2004 hit “Steppin’ Out.” Now dance music has three Grammy classes.
“The best factor for me is seeing dance music get a bit little bit of respect. [There’s been] a lot success in bringing the music to a wider viewers. It’s been a protracted highway,” Raddon says.
Raddon has been on prime of the style all through that lengthy highway, making him considered one of dance music’s solely constant superstars.
Raddon particularly emphasizes the flexibility to adapt. He began DJing when vinyl was the one choice, and he remembers when sure DJs refused to play CDs when that expertise developed. Now everybody makes use of digital recordsdata. The identical precept applies to creating music. He’s somewhat calm within the wake of AI instruments (although he admits he feels comfortable about it as a result of he’s already discovered established success together with his music).
“This practice is transferring. You’re getting on, otherwise you’re not. There’s no combating it,” Raddon says.
The lack of his group within the Palisades and the shifts in his household life often is the most troublesome adjustments he has ever confronted. However he’s nonetheless on the practice transferring ahead with the assistance of the music.
