Dance music superstar Kaskade is coming back to Perth in September as part of Parklife. His music is as exciting as it is danceable and he promises to deliver an astounding show. On the phone from Ibiza – where he has just played with Pete Tong and Lady Gaga – Kaskade chats about the Australian scene and watching the sun rise on Greece’s biggest party island.
How did you come to be involved with Parklife? I’ve been working with the Fuzzy guys for quite a few years now. I come to Australia about once a year, every 12 or 14 months.
What are you most looking forward to about playing at Parklife? I think a lot of times in dance culture it becomes less about the music and more about the party. But I’ve found in Australia it isn’t the case.
What is your best summer concert story? I had just played Electric Daisy Carnival, which is the biggest festival in North America – it’s basically 90,000 people in downtown LA. (The place where I played) only holds 70,000 people, so about five minutes into my set they actually closed the doors with 20,000 people waiting outside and about 10 minutes into my set there were all these people that had stormed the gate so about another 10,000 people stormed in. It was crazy.
What is your favourite festival or concert series? Electric Daisy Carnival.
What 3 things should every punter bring to an outdoor festival? Lots of water, sunblock or suntan lotion… and probably a condom.
If you had unlimited funds and could organize a festival, where would it be and who would headline? I’d love to do something in Tokyo but for whatever reason the city won’t give them proper permission. Who would headline? I’m a huge Killers fan so I’d love to see The Killers play.
How would you describe you overall vibe and musical style? Euphoric dance music.
What can you tell us about your meteoric rise to fame? Dance music is something that is definitely more based on kind of sound design and rhythm and production and my sound has been more based around songs and has a lot of lyrical content. I’ve always been about sitting down and writing an interesting melody and creating an album when others have been focused on singles. My philosophy has been very much about doing the opposite of what appears to work in this world.
What are your current pet peeves about the music industry? It’s so political.
What do you currently love about the music industry? Are you kidding? Everything! I don’t even know what day it is and I’m sitting here in Ibiza watching the sun come up over the greenest mountains.
Kaskade will be appearing at Parklife on Saturday September 27, 2009. Tickets are available now through www.parklife.com.au.
Scott-Patrick Mitchell
