Ryan Raddon

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Kaskade's journey began in Chicago before he moved to Northbrook, attending Glenbrook North High School. As a teenager, he honed his craft at Gramaphone Records on Clark Street. His path took an unexpected turn when, at age 19, he served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Japan. Upon returning, he attended Brigham Young University and later the University of Utah, where he graduated with a degree in communications. While studying, he co-founded Mechanized, a record store in Salt Lake City with friend Jodi Call. In 1995, he played his first monthly party at Club Manhattan, using the income to buy studio gear. By May 2000, he had moved to San Francisco with his wife to work as an A&R assistant at Om Records. It was there that he adopted the stage name Kaskade; inspired by a nature book image of a waterfall and a co-worker's suggestion of "cascade," he altered the spelling. He clarified that the name did not come from the Cascade Range in the Pacific Northwest, despite fan speculation.

In Their Own Story

The transformation from Ryan Raddon to Kaskade marked a pivotal shift in his career. After mixing the third volume of the Sounds of Om series, he secured a three-album deal with Om Records. His debut album, It's You, It's Me, garnered critical acclaim and a Dance Star nomination for Best New Artist, immediately placing him on the dance music radar. In 2006, his fourth solo album, Love Mysterious, produced consecutive top-ten hits like "Be Still" and "Sorry," the latter earning a Grammy nomination for Best Remixed Recording. A major turning point arrived in late 2006 when he signed with Ultra Records and collaborated with Deadmau5 on Strobelite Seduction. Their track "Move for Me" became his first number-one hit on Billboard's Hot Dance Airplay chart, while "I Remember" broke into the UK top 15. This era defined his ability to blend vocal-driven house with progressive elements, creating a sound that resonated across continents and charts.

Reader's Guide

Kaskade's career is defined by consistent chart success and high-profile collaborations. His singles have repeatedly dominated Billboard's dance charts: "Steppin' Out" reached No. 5 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart in 2004, followed by a No. 1 with "Everything." In 2008, "Move for Me" hit No. 1 on the Hot Dance Airplay chart and crossed over to the Canadian Hot 100 at No. 71. The following year saw "I Remember" peak inside the top 15 in the UK. By 2012, he was a festival headliner, performing at Ultra Music Festival before Armin van Buuren and playing both weekends of Coachella alongside Drake, drawing record crowds. His industry recognition peaked with two Grammy nominations in December 2013 for "Atmosphere" (Best Dance Recording) and the album Atmosphere (Best Dance/Electronica Album). Forbes listed him as the eighth highest-paid DJ in the world in 2014, earning $17 million. In 2022, he reunited with Deadmau5 for the Kx5 project, releasing the single "Escape" and a self-titled album in March 2023. His versatility was further highlighted on February 11, 2024, when he became the first DJ to perform before and during Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas.

Did You Know?

• Kaskade served a two-year full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Japan at age 19.
• He co-founded and ran a record store called Mechanized in Salt Lake City while attending university with his friend Jodi Call.
• His stage name comes from a nature book image of a waterfall, not the Cascade Range as many fans believe.
• In February 2024, he performed both before and during Super Bowl LVIII, though he was not the first DJ to do so.
• He has released two Christmas-themed albums: 'Kaskade Christmas' in 2017 and 'Kaskade Christmas Volume 2' in November 2023.

Origins and Musical Foundation

Ryan Gary Raddon, born in Chicago in 1971, cultivated his passion for music while growing up in Northbrook. His early exposure to the scene involved frequenting Gramaphone Records on Clark Street as a teenager. After attending Brigham Young University briefly, he served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Japan before completing his communications degree at the University of Utah. During his college years, he and friend Jodi Call operated Mechanized, a record store in Salt Lake City. This entrepreneurial spirit laid the groundwork for his future career. In 1995, Raddon began DJing monthly parties at Club Manhattan, using the earnings to buy studio equipment. A pivotal moment occurred in May 2000 when he relocated to San Francisco with his wife to work as an A&R assistant at Om Records. Immersed in the city's burgeoning deep house movement, he adopted the stage name Kaskade. Inspired by a nature book image of a waterfall and a colleague's suggestion, he chose 'cascade' but altered the spelling, clarifying that it was not named after the Pacific Northwest mountain range.

Chart Success and Artistic Evolution

Kaskade's professional breakthrough began with his debut album, It's You, It's Me, which earned critical acclaim and a Dance Star nomination for Best New Artist. His commercial momentum accelerated in the early 2000s with singles like 'Steppin' Out' and 'Everything,' the latter topping the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. By 2006, his album Love Mysterious yielded multiple top-ten hits, including 'Be Still' featuring Sunsun. A significant career shift occurred when he signed with Ultra Records later that year, leading to a high-profile collaboration with Deadmau5 on the album Strobelite Seduction. Their track 'Move for Me' became Kaskade's first number-one hit on the Billboard Hot Dance Airplay chart and crossed over to the Canadian Hot 100. The duo continued their success with 'I Remember,' which secured a top-15 spot in the UK, while other singles like 'Angel on My Shoulder' maintained his dominance on American dance charts throughout this period.

Festival Dominance and Industry Recognition

Entering the 2010s, Kaskade solidified his status as a global headliner. His track 'Dynasty' reached number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Airplay chart in 2010, setting the stage for massive festival appearances. In 2012, he performed at Ultra Music Festival in Miami before Armin van Buuren and played both weekends of Coachella. That same year, he headlined Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas and launched his 'Freaks of Nature' tour to support the album Fire & Ice. His industry standing was further cemented when Forbes listed him as the eighth highest-paid DJ in 2014 with earnings of $17 million. By December 2013, he received two Grammy nominations for Best Dance Recording and Best Dance/Electronica Album. In 2015, he returned to Coachella alongside Drake, drawing the festival's largest crowds at that time, while also making a guest appearance on BYUtv's Studio C.

Later Collaborations and Holiday Ventures

In recent years, Kaskade has continued to innovate through diverse projects and seasonal releases. His 2015 album Automatic featured collaborations with artists like CID, Galantis, and John Dahlbäck. He also ventured into holiday music, releasing his first Christmas-themed album in November 2017, followed by a second volume in late 2023. A major highlight of this era was the rekindling of his partnership with Deadmau5 under the moniker Kx5. Announced in 2022 as their fourth collaboration, the project released its first single 'Escape' in March 2023 before dropping a self-titled album later that month. His prominence remained undeniable when he performed at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas on February 11, 2024, playing sets both before and during the game. These endeavors demonstrate his enduring versatility, bridging electronic dance music with mainstream events and seasonal traditions.