Check out the ‘Las Vegas Magazine’ exclusive interview and photo shoot with Kaskade

Kaskade is waiting for a phone call from Sade to collab on a song. He was a different flavor of weird growing up. He’s currently working on a full-length album and world domination. Plan B was being a Kinko’s manager. And he wants you to buckle up, ’cause he’s about to take you on a ride when he takes the stage at Ayu Dayclub at Resorts World Las Vegas. A world-renowned EDM DJ and producer, Kaskade lets readers into his life, his music and his thoughts on both as he answers some of our questions and has some fun in front of our camera when he gets into the pool at Ayu Dayclub where, this season, he performs his special blend of mixing familiar songs with melodic, hard-hitting beats. Don’t pass up your chance to see the man in action, be it by the pool during the day or at night at Zouk Nightclub. Until then, get to know more about the man behind the decks.

Tell the story of how you first heard electronic dance music. Why did the sound stick with you?

I was a weird kid growing up around other weird kids, but a whole different flavor of weird. I had friends, but was drawn to video games, the choir, breakdancing and New Order. I wasn’t a partier, but I wanted to be at the party. I made my way to Medusa’s in Chicago, which was an all-ages club. That was the flash point. I went there and danced; I listened to what was being played and found people whose expressions on their faces looked like mine when those late-’80s 303 acid lines kicked in. I knew those were my people.

How did you get your first DJ equipment and decide to DJ? Was it a hobby or passion, or did you know you wanted to make a career of it?

I had no business DJing when I began. It was more function than form in the beginning. I was in college and was mentally pulling music apart as I listened to it. Certain cadences and chords reminded me of other songs, and I would think, “This song would be cool to layer over that song.” I cut my teeth on playing before I even touched the decks. Once there was an opening, a party that was missing a DJ, I took my passion out of practice and put it into performance. There was so much that went into it back then. Figuring out the BPM of a song. Matching that to the next, which one should slow down, and can I squeeze the spindle just enough so the crowd can’t hear it slow down? Many train wrecks later, it got better and better. Apologies to the crowds that I learned in front of, but that was the only way to do it, and I appreciate your aural sacrifices.

Are you working on any new music?

I am currently working on a full-length album release, titled undux. Outside of my Christmas albums and Redux EPs, I haven’t released a solo studio album since Automatic in 2015. I’m really excited for people to listen again from top to bottom to hear the entire story. Singles are great, and I’ve enjoyed releasing only one-offs for the last decade, but this is my true love language. Just sit with me for 12 or 13 or 14 songs and let’s dig in.

What’s on tap for 2026?

World domination, no doubt. There are a lot of things I can’t talk about yet, but I think 2026 is going to be another year of challenges accepted.

Any collabs coming up you’re excited about?

I’m still waiting for Sade to call me.

Where do you draw inspiration from when creating songs?

Everywhere I visit. I can be in line waiting for my favorite salad and hear a few people talking about a date the night before, or experiences they’ve had that relate to experiences I’ve had. It gets cataloged in my memory, then when I’m running chords and melodies in my studio those things will visit like ghosts. Not everything I write is self-referential. Most of it is not. If I’ve been around you, even strangers—I just might have written a song about or for you. (This does not apply to any time I’ve been to the DMV. I’ve never been inspired there.)

Who are some of your favorite artists? What songs are on repeat on your playlists?

I continue to visit my favorites from the New Wave days—New Order, The Smiths, The Cure, Depeche Mode. What they put together had undeniable impact on what everyone creates today in this genre. I’d suggest everyone just deep dive in those libraries. For newer artists that I’m enjoying, I’ve recently found Chiiild, Jace Cameron, Kenya Grace and ROSSY.

You played the largest crowd at Coachella in 2015; you just played EDC—what is it about festivals that you love?

There’s the obvious part where I get to show up, chill in my trailer, then stand in front of hundreds of thousands of my best friends. But it goes deeper than that. Festivals have morphed the attention paid to electronic music. Some of that is not positive attention, but the side I love is that a lot of people who need that type of acceptance and community get to find out about it and take part in it.

Out of all your songs, which are your favorites and why?

It depends on the minute of the day that you ask me. I really cannot answer that in an honest way. There have been a few times where I haven’t heard one of my tracks for years and then it pops into my head and that will be my favorite for the next four hours. But then a butterfly flaps its wings and that song falls out of rotation.

Besides work, what occupies your life; what do you love to do? Hobbies, interests?

During the pandemic I really focused on surfing. It has become my main off-work activity. It never gets boring and continues to challenge me no matter how I advance. There is something so humbling about being in the ocean and creating a relationship with it where we both participate.

If you weren’t a DJ/producer/performer, you’d be doing what?

There was never a plan B. It was this or possibly being a Kinko’s manager.

What are important life lessons you’ve learned being a famous musician?

I don’t know if I’ve learned this or it’s just been reinforced, but I’ve really learned to respect the strength and fragility of the human body. I’ve been sober my entire life, and while I would never push it on anyone, when I see my friends around me celebrating their sobriety, it makes me so happy for them that they’re paying attention to what their body is telling them. I’m convinced that my longevity in this industry is reliant on me showing up for my audience with a fresh mind. There’s a lot of people who can pull it off and even thrive in any chosen lifestyle, but for me I’m grateful that younger me made that choice early on and older me has benefited from that path.

What can fans expect from your performances at Ayu Dayclub and Zouk Nightclub?

When I play in Las Vegas, it’s a different conversation with the crowd each time. Typically, if you’re playing in front of a large crowd, they all have geography in common. Everyone lives within a 20-mile radius of the place you’re playing, the collective usually has a common appreciation of a vibe. Las Vegas is so mixed up because the crowd is showing up from all over the world. We have Ibiza, Idaho, Iceland and Iowa. Everyone is pulling from a different context, so every week is different. I try to introduce new music, but I like to pull them in by playing a few universal favorites. When you hear the guitar from Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Under the Bridge,” it’s me saying, “Hello, may I have your attention please.’ We all know this song. Now trust me to take you on a ride. Buckle up.”

5 Things to Know About Kaskade

• He speaks fluent Japanese

• He loves to organize his garage

• He’s never DJ’d a bar or bat mitzvah, but has DJ’d a wedding

• He will not DJ your wedding, but might DJ your bar or bat mitzvah

• Every time any social media platform changes its interface, he cries

Kaskade’s Upcoming Shows

• Ayu Dayclub Aug. 2, 16, 23 & 30 and Sept. 20

• Zouk Nightclub Sept. 6, Oct. 18 and Nov. 15

Resorts World Las Vegas, 21+. rwlasvegas.com

Clothing provided by ACNE STUDIOS

Grooming by Sheena Zargari

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