From the warehouse to the mainstage: Five ways Kaskade took control of Miami in 2014IMG 1833

From the warehouse to the mainstage: Five ways Kaskade took control of Miami in 2014

From Warehouse to Mainstage: Five ways Kaskade took control of Miami in 2014

Just over a year ago, we stood together, standing in awe as Ryan Raddon’s own vocals melted our hearts and floated us through what would be eventually become the resonating title track of his decade album, while we attempted to mouth along to the words we did not yet know. At the time, Redux was merely an adjective of nostalgia, not yet associated with unforgettable late-night dives into old favorites like It’s You, It’s Me and In the Moment365 days has changed all that.

When Miami beckoned Kaskade in 2014, his return was nearly overshadowed as just another step in the Los Angeles-based producer’s already extensively successful year of non-stop touring, awards and nominations, and the release of his own Grammy-nominated Atmosphere. However, as announcements rolled out one after another of shows and events to anticipate for Miami’s week of dance music celebration, it became clear that Kaskade was prepared to take the South Florida hub by storm, once again.

Redux gets intimate and grungy to kick off the weekend

Staying true to his roots and spirit of his special ‘Redux’ series, Kaskade invited fans to vacate the confines of South Beach’s esteemed nightclubs, trade in heels and button ups for comfortable dance shoes and a tee and head to Maps Studio in the city’s Wynwood Arts District for his Miami edition of Redux. The dimly lit, graffiti-lined alleyway began to thrive on Thursday night as fans flooded into the warehouse arena to catch AMTRAC’s opening set. Despite a breezy Miami wind brewing throughout the Southern Florida city, the floor sprawled with fans from far and wide, thick with a layer of anticipation. As Ryan zipped through the crowd to take to the DJ booth, his crowd erupted into cheers of excitement as he then dove head first into his matured catalog of deep house tracks. Between exploring his own Redux renditions of “Atmosphere,” “Eyes,” and many more, Kaskade introduced strokes of fellow producers like Technasia and Alex Metric and Oliver’s “Hope.” Though his Redux set wrapped earlier than his typical 4 to 6 AM rendezvous, he teased his audience with a double encore: Kaskade’s own remix of “All Good Things” and Ice Mix of “Llove” played out his final Redux goodbye.

Kaskade takes home a Miami souvenir

In the midst of MMW chaos, the acclaimed producer added yet another award to his collection. His melodic masterpiece “Floating,” took home the win for the IDMA’s ‘Best Chillout/Lounge Track.’ After just recently taking to his personal Twitter page to illuminate details behind his current state of limbo between labels and difficulties in releasing music bringing home yet another achievement for his own 2013 album release continues to sweep any previous concerns far from sight: Kaskade’s diverse range of dance music remains rooted in his dedicated fan base and that fervent fandom is going no where anytime soon.

Photo Credit: Mark Owens

Kaskade brings the fire to Ultra's Mainstage

Kaskade’s 2013 debut at Ultra set high standards for his own return this year. Last year, he teased his first single that featured his own vocals throughout chorus lines for the first time. From there, “Atmosphere” took off and blasted through summer as a chart-topping radio-smash hit, leaving us wondering, what could possibly top that? Turns out, Ryan Raddon had plenty in store for his sea of a crowd when he took to the Main Stage on Ultra’s Friday opening night. The first chords of Kaskade’s latest release, “Under The Stars” elegantly set the tone for what was to come for his performance: An original, remix, and mashup heavy set was joined by label mate Galantis and their unmistakable “Smile” and Digital LAB and MITS’ “Here We Go” while pyro special effects erupted to highlight the bounding lifts and explosive drops throughout the show. Post-Ultra, Kaskade took to Twitter to express his experience: “No words. Ultra, that was insane!!! #FaceMelt” and promptly uploaded his entire set for fans to relive the moment.

The Kaskade Pop-Up shop delivers Miami vibes and surprise appearances

In between a chaotic spread of shows all over Miami and Ultra Music Festival, fans looking for a little breather and something to take home were instructed to head to a cozy Kaskade pop-up shop in the hub of South Beach. Teased by both playful Miami-inspired designs and potential sightings of the DJ himself, fans lined the street and around the corner to grab a bit of their own merchandise to take home. Before his final Miami Music Week show, Kaskade took a moment out of his busy day to hit the pop-up shop and say hello to some dedicated fans, eagerly awaiting his arrival with merch and pens in hand. Despite the fact that a DJ sighting in the streets of Miami is no rarity during the humid week in March, it was a humbling experience to watch the Grammy-nominated, world-traveling artist take his time with each and every fan to take an iPhone selfie, sign a hat, and exchange a laugh and a hug.

A Final Goodbye at LIV

In the blink of an eye, Ultra and Miami weekend came to a close for the acclaimed producer. One last stop stood between him and a flight back to the West Coast, but long before the hours ticked close into Sunday morning, LIV was unmistakably alive with energy – from the winding line of taxi cabs outside of the Fontainebleau dropping off glamorous fans clad in their Miami best to the thumping bass beats spilling through the nightclub’s top-tier speaker system. The building shook with music and anticipation as Kaskade slipped into the booth, brow furrowed and ready to leap into an electro tech house set. Appropriately, his final showcase at LIV exhibited an array of his own catalog alongside some of his celebrated remixes like Lana Del Rey’s “Young & Beautiful.” With each roar of his audience, the energy seemed to climb – never stopping, even as the show blew past 4 AM (highlighted by his own “4 AM”) and continued long into the night.

With time to recover and reminisce, Kaskade took 140 characters in attempt to capture his hurricane of an experience in Miami. “The past week was bonkers. From Redux to winning an IDMA for best chill track to the massive experience at Ultra to LIV. I’m a little dizzy.” And followed up with a sincere thank you to his fans. “I’m just glad you guys will follow me on this wild ride.”

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