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DADA LIFE
From: Sweden. Style: “High-energy anything-goes.” Best
known for: “Creating their own nation — Dada Land — and
getting banned from leaving Sweden by their government.” Tune
of 2013: “DVBBS & Borgeous ‘Tsunami’.” Breakthrough DJ/
producer of 2013: “Andybody.”
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KASKADE
From: USA. Style: “House. Lounge. Electronic.” Best
known for: “Letting the music speak.” Tune of
2013: “‘Atmosphere’.” Breakthrough DJ/producer of 2013:
“Martin Garrix.”
078 djmag.com
DADAISM was a European art movement in the
early 20th century which revelled in nonsense and
irrationality and covered a wide range of art-forms
that laid the groundwork for post-modernism,
pop art and surrealism. “We heard about these
other people doing something similar stuff in
the 1910s but to be honest they just seemed too
boring to copy,” Dada Life tell DJ Mag when asked
if they feel an af?nity to their predecessors. DL are
known for track titles like ‘Rolling Stones T-shirt’,
‘Happy Violence’, ‘Kick Out The Epic Motherfucker’,
‘Unleash The Fucking Dada’ and ‘Feed The Dada’
which, they say, “just come to us. If you could step
into our minds for one day…”
It must be said that not many DJs start their own
country, as they have done with ‘Dada Land’.
“It’s a special place for us. No rules but the rules
of Dada. We felt the need to create a sovereign
nation where we can all do whatever we want.
The Swedish government disagreed and kept our
passports for more than two weeks before we got
them back,” they explain, rather sheepishly.
As for next year? “Release a lot of music to start
with! We also need to develop Dada Land even
further. Our independence day is the 6th of
March… keep your eyes and ears open!”DAVID
MCCARTHY
Have DJs’ fees got out of hand? “People are up for paying a lot of money for a proper
experience. If the DJ can deliver that — sure, why not? Also, do you know how much
bananas and champagne we go through a regular year?” Has dance music become the new
pop? “Yes. Why not? It’s fun — and it’s about the now.” If you could be any animal what
would you be? “Monkeys. No need to explain.” Should DJs do ‘heart hands’? “We prefer
the international sign for ‘pizza’. Now that is love.” Do DJs have a duty to speak out about
drugs? “No. That said: music is the strongest drug ever and 100% safe.” What would be on
your fantasy rider? “What do you mean? We have our fantasy rider. Every night.”
IT was a year of achievement on all fronts for US
house veteran Kaskade. A new album, several huge
tours, and a few years into America’s grand embrace
of dance music, he’s commanding the respect of an
elder statesman. That’s not to imply he’s slowing
any on the creative side, though.
“At this point in my career I am interested in making
music that will last and make an impression on
people,” he says of ‘Atmosphere’, his new album
that saw release in September. “In the world of
electronic music I think it is becoming less about
the tricks and more about the actual song. In this
album I experimented with a variety of styles that
have inspired me over the years, and while listening
to it you can really get an understanding of who I
am.”
While the tour for ‘Atmosphere’ saw Kaskade playing
to audiences in their tens of thousands, he also
got to play a swathe of smaller “hot, sweaty shows”
earlier in the year to mark the 10th anniversary of
his classic ‘It’s You, It’s Me’ album. Otherwise, as
one of America’s most outspoken veterans, people
are de?nitely listening to what he’s saying.
“With so much growth over the last few years, I
think it is important to remember what is important
in this scene. The music. I am very fortunate to be
in a position where I remember what it has taken to
get it to this place, talk about it and have a dialogue
with people.” ANGUS PATERSON
Have DJs’ fees got out of hand? “Sure.” Has dance music become the new
pop? “No not yet, cause the pop acts still use producers that are ripping off whatever
happens to be going on in the clubs. It will only become pop once we start making
the records… all of them.” If you could be any animal what would you be? “A dog
because I could be just chilling on the couch sleeping right now.” Do DJs have a duty
to speak out about drugs? “No.” Should DJs do ‘heart hands’? “No, never.” What
would be on your fantasy rider? “A time machine but I could be satis?ed with a
teleportation machine too.”