Kaskade in the house

With such sensational hits as It’s You, It’s Me, Everything, Here I Am and Angel on My Shoulder, Kaskade a.k.a. Ryan Raddon is by far the Filipino’s favorite house music DJ. If the crowd at the Embassy recently was any indication, his popularity has gotten even bigger. 

Clubbers and fans alike stood shoulder to shoulder in a cavernous main room of the popular club which was packed with so many people that the organizers, Worldwide Womb and Driven, had to stop selling tickets well before midnight. And when the star of the evening took control of the decks, the entire place shook in dance music frenzy as Kaskade took them on an aural journey. 

Honest, elegant and beautiful. Such terms are rarely used to describe electronic artists and their music. But those words characterize the unique sound of Kaskade. The songwriter/producer/DJ is one of electronic music’s most sought-after emissaries, and one of its most beloved figures, especially in the Philippines!

Keeping the crowd pumped up all night was of course the favored event’s official alcohol sponsor, Brand Bacardi. Every single table was adorned with bottles of Bacardi Oro and Bacardi Superior. 

Bacardi’s main man Rajiv Ghumman explained, “Bacardi is a powerhouse brand the world over, and it stands for freedom, for being free spirited, for spontaneity and friendship. Every drop is a celebration of life and I think we can see that in the energy of each and every person here tonight.”

A-Trak in Manila

The BPM Magazine, issue 86, reads: “No longer is it a crime to mash a hip-hop a cappella into a techno track. In this arena, A-Trak, a.k.a. Alain Macklovitch, leads the pack. The 25-year-old Montreal native rides the line between hip-hop and electronic beats...”

Very few DJs can jump from club sets to high-profile festival performances to Kanye West’s larger-than-life stadium shows with ease. In today’s DJ culture, A-Trak holds a truly unique place. He founded 2007’s most buzz worthy label “Fool’s Gold” with a mission to merge all aspects of club music. Such a fusion was outlined earlier in the year with a mix tape manifesto: Dirty South Dance, which set the tone for Trizzy’s very own production. In a matter of months, his signature remixes were gaining support from the likes of Busy P, DJ AM (yeah, the ex-boyfriend of Nicole Richie), Annie Mac, MSTRKRFT and Boys Noize.

Not bad for a kid who many viewed as a ‘90s “turntablism” prodigy. Indeed, Alain’s career began at age 15 when he won the 1997 DMC World Championships and proceeded to take home every other DJ title known to man. He then toured the globe, first alongside Q-Bert’s Invisibl Skratch Piklz and then with Craze and the Allies. In 2004, he was hand-picked by Kanye to be his tour DJ. Somewhere along the line, A-Trak also became a street wear culture icon, collaborating with New Era, Kidrobot, Zoo York and other designers. The last couple of years have seen him headlining tours with Diplo, The Rub, DJ Mehdi and Kavinsky, and his older brother’s band Chromeo. Add to that production for Chicago rap sensation Kid Sister and a strong, audible influence on Kanye’s Graduation album.

Bacardi, in its endeavor to be on the forefront of exclusive parties and world class events, once again sponsored a world renowned DJ in Manila and brought DJ A-Trak together with Manila Massive at Embassy super club. Every table was adorned with Bacardi Superior and Cuba Libres were the night’s main party drink. DJ A-Trak, one of today’s youngest and most celebrated musical talents, rocked manila with his unforgettable and energetic set.