An emerging independent Australian electronic artist, DJ and producer, Cadence is quickly building a following with 700k streams of his music to date.
A string of single releases since 2020 has seen Cadence develop his sound, which he says is "similar to Hayden James, Disclosure, Rufus Du Sol, with touches of pop influences in the songwriting".After travelling to the US last year for a number of writing sessions, Cadence plans to return stateside this year to continue working on new material with a host of well-known electronic artists he can't share just yet.
His newest single 'When You're Not Around' features Grace Baker – who co-wrote the song with Cadence and Michael Belsar (Hayden James, Genesis Owusu). It's an emotive tech-house burner that builds in intensity throughout with Grace's vocals adding an enticing pop sensibilities.
"This is such a special record to us, and we're so happy to finally be able to share it with you. Had the absolute dream team on this. Written by myself, Grace, Michael Belsar and Sarah Stone."
Who is Cadence? I've been a producer, DJ and songwriter for almost nine years – from when I was fourteen. In that time, I've dipped my toe into a range of genres and styles, which has led to the Cadence sound.
Cadence was only born three years ago, once I decided which direction I wanted to take my music in. Now I am happier than ever, incorporating live elements into my shows and production, writing music I am passionate about and working with artists I've loved and looked up to for years and years.
I sound like... A sunset at your favourite music festival, with people you love and without a care in the world. My musical direction is similar to Hayden James, Disclosure, Rufus Du Sol, with touches of pop influences in the songwriting.
My first gig was... My first proper Cadence gig was at the Palais Theatre in St. Kilda during COVID. It was a super intimate show, setup on the stage of the Palais, socially distanced of course. A crazy experience to play in such an iconic venue and an amazing night I will never forget.
When and how did you settle on your artistic name... I settled on the name after a six-month process of elimination, beginning with a list of around 20 names in my phone. Some notable alternatives were: Cyprus, Ember and Kai. Yes, I know those aren't great, so I'm very glad I landed on Cadence.
In the studio I usually... Start with a feeling, story or scenario I want to write about. From there, I build the song around that one idea. Inspiration always comes from different sources, but recently I've enjoyed writing from a specific person's point of view around me, usually without them knowing.
If I could tour with anyone... I would love to tour with Hayden James and Rufus Du Sol. My favourite artists and some of the nicest people I've ever met – having the opportunity to tour with and learn from them would be incredible.
My favourite app at the moment is... CapCut is my favourite at the moment – it's an absolute cheat code for making short-form content, which we know rules the internet at the moment.
To date, my most embarrassing moment was the time... The playback cut out at my first headline show. It wasn't my fault and these things are part of performing, but I will never forget the sinking feeling in my stomach.
Life on the road can be... Too much fun. I've had some great times on the road, which have resulted in missed flights and accidental sleep-ins. Work hard, play hard, I guess.
If you'll have me on your bill, all I ask is that the rider contains... A photo of Tate McRae! This actually does feature on my rider, and it's been fulfilled more than once! I love Tate, and something that started as a joke has now become a pretty important part of my rider.
The most scary scenario I've found myself in, was... Flying over to LA by myself last year, with no real plan or guarantee of anything. In the end, it was the best decision I've ever made and I can't wait to get back there in a few months.
What celebrity/ famous person would you love to be your spokesperson... Theo Von would be a great spokesperson for Cadence. I don't think he's ever said a sentence that wasn't entertaining in some way, and I'd love to hear his take on my music.
If you had to live in a city abroad, where would you choose and why? I'd love to live in LA and am currently planning my move. In close second and third are Cape Town and Hamburg, respectively, which have always had a special place in my heart and would mean living closer to family.
Three people you'd like to invite around for a dinner party... Tate McRae, Morgan Wallen and Billy D'Arcy.
Tate and Morgan because they're two of my favourite artists and I'd likely spend the whole dinner party convincing them to write a song with me. Billy D'Arcy, the Sydney comedian, because I believe he's one of the most entertaining people on the planet.
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook for us? Birria tacos. My favourite cuisine is Mexican, and I could undoubtedly eat tacos every day for the rest of my life. They're also relatively easy to make, which makes it even more appealling.
When it comes to pets are you a lover or hater of our furry friends? Both. I love dogs and have a five-year-old golden retriever named George, but I can't say I've ever met a friendly cat. Not a fan of felines and from what I can tell, the feeling is mutual.
No matter the expense, send me a case of... Fireball. My pre-show ritual is a shot of Fireball with the crew, and no matter how tough it is to get down, we have to keep the tradition alive.
The last time I saw the inside of a gym was... This morning actually – I'm trying to get in shape again for the US summer.
What's the one chore you dislike the most? Gardening, without a doubt. I barely have a garden, but it looks hideous. Its main feature is a giant thistle I've put off tackling for six months.
Do you have any phobias... As I touched on, I'm somewhat scared of cats. I did some research and this is called ailurophobia, which I've since self-diagnosed myself with.
Would you ever partake in a reality show? I'd love to be on 'Bondi Rescue' one day. I do surf, so maybe I can get caught in a rip next time I'm in Sydney and make the dream a reality. Or I think being on 'The Bachelor' would be a lot of fun. Aside from the obvious, I also think it would be a lot of fun to hang out with Osher.
If you could prank any of your friends, who's your target, and how are you bringing them down? My manager Matt actually played a pretty clever prank on me recently, so I'd love to get some revenge. I know he'll be reading this, so I'll keep my cards close to my chest.
Best local takeaway joint for a midnight feed that will leave you in a food coma? My favourite midnight feed would have to be Stalactites here in Melbourne. Unbelievable Greek food, open 'til late. However, if I had a 24-hour GYG nearby, I'd be their best customer.
Which fictional character best describes your personality? Jake Peralta. A little bit goofy, very entertaining for those around him but always productive. That's how I like to think of myself, whether true or not.
Last show you binge-watched? Honestly, I only watch three shows, and they're on rotation. 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine', 'Suits' and 'Modern Family'. At the moment, I'm knee-deep in 'Suits' again, because I'm closing in on my law exams and it keeps me motivated.
