Cascada

Special Interview (2007): Dance/Pop Star Cascada Talks About How She Got Started, And Her First Hit Single

By Dale Kawashima

Cascada

It was just two years ago that new dance/pop star Cascada (who was born with the name Natalie Horler) was a little known, pro session singer based in Bonn, Germany. She would sing on tracks produced by various local DJs, but she wasn’t established as an artist or performer. However, in 2004 she began working with the writing/producing team of Yann Peifer & “DJ Manian” Reuter, and soon after recorded her vocals on songs which would become hit singles under her new artist name, Cascada (which means “waterfall” in Italian). And now, Cascada is enjoying worldwide success with her smash single, “Everytime We Touch,” on Robbins Entertainment Records.

“Everytime We Touch” is one of those special, dance/pop hits which just keeps building in momentum and popularity. It features a propulsive, high-energy dance track, with a clear, strong vocal performance by Cascada, and a super-hooky melody and chorus. This song is actually a remake of a midtempo European hit from the early ‘90s, which was originally performed and co-written by Maggie Reilly. Cascada’s “Everytime We Touch” is currently in the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart, and reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Radio Airplay chart.

In a new interview, Cascada talked about her sudden rise to fame as a result of “Everytime We Touch.” She also discussed how she got into the music business, and how she clicked with writer/producers Peifer & Reuter and eventually recorded her debut album, which is also titled Everytime We Touch and was just released (Feb. 2006).

Cascada was born and raised in Bonn, Germany, although she is of English descent. Her parents were both from England, and thus she became fluent in both English and German. She was exposed to music early on, since her father was a jazz musician who had a recording studio in their home. “When I was very young, I would often do recordings in my father’s studio, and we’d do jazz and Disney songs,” she recalled. “I knew at a very early age that I wanted to be a singer – I love singing all styles of music, whether it be pop, dance, jazz, R&B or gospel. In addition to singing, I also took different kinds of dancing lessons, like step dance, jazz dance, hip-hop and street dance. And I’ve done some acting, mostly in plays as a teenager.”

It was at age 17 that Cascada started pursuing a pro music career, doing session work as a vocalist. “I would do sessions and people started to recommend me,” she explained. “Then I started doing studio gigs for Yann (Peifer) and Manian (Reuter). One of the songs I sang was called ‘Miracle,’ and it became a club hit in Germany. Because of this success, Yann and Manian said we should put together a live show. They asked me if I wanted to go on tour as Cascada, and I said, ‘yeah, let’s do it.’ Then another song we recorded became a hit, called ‘Bad Boy’.”

The success of “Miracle” and “Bad Boy” in Germany caught the attention of Robbins Entertainment, an established American label which has broken in the U.S. such European club and rhythmic acts as DJ Sammy, Lasgo, Ian Van Dahl and Narcotic Thrust. Robbins decided to release “Miracle” in the U.S. in November 2004, and it received some radio airplay and club play. However, it was the release of “Everytime We Touch” in the fall of 2005 which led to Cascada’s breakthrough in the U.S. The single has also become a hit in several European countries (including Germany and Austria), plus other countries overseas.

The huge success of “Everytime We Touch” has led to the recording and release of Cascada’s debut album, which includes 14 cuts. Most of the songs were written by Peifer & Reuter, but the CD also includes appealing, cover versions of Savage Garden’s “Truly Madly Deeply” and Kim Wilde’s new wave classic, “Kids In America.” Another highlight is the pop ballad “Another You,” which impressively demonstrates that Cascada can sing romantic ballads as skillfully as she sings high-speed, dance tunes.

Now with the release of her album, Cascada is busy touring and doing promotion. She is performing shows in the U.S., Germany, Austria and Ireland. “It’s exciting having the hit with ‘Everytime We Touch,’ and being able to perform in front of large audiences who know our music,” said Cascada. “I used to be a bit shy as a performer, but now I really feel at home onstage. The shows are high energy with a lot of dancing, and everyone has a good time.”