Cade Hoppe spent some time answering our questions about his music and how he makes it. Let’s see what he has to say!
First off, What’s up with your name? Is there a story behind it?
My artist name is just my name – Cade Hoppe! I guess it never really occurred to me to use anything other than my real name when I was just starting. I love monikers and I might use one eventually down the road for some alternative project, but for now all of my music feels like it fits under the “Cade Hoppe” name.
Tell us about your musical past, would you tell us about your early years?
I’ve loved music since I was a little kid. I vividly remember our CD collection that we had on the sunvisor in my mom’s car, and listening to mixes my dad burned on CDs for us. When I started learning piano I was instantly drawn to learning how to play the pop songs I’d been introduced to by my parents, which of course led me to eventually start writing my own pop songs!
How would you describe your sound?
I like to think that my sound is generally eclectic enough that it’s a little bit hard to pin down. But it’s definitely somewhere in the alternative world with some pop, rock, and folk influence.
Which artists have the biggest influence on your sound?
It’s so hard to narrow it down, but Coldplay, Bleachers, Taylor Swift, The Killers, and Ben Folds are all artists who have influenced me and my sound.
What’s the last song you listened to?
I think the last song was “Boyhood” by The Japanese House. I’ve really been loving her new album.
What’s your source for hearing new music?
I’m very fortunate to have some friends with good music taste, so I do get some good recommendations from people I trust. I also find a lot of new music from the Spotify algorithm or just from seeking out new stuff on there.
Who is your dream producer?
Jack Antonoff is a producer I really look up to and I’d absolutely love to work with him in some way at some point.
If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?
There are so many people I’d love to collaborate with but someone I’d really love to work with or perform with is Chris Martin.
What led you to music, and what motivates you to keep making it?
Forgive me for how cheesy this may sound, but along with music being the only way I can fully express myself, it’s also pretty much the only way I can understand my own feelings. I’ve tried living without music being the main part of my life and it just didn’t work, so that’s why I keep making it. I can’t not make music.
Tell us about the songwriting process. How does it all come together?
It comes together differently every time, which is part of why I love it so much. I’m generally very traditional in my approach to songwriting, in the sense that I like to sit down with a guitar or at a piano and write the bare bones of the song first. Then usually I’ll take that simplest version of the song into the studio and Harper [James] and I will produce it together from there.
How do you connect with your audience? What is the easiest way for them to connect with you?
Obviously, my favorite way to connect with my audience is in person at shows, but in reality, most of it happens on social media. I’m active on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok so you can always find me on any of those platforms.
Website
Instagram
Twitter
TikTok
Facebook
Spotify
What’s next for you?
I’ll be releasing an EP that includes all the singles I’ve released in 2023, as well as a few more new songs. And then in 2024, I plan on starting to roll out a new project.
Anything else you’d like to add or let us know about?
I don’t think there’s anything else besides saying thank you for a great interview and for taking the time!
