Madd Hadder has been mixing in clubs and undergrounds since the Mid 90’s in Southern California. Started by mixing breaks for a HipHop group in his home city of Santa Ana, CA. Around 1994 he was introduced to electronic music, specifically house music and found his new love and slowly integrated all genres of electronic music from Dubstep, Drum and Bass, Garage Etc. and has been rocking shows ever since. Leading Underland Radio, Madd Hadder has given a platform for many underground dj’s to have a small spotlight to be able to reach out to a broader audience. That is why he’s a huge favourite here at the label. We definitely see a lot of our work and direction in what he does with his camp. So we were very honoured when he sent over clips of what he wanted to be his first album. We were able to turn the table on him this time around and ask him a couple questions, considering he’s the one usually asking the questions on his podcast. Here’s how it went.
we gave the mad man a ring and had a quick chat. here’s what was said…
Forefront:
Hey, what’s going on Hadder? We finally we finally got you on the other side of the seat man, how does that feel?
Madd Hadder:
How’s it going man? Feels good.
Forefront:
We are very excited here at Forefront to be able to release your first album, and you know, the camp here has just a couple questions. You up for it?
Madd Hadder:
Okay. Awesome, let’s do it.
Forefront:
Where did it all begin?
Madd Hadder:
It all began in a small house in Santa Ana, California. The love of music was always there, but in my teens, I wanted to take it to another level. Coming from a family of mariachi’s and singers, I needed to find my own way of making music, and DJing was introduced to me, and there was no turning back.
Forefront:
How was Madd Hadder born?
Madd Hadder
The name came out of pure laziness, lol. So, as a kid, my dad used to yell at me to brush my hair when at the breakfast table. Which led me to just putting on a hat, lol, which I felt it was a very suiting name. Prior to Madd Hadder, my friends would call me RichTax. This was when I first started DJing, and it was mostly hip hop and breaks.
Forefront:
What’s the first record/track you purchased?
Madd Hadder:
Growing up, I remember always getting bootleg tapes at the swap meets, but I remember my first single I ever bought with my own money and still have was De La Souls Me – “Myself and I”.
Forefront:
Who was the life changing artist that you saw?
Madd Hadder:
Well, there are so many to name. I have been lucky to meet some Mexican greats, Antonio Aguilar and his family. Pepe. My grandfather used to tour with him and Vicente Fernandez, to name a couple. One person I can think of that I related to so much was Freddy Fender. This was a person who looked like me. He was Mexican American Chicano who sang both in English and Spanish.
Forefront:
What was a memorable performance for you and why?
Madd Hadder:
2 artists I have seen multiple times. 1 – System of A Down and 2 – Ozomatli, both sound just how they sound in their recordings.
Forefront:
What’s a song that lives rent free in your head? Any genre?
Madd Hadder:
It would have to be the song that brought me to electronic music. “Follow Me” by Aly-Us, prior to this song I listened to mostly hip-hop and rock and a buddy of mine gave me a house mix he had done. It changed my life.
Forefront:
What inspired your newest piece of work?
Madd Hadder:
I wanted to go back to the old school and do a concept album where it tells a story from start to finish.