Who is Kaytranada? Top Songs, Biography, and Music Lore
- Arial Ten
- Jul 23, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 30, 2024
I'm Arial Ten and I wrote this because I've been heavily inspired by Kaytranada's music. If you like Kaytranada, you might like my warm groovy dance music.
My Connection to Kaytranada
I still remember exactly where I was when I first heard 99.9%.
It was the fall of 2016 and I was sitting on my buddy's couch in Manhattan after a long day at a grueling finance job.
I was probably complaining about my job, but 99.9% demanded my full attention when it came on. 99.9% planted a seed in my brain and ignited this deep craving for similar types of music.
I had been exposed to electronic music, but 99.9% was this unique combination of genres and styles I had never encountered before.
The hard-hitting drums and the exotic hi-hat patterns. The beautiful and far-reaching sampling. The grooviest basslines you've ever heard overlaid on the sexiest swing you've ever felt.
99.9% would be the genesis for my own journey into music production. That journey started with combing through Kaytranada's SoundCloud, his legendary remixes, and his iconic Boiler Room set (which I know he want us to move past, but it really is iconic).
I even watched his more honest French interviews and studied his inspirations like J Dilla and Pharrell. I chose FL Studio as my DAW because of him.
Kaytranada inspired me and legions of other people to make music. You can see the light in another producer's eyes sparkle when you talk about Kaytranada because his music has profoundly impacted so many people.
I describe my music as "Kaytranada but like 20% poppier". Honestly, I feel like my final form as a musician is a whitewashed Asian version of Kaytranada. Instead of ingesting hip hop and funk as a kid, I was ingesting indie and pop-punk. And as such, my music is a bit "cuter" and less abrasive than Kaytranada's.
Who is Kaytranada?
Haitian-Canadian Kaytranada is a groundbreaking figure in contemporary electronic music. Blending hip-hop, R&B, funk, and house, his sound reflects diverse influences, from J Dilla and Madlib to Earth, Wind & Fire.
His debut album, "99.9%", won the Polaris Music Prize in 2016.
Kaytranada's career is marked by significant collaborations with artists like Anderson .Paak, Syd, AlunaGeorge, and Craig David.
His 2019 album, "BUBBA," earned him two Grammy Awards, including Best Dance/Electronic Album.
Known for his ability to blend various musical styles into a cohesive sound, Kaytranada continues to shape the evolution of modern electronic and dance music.
Spotlight Interview
Kaytranada has a lot of great interviews, but I find that he's so much more comfortable and honest in French.
Top Songs
Some of Kaytranada's top songs include:
Key Facts
Notable Collaborators: Kali Uchis, H.E.R., Anderson .Paak
Genre: Dance, R&B, Hip-Hop
Hometown: Montreal, Canada
Birthday: August 25, 1992