Who Is Kaytranada?

Fresh off of sold out shows across the country with rapper Aminé, Kaytranada has one of the most recognizable styles in dance music.

Whether you were the girl in the white shirt immersed in her world or bopping in the corner, Kaytranada’s Boiler Room set went viral even 10 years after its release. The iconic set paints the scene of a party anyone would take a time machine to be a part of for the amazing mixes and dynamic response from the crowd. The people around Kaytranda while he spins showcases one of the best parts of music— the way it connects us to total strangers from the moment the beat drops to the last song of the night. 

His Boiler Room set features select Kaytranada mixes, including the crowd-pleaser “Be Your Girl” remix with Teedra Moses and the remix of Kaytranada’s “If” that jumpstarted the popularity of Kaytranada’s sound. Before he was opening for major popstars like The Weeknd and going on sold-out tours with Aminé, this set is just a glimpse into the signature Kaytranada sound that would continue to permeate through the EDM music space. 

The Boiler Room set takes place in Montreal,  the hometown of Louis Kevin Celestin, better known as Kaytranada. Kaytranada’s parents immigrated to the Montreal from Port-au-Prince, Haiti in 1992. Growing up, financial and mental health struggles took a toll on him and his siblings. As a teen, he dropped out of high school to begin working as a DJ with the hope of helping his family to make ends meet with his music. 

In the early days, Kaytranada worked gigs under the name “Kaytradamus.” He began posting his mixes to Soundcloud after being introduced by his brother to the music engineering software Fruityloops. His sound was largely influenced by his introduction to hip-hop music, his dad’s records, and the dance music scene in the streets and on the radio in Montreal. 

As he gained popularity from his mix of Janet Jackson’s “If”, he soon changed his name to Kaytranda and began touring under it. The years 2015 and 2016 became monumental for Kaytranada and his career. Not only did he open up twice for Madonna, but he also released his debut album 99.9%. Kaytranada would go on to win the esteemed Polaris Music Prize in Canada for his debut album. 

His sophomore album, Bubba, reached even greater heights with features from Tinashe, Pharrell, Masego, and more. From afrobeats to funk and soul, BUBBA personified all of the musical influences that helped to create the signature sound that Kaytranada fans recognize today. 

On recent hits like “Alright” with Victoria Monét, you can hear the signature buildup of the hi-hat and drums that tell you immediately that its a Kaytranada beat, reminiscent of the sound highlighted on that album. He has collaborated with some of the biggest names in hip hop and dance music including Kendrick Lamar, Disclosure, Aluna, and Snoop Dogg, among others. With two Grammys already under his belt, the sky is the limit for the 31-year old Boiler Room Set legend.

Destine Manson

Hi! My name is Destine and I found a love for House and EDM through my time in the NYC dance community. My favorite thing about music is how it brings people together without having to say a word. Some of my favorite artists include Kaytranada, Kelela, Shygirl, and Uncle Waffles.

See author's posts