Kaytranada

10 Essential Canadian Albums of the Blog Era

by
Image via Complex Original

  • Skratch Bastid/John Smith/Pip Skid, ‘Taking Care of Business’


  • Wordburglar, ‘Burglaritis’


  • Shad, ‘The Old Prince’


  • Cadence Weapon, ‘Afterparty Babies’


  • Drake, ‘So Far Gone’


  • D-Sisive, ‘Jonestown’


  • The Weeknd, ‘House of Balloons’


  • Noah23, ‘Fry Cook on Venus’


  • Various, ‘Piu Piu Beat Tape Vol.1’


  • Dead Obies, ‘Montreal $ud’

Kaytranada Ran Through His Iconic Collaborations With HER, Tinashe, And Anderson .Paak At Coachella

by
kaytranada coachella 2023
Getty Image

A bad Kaytranada collaboration doesn’t exist. And the prolific DJ and producer has proven that with his star-studded albums 99.9% and Bubba. Last night (April 21), Kaytranada brought out several guests who have given his songs the magic touch over the years.

Early in the set, HER joined Kaytranada in a performance of their collaboration, “Intimidated.”

Shortly after, Tinashe arrived to the stage to perform “The Worst In Me” from Kaytranada’s 2019 album, Bubba. During this performance, Tinashe displayed her signature silky, futuristic vocals, while grooving flawlessly to the beat.

In another surprise, Kaytranada and Anderson. Paak threw it all the way back to 2016 for a performance of “Glowed Up” from 99.9%. As Anderson says on the song’s opening line, this magical pairing between him and Kaytranada proves that there still ain’t a damn thing you can tell them.

This comprehensive set proved that Kaytranada doesn’t miss, and in the coming weeks, he’ll have even more hits in his arsenal.

Next month, Kaytranada and Aminé will release a collaborative album called Kaytraminé.

In the meantime, you can see some clips from the performance above.

Kaytraminé is out 5/12 via CLBN and Kaytranada Music.

Some of the artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary

Here Are All The Surprise Guest Performances From Coachella 2023

by
coachella
Getty Image

Weekend one of Coachella kicked off this weekend, with most of the prominent acts bringing along some surprise guests to join them on stage. Sometimes, there was even more than one at the same show.

Here are all the surprise guest performances from Coachella 2023… So far.

Friday started off with Muna bringing out Boygenius, where they performed the hit song, “Silk Chiffon,” together.

Kaytranada had Kali Uchis join to play “10%” and Aminé to perform the duo’s new song together. Later, on Sunday, Uchis would perform her own Coachella set, where she brought out Tyler The Creator for “See You Again,” Don Toliver for “Fantasy,” and Omar Apollo for “Worth The Wait.”

Metro Boomin had a wild lineup, with The Weeknd, Mike Dean, Future, John Legend, 21 Savage, and Diddy all joining him for various songs.

In typical fashion, Gorillaz brought quite a few surprises, including De La Soul, Del The Funky Homosapien, Thundercat, Slowthai, Peven Everett, Jamie Principle, and Bootie Brown.

Bad Bunny, who headlined Friday night, brought along Ñengo Flow, Jowell & Randy, Post Malone, and Jhayco as surprise guests performances during his set.

On Saturday, Rosalía brought out her fiancé, Rauw Alejandro, as they performed their “Beso” collaboration.

Labrinth also had Billie Eilish join him for a performance of their collab, “Never Felt So Alone,” which was recently released.

Latto‘s Sunday set included appearances from Lola Brooke for the “Don’t Play With It” remix and Saweetie on “Bitch From Da Souf.”

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Kaytranada Brings Out Aminé, Kali Uchis At Coachella

by

Kaytranada took the Coachella stage last night, and fans were treated to some surprises. The producer already had people hyped, but the crowd had no idea what they were in for. True to the festival’s tradition of surprise guests, he brought out Kali Uchis. The singer performed their collab, “10%,” after Kaytranada had teased a snippet of her vocals. The event was live-streamed, and fans both in the audience and at home were thrilled by the guest appearance. Still, Kaytranada had even more in store for his fans.

In addition to the surprise appearance of Kali Uchis, Kaytranada also brought out rapper Aminé to perform with him. The rapper hyped up the crowd for the producer. He excitedly led them in a chant of “Kaytraminé,” a combination of the pair’s names. The name was flashing on the screen behind the duo as the set finished. The name might ring a bell for some. Last week, the pair hinted that it would be the name for a collaborative project between them.

Kaytranada + Aminé = Kaytraminé

Aminé and Kaytranada recently announced they were teaming up for an eagerly awaited collab. They announced the news in a teaser video shared on Instagram. While the video left much to the imagination, fans have already expressed their excitement in the comment section. Both Aminé and Kaytranada have been keeping fans waiting since their last projects dropped in 2021, making this collaboration highly anticipated. With their impressive track record of successful collaborations in the past, fans are eagerly anticipating the outcome of this project, whether it’s a single, an album, a mixtape, or something else entirely. The buzz around it is palpable, and fans are eager to see what musical magic Aminé and Kaytranada will create together.

Fans immediately noticed the post, commenting about how excited they were about the project. Scrolling through the comments on the video, it’s difficult to find a single negative one. “I USED TO PRAY FOR TIMES LIKE THIS,” said one user. “Peak music has returned,” another claimed. Seems like lots of people are looking forward to the collab. The Coachella performance was just a primer as we surely have plenty to look forward to from them in the near future. What do you think of Kaytranada’s Coachella guests? Sound off in the comments to let us know!

[Via]

Kaytranada Brought Out Kali Uchis And Aminé As Some Surprise Guests During His Coachella Set

by
kaytranada
Getty Image

Kaytranada played his Coachella set today, as it was being livestreamed from the outdoor stage. He also brought out a few surprise guests during his performance — keeping with the festival’s tradition of bringing some friends along.

Kali Uchis showed up so the two could deliver their collab, “10%,” after he teased a loop of her vocals on the song. Fans watching from their devices were instantly thrilled.

“I wake up, it’s so good to be me / In the mirror, it’s good to see me / I don’t check for these other b*tches / You can ask God ’cause that’s my witness,” she sang.

As the story goes, back in 2019, the pair had originally premiered the song (and their fourth collaboration) at Coachella, so this brings things full circle.

“Kaytranada brought Kali Uchis out! I’m gagged,” one fan wrote. “yooo kali coming out during kaytranada’s set doing 10% was something i needed today,” another added.

Later into the set, he also brought out Aminé, given the two have a joint album project, titled Kaytraminé, on the horizon.

Throughout the rest of Kaytranada’s show, he incorporated songs like Beyoncé’s “Cuff It” to heighten his trippy and energetic stage presence.

Check out clips from all of Kaytranada’s special guests during his set above.

Kaytranada’s Essential Tracks

by

There’s no doubt that super-producer Kaytranada has revolutionized the electronic-R&B space. Many of us were introduced to the Canadian-Haitian artist from his famous Boiler Room set back in 2013, as his remixes of “Be Your Girl” and “If” by Janet Jackson shook up the dancefloor and the Internet alike. Since then, Kaytranada has propelled himself from a Soundcloud remixer to a full-on household producer. The 30-year-old has an eclectic ability to blend ’80s and ’90s R&B tracks with modern-day electronic soundscapes.

He would start his solo career with 99.9%, featuring fellow R&B icons Anderson Paak and Syd. The critically acclaimed project would be followed up with Bubba in 2019. More recently, he put out the Intimidated EP, which features the likes of H.E.R and Thundercat. Kaytranada announced a collaboration album with Toronto MC Amine. A Kaytranada-produced project has been a long-time coming, as he’s been looking to produce records for other artists for years. He referenced this in a conversation with Rick Rubin: “I’ve always wanted to produce a whole project for another artist. Soon y’all are going to hear Kaytranada-produced albums.”

While Kaytranada’s production chops have taken the forefront over the past year, he’s assured fans that we will get a new solo project soon. Coming up on four years since Bubba, it’s certainly something that fans have been craving. In the aforementioned conversation with Rubin (in late 2022), he also stated, “I have a number of demos and a specific sound that I’m shooting for. I’m just trying to figure out how I want to cohesively present it.”

“You’re the One” (2016)

By far, his most commercially successful track, “You’re the One,” is the eleventh track off of breakout project 99.9%. The track is a go-to for any late-night DJ, featuring ethereal synths and soothing vocals from Syd (lead singer of The Internet). Reminiscent of the ’60s disco era, the gorgeous production parallels the likes of Tom Misch or GoldLink. Like many of Kaytranada’s tracks, the bassline is the subtle driver of “You’re the One.” The simplicity of the vocals matches the laid-back nature of the track, as Syd states, “You know I want you baby, you know I do / I’ll give you my heart and the rest is up to you.” The track has recently surpassed 140 million streams on Spotify alone.

9. “Glowed Up” ft. Anderson .Paak (2016)

Another essential cut from 99.9%, “Glowed Up,” is far more bass heavy and foreboding than the psychedelic quality of “You’re the One.” Anderson’s swagger verse perfectly meshes with the sound, as he both sings and raps. The track emphasizes how much Kaytranada can accomplish when paired with an equally ambitious collaborator. In fact, the two have been collaborating throughout their respective careers. They worked together on Anderson .Paak’s Malibu, with Kaytranada producing “Lite Weight.” In addition, the two put out “Twin Flame” back in 2022.

8. Teedra Moses — “Be Your Girl (Kaytranada Edition)” (2018)

Many fans were first exposed to “Be Your Girl” during Kaytranada’s Boiler Room set in Montreal. The track fully showcases his ability to breathe life into anything he touches. Kaytranada had long been a mainstay in the Soundcloud remix scene by 2013. However, “Be Your Girl” propelled him from a basement producer to a nationwide dance icon. An eclectic blend of disco and funk, the track features a hard-hitting snare and electrofunk synths. The original cut comes from R&B singer-songwriter Teedra Moses. As her most famous song, “Be Your Girl,” has surpassed 60 million streams.

7. “What You Need” ft. Charlotte Day Wilson (2019)

Kaytranada has an uncanny knack for bringing out hidden talents in fellow artists that he works with. Fans of Charlotte Day Wilson wouldn’t expect her to blend perfectly into the groovy “What You Need.” The R&B vocalist was best known for her laid-back ballads, notably with BadBadNotGood and Daniel Caesar. However, Kaytranada found a way to perfectly blend her towering vocal harmonies with the groovy production of “What You Need.” The two Canadian artists created what is undoubtedly one of the better tracks off of Bubba. Wilson’s feature on “What You Need” would lead her to diving into the dance space far more in the future.

“10%” ft. Kali Uchis (2019)

When Kaytranada announced his incoming collaboration with Kali Uchis at the Paris Music Festival, fans knew that “10%” was bound to be a hit. Their predictions were proven correct in 2021 when the track won a Grammy for Best Dance Recording. In addition, Bubba would win a Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Album. It wasn’t the first time the two had worked together. They created “Water To Wine” in 2016, where Uchis showcased her inherent adaptability as a vocalist. Fans will be hoping that this isn’t the last we hear from the two. Uchis recently flirted with more dance-heavy tracks when she released “No Hay Ley” last year.

“Freefall” ft. Durand Bernarr (2019)

“Freefall” is undeniably one of Kaytranada’s more underrated tracks to date. Featuring tantalizing vocals from Durand Bernarr, it’s one of the more experimental tracks off of Bubba. Bernarr is well-known in the neo-soul space, where he’s collaborated with the likes of Erykah Badu and Anderson .Paak. Featuring subtle violins and a snappy drum pattern, “Freefall” is nostalgic and euphoric. Bernarr’s adlibs blend seamlessly with the J Dilla-esque drums.

“The Worst In Me” ft. Tinashe (2019)

Chemistry between two artists can sometimes be a struggle as they look to adapt to each other’s sonic ideas. This certainly wasn’t the case on “The Worst In Me,” Kaytranada’s personal favorite track off of Bubba. During a lightning-in-a-bottle moment in the studio, Tinashe came up with her verse in only 30 minutes. Featuring shimmering adlibs and a snappy drumbeat, it’s one of Tinashe’s sole releases that ventures into the dancehall scene. In addition, Kaytranada is known for placing plenty of value on the visual counterparts of his art. “The Worst In Me” is one of those moments, as the music video blends a seductive touch with the Halloween season. This fits the song’s narrative as Tinashe lashes out at her frustrating partner.

“Twin Flame” ft. Anderson .Paak (2022)

“Twin Flame” is an easy-on-the-ear cut featuring a repetitive chorus and a looping piano sample. While Kaytranada almost always exists in the dance/R&B realm, he finds subtle ways to completely switch up the vibe depending on which track the listener is experiencing. “Twin Flame” is more so a nighttime club hit, with a dark, looping piano sample and booming drums. The track was released with a visual counterpart, which was directed by Anderson .Paak. Kaytranada had been sitting on the track for multiple years, referencing the song back in 2021 as one that he couldn’t wait to put out into the world.

“Chances” ft. Shay Lia (2018)

Shay Lia’s soulful vocals shine through on “Chances.” The track was released along with “Nothin Like U” and “It Was Meant 2 B” from the 2018 EP. With both Shay Lia and Kaytranada living in Montreal, the two frequently collaborated throughout their early careers. Lia is the first of numerous artists from Montreal who Kaytranada propelled into mainstream musicians. Walking a delicate tightrope between simplicity and experimentation, “Chances” blends both worlds perfectly. While its structure is simple, the tantalizing drums and subdued synths make “Chances” utterly addictive.