Kaytranada

Kaytranada Produced His Brother Lou Phelps’ New EP ‘Touche,’ Which Is Out Now

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CKaytranada is making quite the comeback this year. In addition to releasing his own new single “Twin Flame” with Anderson .Paak, Kaytranada has also picked up production work for Joyce Wrice on “Ice Tea,” IDK on his new album Simple, and now, on the newly released Lou Phelps EP, Touché. Lou is, of course, Kaytranada’s actual brother and has an impressive list of production credits to his name as well. In fact, the two have performed together as a duo and Phelps has worked with Kay on most of his projects to date.

Speaking about the new EP, Phelps told Complex, “This EP is an introduction to a new chapter of music I’m exploring. I did something that sounds different to my ear but that still felt natural. These three songs display my confidence in the bars, the production is amazing, and flows fill the pocket perfectly. I think it’s a nice setup for whatever is coming next in my career and I look forward to sharing all the other joints I have tucked as well.”

In addition to producing for his brother, Kaytranada has been touring with The Weeknd after remixing the fellow Canadian’s “Out Of Time.” His most recent release was last year’s Intimidated EP, with features from HER, who appears on the title track, Mach-Hommy, and Thundercat.

Touché is out now via Rostrum Records and Stand Up Guy Records. Check out the video for the title track up top.

Kaytranada And Anderson .Paak Host A Futuristic Rave In Their ‘Twin Flame’ Video

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It was only a matter of time. With big-name artists like Drake and Beyonce (and emerging acts like Doechii and Leikeli47) sparking interest in dance music among hip-hop and R&B fans, Canadian dance maestro Kaytranada had to be planning his own comeback to take advantage. After both superstars released their respective dance efforts on the same weekend (Honestly, Nevermind and “Break My Soul“), Kay’s name trended on Twitter as fans wondered whether he had something new in the works.

Today, he made his highly-anticipated return with the help of another Black genre revivalist, Anderson .Paak, whose soulful sensibilities offer the perfect pairing for the nu-disco grooves of “Twin Flame.” In the song’s accompanying video, the two artists host a retro-futuristic rave with fashions right out of late ’90s sci-fi as they hold court above a packed dance floor.

Kaytranada’s last album, Bubba, came out in 2019, pre-pandemic, and was lavished with critical praise and awards including the Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Album and the Juno for Dance Recording Of The Year. Since then, he’s sprinkled his influence throughout the music world, dropping the Intimidated EP in 2021 and connecting with DMV rapper IDK earlier this year for Simple. Meanwhile, Anderson .Paak is fresh off of the funk homage group project Silk Sonic with Bruno Mars, on which they saluted ’70s and ’80s Black dad favorites like Con Funk Shun, The Gap Band, Isley Brothers, and Frankie Beverly and Maze.

Watch the video for “Twin Flame” above and stay tuned for more from Kaytranada, who’s currently touring the US and Canada alongside The Weeknd. Check out the dates for that below.

8/4 – Tampa, FL @ Raymond James Stadium*
8/6 – Miami, FL @ Hard Rock Stadium*
8/7 – Seattle, WA @ Day Trip Festival
8/18 – Denver, CO @ Empower Field at Mile High*
8/20 – Las Vegas, NV @ Allegiant Stadium*
8/23 – Vancouver, BC @ BC Place*
8/27 -28 – Pasadena, CA @ This Ain’t No Picnic
8/30 – Phoenix, AZ @ State Farm Stadium*
9/2 – Los Angeles, CA @ SoFi Stadium*
9/3 – Los Angeles, CA @ SoFi Stadium*
9/4 – Chicago, IL @ North Coast Festival
9/8 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Mirage [SOLD OUT]
9/9 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Mirage [SOLD OUT]
9/22 – Toronto, CA @ Rogers Centre*
9/24 – San Francisco, CA @ Portola Music Festival

The Weeknd Announces New Openers To Replace Doja Cat On His ‘After Hours ‘Til Dawn’ Tour

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The Weeknd 2021 iHeart Awards
Getty Image / Kevin Winter

Just days before his hotly anticipated “After Hours ‘Til Dawn” tour is set to kick off, The Weeknd has announced new openers who will support him throughout the trek. Joining The Weeknd for the 19-date North America leg are Mike Dean, Snoh Aalegra, and Kaytranada, as reported by Variety.

Rapper and singer Doja Cat was originally set to open for The Weeknd on the tour. However, she is currently recovering from a tonsil surgery she underwent last month. The tour kicks off Friday, July 8 in Toronto, where Dean and Kaytranada will open. Dean will appear on all 19 dates of the North American leg. Aalegra’s will join them beginning August 11 at Mercedes Stadium in Atlanta.

“Unfortunately I have to have surgery on my tonsils ASAP. The surgery is routine but the recovery is going to take awhile due to swelling,” Doja said in a since-deleted Instagram post. “That means I have to cancel my festival run this summer as well as The Weeknd tour. I feel horrible about this but can’t wait for this to heal and get back to making music and create an experience for y’all.”

“The entire show is conceptual,” said The Weeknd’s creative director La Mar Taylor to Variety. “There is a linear story between After Hours and Dawn FM, and I think the audience will walk away with different interpretations of the show. To us, that’s the whole point.”