KAYTRANADA songs for a night on aux.
If you aren’t queuing Kaytra, then what exactly are you dancing to?
photo by Dawn Heatherly.
Mixing R&B, dance, funk, hip hop, and electronic, sometimes all at once, KAYTRANADA is nothing short of a multi-genre maestro. While you may recognize him from his Boiler Room set in Montreal, his fusion of genres holds its own place in dance music. Louis Kevin Celestin, the Haitian-Canadian DJ frequently nicknamed Kay and Kaytra, has jokingly described his sound as “Black tropical house,” “futuristic disco,” and, as of summer 2023, “new jack swing.”
His extensive sound has earned the attention of various artists. In 2023 alone, he performed at Coachella, traveled with the Weeknd for the After Hours til Dawn tour, DJ’ed for Beyoncé’s birthday on the RENAISSANCE World Tour, and collaborated with Victoria Monét on the Grammy-winning Jaguar II. He topped the year off releasing two of his own tracks featuring Rochelle Jordan and Channel Tres while teasing his imminent third studio album.
One of Kaytra’s major brightest highlights of 2023 was KAYTRAMINÉ, his collaborative release with the Portland-raised rapper Aminé. The record demonstrated Aminé’s rapping prowess against KAYTRANADA’s buttery beats, with features including Pharrell Williams, Amaarae, and Snoop Dogg. I had the pleasure of getting the authentic KAYTRAMINÉ experience on Night 3 of their tour. At the concert, Aminé admitted that Kaytra specializes in “beats that make you feel sexy.” Even if it seems so simple, Kaytra is woefully unrecognized for his superpower.
This superpower is crucial for any evening that will turn into a night out. Below are four categories of KAYTRANADA songs to guide you through the time before, during, and after a big event. Whether you’re going out or staying on your couch, there are many Kaytranada-produced tracks that are perfect for setting the tone for the night. This list is not only meant to familiarize people with the underrated DJ and producer, but also doubles as a much-needed prescription for party playlists.
5pm: “A Lite,” “Only Girl,” “GOT IT GOOD,” “DESPITE THE WEATHER”
Early to late evening is a perfect time to relax before your late night plans. Around 5pm, the sun is entering golden hour or—if it’s Chicago—setting into the horizon. Either way, this time signals a nice, mellow period before you get your energy up, and Kaytra has plenty of songs for relaxing.
“A Lite” by Compton’s Buddy is a chronicle of the young rapper’s search for a lighter, set against a chill beat with snares that make you feel like you’re on the prowl for a lighter yourself. “Only Girl,” with Kali Uchis, Vince Staples, and Steve Lacy, allows Kaytra to demonstrate his ability to blend sounds by making all three of these artists sound great against a funky bass line. “DESPITE THE WEATHER” is a bouncy instrumental with wind-chime-esque production that makes you feel like the sun is shining directly on you. Craig David’s vocals on “Got It Good” will make you want to relax alongside his lyrics and make you feel that you, yourself, got it good.
8pm: “Stuntin,” “Wild Side [KAYTRANADA Remix],” “Alright”
Depending on how much time you need to look flawless, 8:00 could be too early (or too late) for getting ready. Even so, it’s never too early to hangout with your friends before you go out with them. These songs are infused with KAYTRANADA’s undeniable confidence, which is essential for whatever nighttime plans await.
On “Stuntin,’” Kaytra puts Channel Tres’ deep vocals against even deeper kick drums that sound smoother than shea butter. On Kaytra’s remix of Normani’s “Wild Side,” he takes the song to a different level by incorporating his own tropical-futuristic percussion. And with three Grammy wins, even the Academy agrees that Kaytra-produced “Alright” from Victoria Monét’s Jaguar II is a must-add to your going out playlist.
11pm: “MUST BE,” “4EVA,” “Vex Oh,” “Intimidated”
These songs demonstrate the very thing KAYTRANADA was born to do: make you DANCE. Kaytra’s discography is full of songs that should be playing wherever people are dancing. “MUST BE” by Lou Phelps is complete with its own horns, exhibiting a confident fanfare that makes you move. The lead Kaytraminé single “4EVA” has a similar effect, merging Pharell Williams’ four-count with Kaytra’s talent to deliver tunes with a well-deserved confidence.
“Vex Oh” features GoldLink and South London singers Eight9Fly and Ari PenSmith. They croon “Vex oh,” a common phrase in West African Pidgin roughly meaning “no stress,” against a shimmering bassline. H.E.R. raises the pressure on “Intimidated,” urging a lover to stop wasting time and dance with her against smooth kick drums. Whatever the song, you’ll probably be dancing if Kaytra’s playing.
2am: “2 The Music,” “CHANCES,” “Go DJ”
Whether you keep the party going, or leave for your own after party, these songs are great for when the night is winding down but the energy is still up. “2 The Music” features Iman Omari singing in an altered pitch. This song takes Kaytra’s “futuristic disco” to a nearly empty nightclub, adding a cool intimacy to Omari’s lyrics asking his partner to dance with him. “Chances” features Shay Lia singing about her own journey as an aspiring artist. Her delicate vocals against Kaytra’s fuzzy but swanky production make this a ballad of encouragement and perseverance that also sounds like a warm hug.
An editor favorite, SiR keeps up with Kaytra’s indescribably groovy rhythm on “Go DJ.” The rapper picks up the pace through his smooth lyrics: “And now the blunt still burnin', the clock still turnin' / The waist keep winin' while her ass keep twerkin' / The DJ's on my team, I'm certain the DJ's on my team.” Indeed, the DJ will always be on your team if you’re with Kaytra.
This list is not just a recommendation for your playlists, but a taste of the different ways Kaytranada can adapt to your aux. These fourteen tracks are just a slice of Kaytranada’s sleek discography. Real KAYTRANADA enjoyers might notice that I left out “YOU’RE THE ONE” featuring Syd, “10%” featuring Kali Uchis, and the iconic remix of “Be Your Girl” by Teedra Moses. Those songs are quintessential Kaytranada on the surface, yes. But quintessential Kaytra goes beyond the songs themselves; it lies within his greater power as a DJ. The black, queer producer brings an aura of confidence and sexiness that is inseparable from his sound, making him a tastemaker for the future of dance music.
edited by Sydney Cook.
photo by Dawn Heatherly.
