KAYTRANADA

Kaytranada crafts vibrant sonic palettes that range from hip-hop rhythms nodding to J Dilla toward woozy, distinctive house pulses. During the early 2010s he surfaced through striking remixes alongside original material. A string of commissioned projects and concise solo outings culminated in the Haitian-Canadian producer’s first XL Recordings album, 99.9%, which claimed the 2016 Polaris Music Prize and the 2017 Juno Award for Electronic Album of the Year. Following his move to major-label RCA, Kaytranada issued his second full-length, Bubba, in 2019; the set earned a Juno for Best Dance Recording and a Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Recording. An additional Grammy nomination arrived via the later H.E.R. collaboration “Intimidated,” after which he joined longtime associate Aminé for the sunlit Kaytraminé before unveiling his third studio album, Timeless, in 2024.

Born Louis Kevin Celestin in Haiti and raised in Montreal, Quebec, the avid listener developed a passion for DJ’ing and production throughout his teenage years. Initially releasing under the name Kaytradamus, he put out numerous digital EPs, albums, and remix compilations. Around 2013 he adopted the Kaytranada moniker for the EP Todo and the three-track 10-inch At All. In 2014 he reworked Disclosure’s “January,” crafted “My Block” for his longtime heroes Mobb Deep, and made his XL label bow that August with “Leave Me Alone,” a joint effort alongside vocalist and fellow Montreal native Shay Lia.

Over the ensuing two years his visibility grew through further XL releases such as “Drive Me Crazy” featuring Vic Mensa and external productions including “Girl” from the Internet’s Grammy-nominated Ego Death, “Lite Weight” for Anderson .Paak, “Love” for Rome Fortune, and “Honey” for Katy B. The proper debut 99.9% arrived in 2016 and included contributions from Kali Uchis, Phonte, and Little Dragon; it secured that year’s Polaris Music Prize and the 2017 Juno for Electronic Album of the Year. Additional remixes, edits, and productions—for Gorillaz, Snoop Dogg, and Kendrick Lamar among others—appeared through 2018, the same year Kaytranada returned on RCA with the EP Nothin Like U/Chances, which featured Ty Dolla $ign and Shay Lia. His second album, Bubba, followed the next December and incorporated appearances from Teedra Moses and Masego. A standalone cut, “Look Easy” featuring Lucky Daye, surfaced in July 2020.

Once the Bubba single “10%” captured the Grammy for Best Dance Recording and Bubba itself received both a Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Album and a Juno for Best Dance Recording, Kaytranada resurfaced with the 2021 EP Intimidated, which included work with H.E.R., Thundercat, and Mach-Hommy. The title track featuring H.E.R. earned a Grammy nomination for Best Dance/Electronic Recording. “Twin Flame,” recorded with Anderson .Paak, emerged in 2022 and took home a Juno for Rap Single of the Year. The producer then partnered with rapper Aminé on the 2023 album Kaytraminé, which also showcased Snoop Dogg, Pharrell Williams, and Amaarae. Later that year he dropped a double-single pairing Rochelle Jordan on “Lover/Friend” with Channel Tres on “Stuntin.” Those tracks previewed the expansive Timeless, released in June 2024 and featuring Childish Gambino, Charlotte Day Wilson, and Don Toliver among its guests. Kaytranada collected three nominations at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, encompassing Best Dance/Electronic Album for Timeless and Best Dance/Electronic Recording for “Witchy” featuring Childish Gambino.