HOW KAYTRANADA REWROTE THE RULES OF MODERN DANCE MUSIC — Quick Facts
Kaytranada's genre blending production style bridged underground dance music with mainstream pop, creating a template for modern electronic music. His 2013 Janet Jackson 'If' remix went viral on SoundCloud, defining how internet curation and taste-making worked in the mid-2010s.
Key Data Points
- Kaytranada's genre blending production style bridged underground dance music with mainstream pop, creating a template for modern electronic music
- His 2013 Janet Jackson 'If' remix went viral on SoundCloud, defining how internet curation and taste-making worked in the mid-2010s
- Beyond music, his minimalist fashion aesthetic and visual collaborations helped establish the cultural blueprint for tastemaker artists in the streaming era
Frequently Asked
- What is Kaytranada's signature drum pattern called?
- Kaytranada's signature drum pattern is called the 'kick wave,' a tug of war drum pattern that works at 108 BPM and finds the sweet spot between hip hop's laid back groove and house music's driving pulse.
- What was Kaytranada's viral remix that changed dance music?
- Kaytranada's 2013 remix of Janet Jackson's 'If' went viral on SoundCloud and became the defining sound of internet curation in the mid-2010s, featuring his signature swing production over chopped breakbeats.
- When did Kaytranada win his Grammy Awards?
- Kaytranada won two Grammy Awards in 2021 for 'Bubba,' making him the first Black artist to win Best Dance Electronic Album.
- What was Kaytranada's debut album?
- Kaytranada's debut album was '99.9%' released in 2016, which paired his production with vocalists like Anderson .Paak, Syd, and GoldLink and proved his 'futuristic disco' concept worked at album length.
- What musical influences shaped Kaytranada's sound?
- Kaytranada's omnivorous influences include J Dilla's micro chops, Justice's French touch maximalism, Haitian compas rhythms, and house music records, blending them into a unique architectural production style.