Kaytranada's Essential Tracks

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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" 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.

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" 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.

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.