Great music can tap into our deepest emotions and elicit responses in ways few other art forms can. From soul-stirring melodies to pulsating beats to lyrics that transport us to uninhibited moments of the past, great music speaks to the human experience. And when it comes to the ability to evoke emotions, Kaytranada is a music artist who has curated a body of work that demands a reaction.

Louis Kevin Celestin, known professionally as Kaytranada, is a Grammy Award-winning DJ, rapper, singer, and producer who has pushed musical boundaries with his genre-blending sound, which includes R&B, hip-hop, funk, and house music through his albums and live sets.

Kaytranada by Jivi Emir

I first discovered the Haitian-Canadian artist at the beginning of the summer on TikTok. I was watching a video of a block party in Brooklyn, and besides the vibrant crowd of Black people in the clip, the audio captured my attention. It was a sultry female singer crooning lyrics that resonated with me at the time. I looked at the sound and all it said was “Intimidated.” I posted a comment on the video saying, “What song is this?” I noticed an earlier comment giving the information that I was desperately looking for, which said “If anyone was wondering the song is Intimidated (feat. H.E.R.) by Kaytranada.” I immediately went to Apple Music to hear the full song, and from there, Kaytranada took over my summer ’24 playlist.

During my Apple Music investigation, in addition to searching Kaytranada online, I realized that I was familiar with his earlier work, but under his previous moniker Kaytradamus. The artist launched his career in 2010 as Kaytradamus before changing his name to Kaytranada in 2012. I was heavy into dance and house music DJ culture at that time, and I was churning out interviews with the likes of Erick Morillo, David Guetta, and Tiesto. The buzz about Kaytradamus was in the air, but we had yet to cross paths.

As a semi-new artist under his new name, Kaytranada piqued the interest of R&B and house music lovers alike with his remix of Janet Jackson’s iconic song “If” in 2013. The remix was a huge hit on SoundCloud. His evocative manipulation of Jackson’s sexy vocals, along with synth beats and a memorable bassline, set the stage for what was yet to come from the multi-hyphenate artist.

In 2016, Kay released his first studio album called 99.9%. The 15-track album featured guest appearances from Grammy Award-winner Anderson .Paak, electronic music duo AlunaGeorge, Vic Mensa, Little Dragon, Syd, and the talented Craig David. The album delivered a mid-tempo hip-hop vibe with danceable beats and flirtatious melodies throughout. The singles “You’re the One” featuring Syd and “Got It Good” featuring David were vocal standouts from the album.

The follow-up to 99.9% was Kay’s second album, Bubba, which ushered in a more elevated and diverse soundscape than its predecessor. The LP featured a range of musical genres including house, techno, Afrobeats, R&B, funk, and disco. Lyrically, the album explores love and heartache sprinkled with soothing grooves and danceable beats. “Freefall” featuring Durand Bernarr is a crowd-pleaser from the 17-track album. Bernarr’s vocal prowess on the album is a show-stealer as he effortlessly showcases his range as a singer.

Bubba would win two Grammy Awards. The first was in the Best Dance/Electronic Album category and the second win was for the song “10%” in the Best Dance Recording category.

Childish Gambino and Kaytranada from the “Witchy” music video | Photo: Julius Frazer

Kaytranada’s popularity continued to rise worldwide as his music flowed through his live sets and performances, streaming services, and nightclubs. His quest for creating music that not only you could dance to, but that you could relate to lyrically was still at the forefront of his music-making abilities.

In 2021, Kay released an EP titled Intimidated. The EP included the singles “Be Careful” featuring Thundercat, “$payforhaiti” featuring Mach-Hommy, and the aforementioned “Intimidated” featuring H.E.R.

H.E.R.’s vulnerable delivery combined with the song’s searing lyrics is why “Intimidated” is timeless and insatiable. The Grammy winner flawlessly conveys the emotional tone needed to explain how intimidation is standing between her and the person she wants to be with. As she sings in the song, “Don’t wanna waste the feel / Like we could make it real / Don’t run away when you could be lovin’ me.”

Right after I discovered “Intimidated” on TikTok in June, Kaytranada released his third studio album, Timeless. The word “timeless” perfectly encapsulates the feeling behind Kay’s singles, EPs, and albums. You can tell that Kay is influenced by other eras and musical genres, but the final output of his music sounds fresh, futuristic, and something we could be listening to for years to come.

On Timeless, Kay enlists a slew of talented collaborators including Channel Tres on “Stuntin” and “Drip Sweat,” the song that gym influencers gravitated to on social media, “Hold On” featuring Dawn Richard, “Witchy” featuring Childish Gambino, “Feel A Way” featuring Don Toliver, and “Still” featuring Charlotte Day Wilson, to name a few. Kay also reunites with Bernarr for the “vibe killing” track “Weird” and with Anderson .Paak on “Do 2 Me.”

Timeless is a dance record and the 21-song album has a little flavor for everyone. From the lounge friendly “Feel A Way” to the uptempo “Drip Sweat,” music lovers can pick a track on Timeless that exemplifies their mood.

On Sept. 24, Kaytranada hit the road and performed the first date of the TIMELESS Tour in Vancouver. Fans have been posting their favorite moments from the show, which include dynamic visuals, rhythmic light shows, and seamless mixes between new cuts and old favorites.

The world received the first music video from Timeless on Oct. 2 with the release of the “Witchy” visual featuring Gambino. In the Bethany Vargas-directed visual, Kaytranada and Gambino walk into a small recording studio with Kaytranada unpacking his mixing equipment from a suitcase, while Gambino makes his way to an overheard mic and sings. On the other side of the studio is a temptress who mimics Gambino’s movements. The two are dancing in sync with Kaytranada soon falling under the same spell.

Kaytranada will be taking over Texas soon with a show in Houston on Oct. 12, Austin on Oct. 16, and in Irving on Oct. 17. The Houston show is at White Oak Music Hall with Channel Tres and Lou Phelps as special guests. Tickets for all of the Texas shows are still available.

Watch the “Witchy” Music Video Below