Kaytranada on New Music, Touring with Justice, and the Evolution of His Sound

Kaytranada, the lauded dance/electronic producer, is back in creative mode after a busy 2025 that included over 60 shows and a co-headlining arena tour with Justice. The Montreal-based artist, born Louis Kevin Celestin, is now focused on his next studio album, aiming for a more frequent release schedule reminiscent of artists like Prince.

A Return to Roots and a New Sound

After celebrating two Grammy nominations in early February for his 2025 album Ain’t No Damn Way!, Kaytranada is eager to begin work on his fifth solo studio LP. He expressed a desire to move away from the pressure of topping previous successes and instead focus on consistent output. “I want to have an approach where I release more material,” he explained. “Back in the day, a lot of artists dropped albums every year, or even every nine months. I want to approach the idea of an album that way.”

The new project will see Kaytranada revisiting his musical origins. “I want to get back to my roots and to how I made music when I was young. It’s kind of like a time machine. I’m going back in the day, to demonstrate what I’ve learned to my younger self,” he said. He intends to explore a new sound and approach to beatmaking, drawing inspiration from his early influences.

Reflecting on 99.9% and the “Kaytranada Sound”

Looking back at his 2016 debut album, 99.9%, Kaytranada admits he would approach much of it differently today. “100%. I would say 99.9% of that album I would do differently,” he laughed. However, he acknowledges the album’s significance, noting it’s become a foundational work for many aspiring dance music producers. He attributes its success to its freedom and lack of rigid genre constraints, blending electronic music with hip-hop, R&B, and “boogie music.”

The album was inspired by MSTRKRFT’s Fist Of God, which featured R&B and rap artists over electronic production. Kaytranada’s approach was to filter those elements through a hip-hop and R&B lens, creating what some have dubbed “the Kaytranada sound.” He remains humble about the term, acknowledging the numerous influences that shaped his style.

Ain’t No Damn Way! and the Inspiration of Beat Tapes

Kaytranada’s 2025 album, Ain’t No Damn Way!, was born from a collection of previously created beats and new productions. The album was inspired by the beat tape culture pioneered by producers like J Dilla, Madlib, and Black Milk, as well as more recent house tapes from Knowledge. “I’m very inspired by beat tapes,” he stated. “Daily I listen to J Dilla beat tapes, Madlib beat tapes, Black Milk beat tapes.”

Touring with Justice and Finding Comfort on Stage

In 2025, Kaytranada embarked on a co-headlining tour with Justice, a collaboration he described as a “big honor” given his admiration for the Ed Banger label and the duo themselves. The tour originated from a memorable performance in Paris in June 2024. Despite being a fan, Kaytranada noted a reserved dynamic with Justice members Gaspard Auge and Xavier de Rosnay, characterized by mutual respect rather than extensive interaction.

To address his discomfort with large arena venues, Kaytranada’s team implemented a floating stage design. He also drew inspiration from Tiësto’s early 2000s stadium performances, aiming to create a party-like atmosphere for the audience.

The Evolution of an Artist

With 10 Grammy nominations and two wins since 2021, Kaytranada approaches his music with a renewed sense of seriousness and self-belief. He views each album as a documentation of his artistic journey, drawing parallels to Prince’s prolific output. “I see the approach as like, this is the game of life. You document what you’ve done for the last few years,” he explained. “If you don’t like what I’m doing, there’s the aged stuff, and it’s all good. If you want to retain following what I’m doing, go right ahead and get along for the journey.”