Photo Credit: Alexia Croll
Kaytranada put on an electrifying show on October 5th at Forest Hills Stadium to a sold out crowd. The historic venue is known for its optimized acoustics and unobstructed views, perfect for a first-class concert experience.
Rapper and collaborator Channel Tres opened up the show and gave the crowd an unexpectedly pulsating dance performance in the manner of an early 2000’s boy band. The duo later performed a medley of songs from Kaytranada’s third and most recent album, Timeless.
The Haitian-born, Montreal based DJ and record producer blends a sound consisting of house, dance, electronic, R&B, hip-hop, and funk, with frequent features from both singers and rap artists. His rise to popularity began with his rework of Janet Jackson’s 1993 single “If”, and his earlier mixes can be shuffled throughout his SoundCloud repertoire. He is the first Black and openly gay artist to win the nomination for Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 2021 Grammy Awards for his work on his sophomore album, Bubba.
The crowd, a diverse mix of dedicated fans and casual listeners, erupted in cheers as Kaytranada took his place behind the decks. His dynamic stage presence, trippy visuals and blinding pyrotechnics gave watchers the true “dance party” experience he promised, all while letting the music speak for itself.
While he isn’t the type of performer to hype up the crowd with words or dance moves, he surprisingly brought a different type of vibrance and energy as he commanded the microphone, instead of his usual stationary sound-mixing. His blending of tracks was smooth and organic, never breaking the momentum. Fans familiar with his signature beats recognized every drop and switch-up, erupting into cheers when the heavy bass of “At All” or “Together” filled the room.
His setlist contained a number of tracks from his Grammy-award winning album Bubba, as well as his debut album 99.9%. He ended the concert with his fan-favorite remix of Teedra Moses’ “Be Your Girl”, which exhilarated the crowd. He also shuffled through hits such as “You’re the One” featuring Syd, Victoria Monet’s “Alright”, and “Intimidated” by H.E.R.
Kaytranada’s ability to create an atmosphere where people feel both free and united in movement was evident throughout the night. The night was truly unforgettable. Whether you were an experienced fan or a newcomer, the experience felt communal.
