Kaytranada's journey from basement beat-making to the Grammys

Switched on Pop

Vox Media Podcast Network

Music Interviews, Music History, Music, Music Commentary

4.6 • 2.7K Ratings

🗓️ 2 March 2021

⏱️ 37 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Kaytranada has what every producer strives for: an in-demand signature sound. His records glide fluidly between four-to-the-floor house beats, hip-hop sample-flipping, and P-Funk style 808 bass lines. He honed the technique as a teenager, and it has since grabbed the attention of some all-star collaborators: Pharrell Williams, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Anderson .Paak, and Kendrick Lamar. This year, he’s nominated for three Grammys, including Best Dance/Electronica Album for his 2019 sophomore release, Bubba, and Best New Artist. But Kaytranada is hardly new to music; at 28, he has been building a career in the industry for more than a decade. Although the recognition may be overdue, the thrill of it hasn’t worn off. “I’m Kaytranada, all the way from Montreal, Canada — been making beats since I was young. And now here I am, [one of the] Best New Artists for the Grammys. It’s really crazy and exciting,” he says. On this week’s episode of Switched on Pop, co-host Charlie Harding spoke with Kaytranada about how his DIY approach to production led him to music’s biggest stage. SONGS DISCUSSED Kaytranada — Got it Good (feat Craig David), Lite Spots, TOGETHER (feat Aluna George & GoldLink), GLOWED UP (feat Anderson Paak), You're the One (feat SYD), Kulture, 10% (f Kali Uchis), Rush (Kali Uchis), Love Thang (First Choice) Pontos De Luz (Gal Costa) Janet Jackson - If (Kaytranada Remix), Teedra Moses - Be Your Girl (Kaytranada Edition) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Get Disney Plus in Hulu in a brand new bundle.
0:03.6	Better together for only $9.99 a month.
0:06.2	Offer valid for eligible subscribers only, terms apply.
0:09.0	See DisneyBundle.com for details.
0:11.2	Welcome to Switched on Pop.
0:26.7	I'm songwriter Charlie Harding and I'm musicologist Nate Sloan.
0:30.3	Nate this year we've been doing a lot of Grammys coverage.
0:32.8	I think because there have been songs and artists that I've been really interested in.
0:38.0	Music that has captivated me.
0:39.8	And this week we're going to talk with one of the nominees for Best New Artist,
0:46.6	Ketronata.
0:47.6	Ketronata is really inspiring.
0:49.8	Like so many other artists in this category.
0:51.8	He's not a best new artist.
0:53.4	He's been doing this for a long while, building this career and getting a lot of recognition.
0:59.7	Literally moving from making beats in his mom's basement to making beats with collaborators
1:03.9	like Ferrell and Anderson Pock.
1:06.2	He did Mad Lib recently announced he's got two tracks coming with Mad Lib.
1:09.8	And he's done work for Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Chance the Rapper, Kendrick Lamar and Madonna.
1:15.4	But I think the first time that I heard Ketronata was when you played me his track at our weekly
1:20.6	team meeting.
1:21.8	Yeah, I think there were probably four weeks in a row where I was just suggesting everyone
	...

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