Inspired by MuchVibe R&B video programming and Madlib's quirky sampling aesthetic, Kaytranada started making music from his basement in Saint-Hubert, Quebec, 15 years ago. Fast forward to 2025, the prolific super-producer has multiple Grammy Awards under his belt, a co-headlining venture with Justice on the way, and just finished playing stadiums for the Weeknd's farewell(?) tour.No matter the success, Kaytra has never strayed from his signature sound and always kept the fans nourished with SoundCloud single drops and EPs — and his willingness to eschew industry standards, announcing new album AIN'T NO DAMN WAY! just days before its release. The follow-up to last year's Timeless comes as a welcome surprise, given its quality and the singular fact that it sees producer seemingly return to his roots.Indeed, from the artwork (by local artist and Dime designer Vincent Tsang) to the studio and vinyl records used during the album's creation, everything harkens back to Kaytranada's old sonic stomping grounds circa 2013's Kaytra Todo. The vocal samples, '80s synths and percussion are a dead giveaway, but it's the sequencing and track selection that make for an eclectic yet unified sound truly reminiscent of the days when he produced beat tapes for the hell of it.Don't be fooled, though: this project is much more than an amalgamation of songs. The titles and moods evoke specific time periods and personal hurdles that connoisseurs can piece together from Kaytranada's now-defunct Twitter timeline, showcasing more warmth, as well as more relatable melodies and themes, than its predecessor. Whether it's the inspiring, almost-gospel vibes of "SHINE YOUR LIGHT FOR WE" or the sombre tones of "GOODBYE BITCH!," he's more intentional in his compositions, layering impactful and off-kilter drum patterns to punctuate his message. There are still classic Kaytra house tracks ("DON'T WORRY BABE / I GOT U BABE"), while the playful "TARGET JOINT" brings fans back to the 99.9% era of richly stripped-down beatscapes. Finally, album closer "DO IT! (AGAIN!)" has a TLC "feature" that must be a bucket-list moment for the producer, who infamously launched his legacy with an illegal yet seminal Janet Jackson remix.Even though it remains an abstract surprise album, AIN'T NO DAMN WAY! flows coherently, making for an impressively seamless addition to Kaytra's ever-expanding discography. Most importantly, the record's meaningful callbacks solidify that he has yet to lose sight of his creative North star.
Wavelength
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