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Coldplay To Make New Album On Vinyl From Recycled Plastic Bottles

June 22, 2024

Coldplay has announced an innovative and eco-friendly initiative for their upcoming album Moon Music, which will be produced on vinyl made from recycled plastic bottles. The British band aims to...

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Jimin of BTS Announces Second Solo Album 'MUSE,' Set for Release This Summer

June 22, 2024

Jimin, one of the standout members of the globally renowned boy band BTS, has stirred excitement once again with the announcement of his second solo album, titled "MUSE." The announcement was made...

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BLACKPINK’s LISA Gears Up for Solo Stardom with New Single ‘Rockstar’

June 22, 2024

BLACKPINK’s LISA has just announced her new solo single, “Rockstar,” set to arrive on June 27 at 8 p.m. ET. This highly anticipated track marks her first release since signing with RCA Records...

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Celebrating Independence: The 2024 Libera Awards Shine a Spotlight on Independent Music

June 22, 2024

The 2024 Libera Awards, held on June 11 at Gotham Hall, marked a significant celebration of the vibrant and diverse achievements in independent music. Presented by the American Association of...

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Khalid: The Voice of a New Generation

June 22, 2024

Khalid Donnel Robinson, known simply as Khalid, has become a defining voice of his generation with his soulful voice, relatable lyrics, and genre-blending sound. Since his breakthrough with the hit...

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Shakira Recalls Putting Her Music Career on Hold to Support Gerard Piqué’s Pro Soccer Dreams

June 21, 2024

Two years after her split from Gerard Piqué, Shakira has achieved significant milestones, including four major hits and a VMAs Vanguard Award, while preparing to release her next album, Las Mujeres...

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Selena Gomez, Ryan Gosling and More Celebrities Reveal Favorite Taylor Swift Era or Song

June 21, 2024

Taylor Swift's songwriting prowess has garnered admiration from numerous celebrities, who each hold special attachments to different tracks from her extensive catalog. Ryan Gosling, for instance...

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Celine Dion's Battle with Stiff Person Syndrome: A Legendary Voice in Turmoil

June 21, 2024

Celine Dion, one of the most iconic voices in the music industry, has faced a series of health challenges in recent years that have significantly impacted her singing career. Known for her powerful...

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Exploring Don Toliver’s New Universe: 'Hardstone Psycho' Album and Fortnite Game Launch

June 21, 2024

Don Toliver, the Houston-born maestro of atmospheric melodies and genre-blending soundscapes, is once again redefining the boundaries of music and immersive experiences with his latest album...

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Sabrina Carpenter's Meteoric Rise: 'Please Please Please' and the Surge of a Pop Phenomenon

June 21, 2024

In the ever-evolving landscape of pop music, Sabrina Carpenter is a name that’s resonating louder with each passing day. This week, Billboard's Trending Up newsletter highlights Carpenter's...

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Selena Gomez Reveals She May Retire From Music After Her Next Album

June 21, 2024

Selena Gomez has again raised the possibility of stepping away from the music industry, less than three years after contemplating retirement. During an appearance on the SmartLess podcast with...

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The Beatles’ ‘Abbey Road’ Is Back

June 21, 2024

Throughout 2024, The Beatles have been consistently appearing and reappearing on the Billboard charts, with their presence often varying by week and by album. While the legendary band often charts...

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Kaytranada: A Decade of Dancefloor Domination and Timeless Sound

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A decade on from his breakthrough Boiler Room DJ set, Canadian producer Kaytranada has cemented himself as a dance music powerhouse. His work blends the worlds of underground electronic sounds and mainstream, chart-topping R&B and hip hop, earning collaboration requests from the likes of Drake and working with Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar. Later this summer, he’ll headline a huge outdoor show at London’s All Points East.

Masterful Collaborations

Timeless features an impressive roster of artists including Tinashe ("More Than A Little Bit"), Childish Gambino ("Witchy"), PinkPantheress ("Snap My Finger"), and Thundercat ("Stuntin'"). Kaytra is at his best when he leverages his collaborators’ strengths – pairing sharp delivery with a catchy percussive line in "Do 2 Me" (with Anderson .Paak and SiR) or using a voice to mark a key change and change the pace of the track in "Drip Sweat" (with Channel Tres).

Creative Sampling and Genre Blending

Timeless showcases Kaytranada's mastery in chopping and augmenting samples creatively – something he told Rolling Stone was AI-aided. "Dance Dance Dance" is funky and euphoric, led by disco-style keys and a deeply soulful bassline. It uses a cut-up sample of the whirling synths heard in Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five’s "The Message", giving the otherwise nostalgic track a futuristic twist. "Seemingly" is a house music-style banger sampling Don Blackman’s yearning ballad "Holding You, Loving You" – making ample room for love to be felt on the dancefloor, the natural home of many tracks on Timeless.

The Sound of Kaytranada: Signature and Predictability

Having such an established sound and musical identity, especially only eight years after a breakthrough debut album, is an impressive feat. Yet every track being identifiable as a textbook Kaytranada anthem is both the album’s greatest strength and only notable weakness – giving the project a subtle predictability. While his signature soulful chord progressions, heavy basslines, genre-blending, and the occasional cowbell are pleasing to the ear, there is space for greater experimentation.

Timeless: Living Up to Its Name

Despite this, Timeless lives up to its name by proving Kaytranada’s music indeed stands the test of time. This album acts as a bookmark of his creative evolution, and its polished production work makes it a good representation of his musical identity thus far.

With so many tracks, the album can feel overstuffed, especially with several tonally similar R&B tunes. Yet, the highlights ultimately outweigh the filler. On "Dance Dance Dance", Celestin reaches the apex of his swing, interspersing horn fanfares with piano stabs to create a modern house classic guaranteed to make you move.

Conclusion

Far from a diminishing return, Timeless is the sound of a master getting back into the groove and finding his muse burning bright as ever. As he headlines major festivals and continues to innovate in the studio, Kaytranada proves that his music truly stands the test of time, and this latest album is a testament to his enduring influence in the world of dance music.

Up-and-coming music creators can glean valuable insights from Kaytranada's journey and approach to music. His ability to seamlessly blend genres and leverage collaborations highlights the importance of versatility and networking in the industry. By staying true to his unique sound while constantly evolving, Kaytranada demonstrates the power of authenticity coupled with innovation. Small music creators can benefit from his example by experimenting with their style, embracing technology like AI for creative enhancements, and building strong relationships within the music community to enrich their sound and broaden their reach.