Montreal’s own Kaytranada, a stellar music producer, recently sat down with local favorite Montreality for an all-encompassing conversation. The discussion traversed subjects such as his single encounter with Drake, recollections from his early life, and his nuggets of wisdom for budding music creators.
In the course of the interview, the topic of his connection with Drake was broached. Kaytranada elucidated that he had only crossed paths with the globally renowned artist once in Los Angeles. However, a different instance saw him being approached about creating beats for an impending house album. This project likely metamorphosed into Honestly, Nevermind, the surprise seventh studio album from Drake.
“One of his associates was like, ‘your mate wants some beats,'” Kaytranada shared. “He’s planning to do a house album.”
Kaytranada was game for the collaboration, inviting them to reach out to him. However, he suspects that his unenthusiastic demeanor may have scuppered the potential partnership, as he never received a callback.
“They probably anticipated me to be all ‘seriously? Wow!’ I don’t behave like that with everyone. Anyone who wants to collaborate with me, that’s my deal. Just reach out to me.”
The conversation kicked off with Kaytranada divulging his fascination for beatboxing that took root during his formative years. He shared anecdotes about his musical inclinations throughout his childhood, citing the influence of artists like Jay-Z, Nelly, and Ludacris. In particular, he highlighted how music videos from the early 2000s fostered his passion for music.
Towards the latter part of the interview, Kaytranada imparted some valuable advice to those starting their journey in the music industry.
“Just be unique you know, like you don’t need whatever I’m using—a lot of people just need a laptop, a computer. Just practice and practice—remake your favorite producer’s beats, that definitely unlocks a lot of things.”
The Montreal native had a banner year, releasing Kaytraminé with American rapper Aminé, a project that ranked among Complex Canada’s Best Canadian Albums of 2023.
Kaytranada’s journey, as he shared in the Montreality interview, is a testament to his talent, perseverance, and individuality. From his early fascination with beatboxing to his brief encounter with Drake and his sage advice to young producers, his story is both inspiring and enlightening for anyone looking to make their mark in the music industry.
From the streets of Montreal to the global stage, Kaytranada has carved out a unique space for himself in the music realm, continuously pushing boundaries with his creativity, authenticity, and unapologetic individuality. His story continues to unfold, and the world eagerly awaits the next beat from this Montreal music maestro.
