Kaytranada Electrifies Alexandra Palace with a Masterclass in Movement and Mood
Photography by db Captures.
In the era of viral dance videos and microwavable music, it can often be difficult to find artists who cut through the recycled noise. Kaytranada is that sharp knife, and regardless of whether his music tickles your fancy or not, you will at the very least appreciate the creativity and uniqueness of his production and musicality.
Photography by db Captures.
Alexandra Palace became the epicentre as Kaytranada delivered a headline performance to a sold-out crowd. Anticipation was high well before the first beat dropped, and when Kaytranada finally took to the stage, he exceeded expectations, while still having space to curate an even better experience.
Photography by db Captures.
Photography by db Captures.
The show, powered by a display of pyrotechnics, burst into life with a spectacular opening of a vintage Kaytranada record, “Track Uno” off his debut album “99.9%”. Kaytranada’s command of the stage was obvious although it could be argued that a slight adjustment by moving the crowd closer to the stage would have been great for the overall atmosphere and intimacy of the show, however this was impossible due to health and safety. DJ sets in large venues can often feel quite isolated, with the crowd participation required to pull the controller through to the end, these are some of the traits of previous Kaytranada shows and the magnitude of Ally Pally made this slightly difficult to achieve but it didn’t take away from the brilliance of the overall show.
Photography by db Captures.
The set list drew somewhat heavily from his latest body of work ‘Timeless’, which newer fans may not have been fully accustomed to yet within a live setting. Thankfully, he still managed to craft a set that felt both familiar and fresh, which can be difficult to do when your catalogue contains as many hits as Kaytranada’s does. Tracks such as "Still", "Sossaup", "Do 2 Me" and "Witchy" resonated well with the audience, with bass grooves that were suited perfectly to the grand scale of Ally Pally. The challenge of integrating his latest material alongside beloved staples was evident, but for fans who simply love everything Kaytranada produces, the setlist was a success.
Photography by db Captures.
Kaytranada curated an experience, one that when you close your eyes, makes you feel like you’ve been transported to another world. He’s not only an incredible producer, but a storyteller through music production and visual arts.
The songs were perfectly suited for the acoustics of Ally Pally, with "Drip Sweat" in particular living up to its name. Another heat fest was his rendition of Beyonce’s “Cuff It”, which had the crowd “heated”, pun intended. The sound at Alexandra Palace can be a difficult beast to tame, but it was perfectly tuned to Kaytranada’s signature production and bass heavy discography.
As the night unfolded, standout moments came thick and fast. "Spit It Out" saw the atmosphere reach fever pitch, with a kick bass so thumping it shook the crowd. "Freefall" offered a contrasting moment of bliss, transporting the audience to a dreamlike space. The emotional aspects of the set were expertly handled, including the Kelela smash hit “Waitin”, which was a testament to Kaytranada’s understanding of not just music, but mood and movement.
When the unmistakable intro to "Vex Oh" dropped, the reaction was instant from the crowd. Phones lit up the hall, once that infamous “Be Your Girl” piano line hit the speakers. The visuals that supported the show were absolutely stunning, they complemented every song, and the on-deck camera was a perfect addition, with on screen shots of Kaytranada casually sipping wine and interacting with the crowd throughout the set.
The “Timeless” album tracks, which to a degree is a new weapon in the Kaytranada live show arsenal, translated well with dedicated fans and are a testament to just how large his repertoire is. This of course comes with pros and cons. The crowd wanted to hear all the classics with a sea of phones at the ready to capture a “viral moment”, but with this you lose the ability to live in the moment, which Kaytranada addressed in a tweet post the show. Songs like “Intimidated” have been showstoppers at previous shows, but these moments were somewhat tainted by the need of the crowd to record as much as possible.
Photography by db Captures.
However, those moments didn’t dampen the mood of the night, especially for those who came to hear a producer well and truly in his prime. There was something for everyone in the set, longtime fans were rewarded with favourites, while newcomers were given a real taste of what a Kaytranada experience feels like.
Ultimately, this was more than just a DJ performance. It was a masterclass in how to control a room, how to shape an atmosphere, and how to leave a mark on an audience. Kaytranada at Alexandra Palace was a night of sheer, electrifying joy.
