The Whole Room is Moving when Kaytranada's at Alexandra Palace

It’s a warm weekend in early summer, North London. Fans make the pilgrimage via the winding road up that never ending hill to the palace. The light of the day goes, but is replaced by the glisten of buildings in the city, which feels like lifetimes away. The gig reviewer ponders pretentiously, looking out over the view as he imagines how exactly he’ll romanticise going to a Kaytranada gig beyond all necessary measure. Before long, it’s time to begin…

Image by Daniel Oluwatobi

Okay I’ve had my fun with the intro, but for real, Ally Pally is a very special venue, and Kaytranada is a very special artist - so we knew this was going to be good. Opener duties fell to Lou Phelps and Sango, both hugely impressive artists in their own right. If you haven’t yet, I’d highly recommend checking out Lou Phelps (brother of Kaytranada, fun fact), and particularly his recently released ‘Chèlbè’ - a standout project of the year so far. 

This was night three of three of Kaytra’s London shows, so you could be forgiven for thinking it might be a slightly more lethargic affair when compared to the others. I can’t speak to that, having only seen him for the first time on Sunday, but I would be shocked if it managed to be more frenetic. From the moment the lights went down just after nine PM, the crowd was locked in and ready to move to the sounds of one of the world’s most beloved DJs. 

Kaytranda’s setlist moved effortlessly between classics, and well, modern classics - such is the privilege of choosing from a near-ceaseless catalogue of gems. Far from chronologically he took us through different eras and collaborations, accompanied all the while by a myriad of dazzling visuals. In-between his duties, Kaytranada characterfully sipped from a large glass of white wine, complete with its own holder next to his decks. One of the small details adding to his charming personality, and aiding in the mellow-yet-lively atmosphere being created. 

Image by Daniel Oluwatobi

One of the best things Kaytranda’s set gives is hearing such a variety of artists all coming through the speakers as if they fit together. Due to the common thread, that being Kaytra’s production, you go seamlessly from H.E.R to PinkPantheress, from Nao to Kali Uchis - with those signature flourishes of his work carrying you all the way. That pulsing kick drum, the sparkly percussion elements, the space between it all… one thing’s for sure, that Kaytranada fella knows how to get a crowd moving. 

The crowd poured back out and meandered down that hill, trading stories of stand out moments from what we’d witnessed. Elated, adrenaline-fuelled, and perhaps slightly tired from ending the week with a few hours of dancing - Kaytranada had provided a night of indisputable success.

Images by Daniel Oluwatobi