Kaytranada's upcoming Mumbai show underscores not just his global reach but also the specific resonance his music has here, making it a long-overdue epoch for the culture. Kaytranada
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From SOBO To Southall, What Makes Kaytranada So Appealing To South Asian Audiences?

By sampling Nadeem-Shravan and S. P. Balasubrahmanyam’s 'Bahut Pyar Karte Hai (Male Version)' on 'Westside', the artist bridges an earlier listening culture to the current music landscape.

Disha Bijolia

This article looks at Kaytranada’s upcoming India performance, outlining why his rhythm-driven, genre-blending sound resonates with Indian audiences. It highlights his signature off-grid swing, his fusion of house, hip-hop, R&B, disco, and Haitian influences, and the cultural affinities between his groove-heavy production style and early-2000s Indian pop sensibilities.

One of electronic music’s most influential and instantly recognisable producers, Kaytranada, is set to perform in Mumbai soon — a development that has sparked genuine excitement among fans who have followed his rise over the past decade. His distinct approach to rhythm, groove and genre-blending has earned him a devoted global audience, and Indian listeners in particular have shown a strong affinity for his sound. His upcoming show offers a rare chance to experience the producer whose work has shaped modern club culture in real time, and to understand why his music resonates so deeply across borders.

From the start, Kaytranada’s music has been defined by its swing, its groove and its fusion of styles. In interviews he often describes his beats as “almost off-grid”— the drums don’t sit perfectly on-grid; they’re intentionally staggered, giving the beat a loose, human bounce. Many critics have picked up on this: his programming often delivers a 'lazy' or 'jiggly' sound in an otherwise computer-driven production. What emerges is music that is rhythm-first, less concerned with flashy drops and more with movement, groove, and feel.

There's also his ability to sample broadly and bridge genres that makes his music distinctive. He isn’t simply house music, or neo-soul, or R&B — he also draws from Haitian compas, ’70s disco, ’90s R&B, hip-hop, and funk. His work blends swung hip-hop drums with the upbeat momentum of house and the warmth of disco, creating a groove that feels both nostalgic and futuristic. His basslines typically walk rather than thump in place, giving the music a smooth but decisive push with an elasticity that makes the whole beat feel alive. His use of vocals — whether through collaborators or chopped samples — often becomes another rhythmic layer rather than a traditional lead. All of these elements together form the unmistakable 'Kaytra' sound: soulful, bouncy, and deliberately built to make people move.

In an Indian context, his popularity is especially interesting. If one looks back to the Bollywood and pop songs of the 2000s, many had a similar structural DNA: eclectic, groovy beats blending elements of disco, R&B or funk, with catchy vocals and memorable hooks. These songs have lately been resurfacing online, shedding a light on the kind of rhythmic sensibility many of us grew up with. In that sense, there is a natural kinship between that era’s groove-heavy sound and Kaytranada’s music. Indian listeners often recognise something familiar in the texture and bounce of his beats, even if everything else about the production is contemporary. And when he does things like sampling Nadeem-Shravan and S. P. Balasubrahmanyam’s Bahut Pyar Karte Hai (Male Version)', much like he did on 'Westside,' that connection becomes a literal bridge between a listening culture from yesteryear and the current music landscape. His fresh, modern take on 'club' music speaks directly to young listeners who want something new without losing the warmth of what they grew up with.

Amidst all of this, India’s electronic music scene has grown exponentially in the last couple of decades. What was once a niche underground has turned into festivals, club nights, boutique venues, and a steady stream of international bookings. Indian audiences today are more attuned to global dance music aesthetics than ever, and Kaytranada’s hybrid sound fits right into that global but personal moment. Kaytranada's upcoming Mumbai show underscores not just his global reach but also the specific resonance his music has here, making it a long-overdue epoch for the culture.

Kaytrananda is scheduled to perform in Mumbai on 14 December 2025 at the NSCI Dome, Worli. Tickets for the show can be purchased via the District app here.

Follow Kaytranada here.

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