Music/Astrology: This Beauty Bout to Blow - How KATRAYNADA’s Birth Chart Shapes His Sound
A music playlist & Natal chart analysis of DJ & Producer, KAYTRANADA
Essential Listening
I made an Apple Music playlist "ESSENTIAL 'TRANADA" take a listen—
•https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/essential-tranada/pl.u-oZyllR1TvvWvvX
It took me only two weeks, but as I listened—putting quite a few on repeat—I picked up on patterns. I’m not a musicologist, but I see patterns when I read people’s natal charts so why not do the same with music and blend the two?
People at the shop where I do community astrology & tarot have been asking me to explain astrology of famous people because they get it once I explain it. This may or may not be so, but here I am, explaining the genius of this DJ to a bunch of white people on Substack. I want to add they are all cool white people who I love to shed my cultural hot takes on.
KAYTANADA is a multi-dimensional being. He knows how to style himself, he’s got a jangle on stage lighting for his live concerts, and has visionary design. What’s not to like about him? I’m beginning to see he’s got the knack for measure—something native Virgos like himself are good at, like fashion designer, Karl Lagerfeld.
And then there are his videos—it’s another layer, so I decided to guide you through his media via his astrological essence, with use cases for optimal listening/viewing in the section “Video Playlist - Astrovibe - Use Case.”
When you first press play on a KAYTRANADA track, your body starts moving before your brain can catch up. There's a reason for that gravitational pull—and I’d say there’s a heavy correlation between his music and the astrology of this genius. The Montreal-based DJ & producer, was born Louis Kevin Celestin on August 25, 1992. He entered this world with Virgo precision, and a rare Venus-Jupiter conjunction that happens about every three years and three months.
I give you, the archetype of the Music Maestro:
Off the top, KAYTRANADA’s birth time is unknown. Astrologers like myself—on top of being a librarian/archivist/information worker/poet and geek—are likely to run a chart at 12:00 (Noon) to establish a mid-point. So I can’t speak to personality (Ascendant sign) traits or areas of his life (houses) where he would have gifts or challenges.
We don’t need to really. His biographical natal chart aspects like his Venus-Jupiter conjunction speak volumes. Therefore, this article will focus on key aspects which I believe explain his musical prowess.
I’ve mentioned “conjunction.” What’s its function? Two celestial bodies or points on a chart that come into close proximity of each other form a conjunct aspect. The entities have energies and in a conjunction they mix together like chocolate and peanut butter or oil and water. In this case it’s the former forming a sweet, smooth, silky yet protein packed concoction.
The Venus in him (chocolate) sees elegance and charm. His Jupiter (peanut butter) has a rich, deep groove.
Sure we can say it’s mystical woo-woo, but it’s better to use astrology as a metaphor for understanding how KAYTRANADA's production signature works. The music consistently pairs ethereal, falsetto-rich vocals (Venus energy) with bass-heavy, expansive beats (Jupiter's domain).
From his Grammy-winning collaborations with Kali Uchis to his work with Swedish electronic outfit Little Dragon, KAYTRANADA has mastered the art of counterbalance.
If you’re not familiar with the likes of Uchis or even Pink Pantheress, let’s examine a his Janet Jackson remix, “If” if you will. For Ms. Jackson (if you’re nasty) hits that type of high note in the track that he contrasts with a booty bumping beat in the following:
It’s been around for a stretch—about 8 or 9 years? The people commenting on the track are all experts. The beat’s so bumpin’ that you want to drop your broom and dance in the middle of the room. (Which is what I did earlier today, but quickly picked up the broom to dance with it and play air mic).
Video Playlist - Astrovibe - Use Case
The video playlist below is a cache of his coolest along with the “Astrovibe” (astrological ‘tasting notes’), and use case (what situations to play them)
"Snap My Finger"
Beats with a Virgoan precision - The perfect soundtrack for morning-after coffee, when the sun hits your kitchen just right.
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"Witchy"
Mars in Gemini with a service bottom type of versatility - Queue this up on the TV before your Netflix & Chill date arrives; the supernatural visuals make for perfect conversation starter.
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“10%"
Featuring American Columbian singer Kali Uchis who’s a Cancer Sun/Scorpio rising/Scorpio moon. This is Venus (Kali) /Jupiter (KAYTRANADA) conjunction in action - Play video late afternoon at a poolside groove while grilling tempe or fish with friends; watch their heads start nodding immediately. They’ll comment on its Soul Train edge & fitty fits.
"YOU'RE THE ONE"
Perfect balance of all elements - For that evening drive along Lake Merritt with the sunroof down—urban lights reflecting on water.
Astrological Essence Behind the Sound
Celestin, aka KAYTRANADA, creates music that feels both precisely engineered and emotionally resonant—a Gemini Mars duality which perfectly defines his astrology.
He was born late summer at the height of house music. His family later immigrated to Canada, which reveals the origins of his cultural fluency and perhaps his knack for fashion—those Montrealites. The only thing that’s a bit distressing is that myself and a few astrologers haven’t been able to track down the time of his birth—which is essential in calculating one’s rising sign, but it is fitting that it’s pegged as Scorpio. He’s got magnetism and sex appeal. Now? All we have to do is ask him.
Virgo Sun: The Meticulous Maestro
With his Sun at 2° Virgo, KAYTRANADA embodies the meticulous precision that defines this earth sign, which I’ve dubbed as “The Meticulous Maestro.”
This placement manifests in his immaculate drum programming, seamless transitions, and carefully selected samples. Listen to tracks like "VIVID DREAMS" and "YOU'RE THE ONE" to hear this precision at work—each element perfectly placed within a groovy landscape, nothing excessive or missing.
Cancer Moon: Emotional Ties
His 27° Cancer Moon—Kurt Cobain, Drake, Dua Lipa & Taylor Swift join him in The Cancer Moon Gang—infuses his technical brilliance with emotional depth. This water sign placement explains why his beats feel so intuitive and resonant despite their technical complexity. "Lover/Friend" with Rochelle Jordan demonstrates this perfectly. Technically flawless yet it digs into emotional currents in the lyrics only with a Cancer signature would dare declare.
“Heard you wanna be my lover, but you wanna be more than friends.”
Lover/friends. Hmph! This is the furthest away from any Aquarius placement—because they all wanna do is just stay at friends.
Once, I was introduced to an Aquarian’s “loving friend,” which later at the bar, the Loving Friend adds, “I’m technically her ‘husband’ but whatever makes her happy.”
To that I toasted him. But back to KAYTRADAMUS…
The Venus-Jupiter Conjunction: This Beauty Bout to Blow
One aspect that I love in KAYTRANADA's chart is his Venus-Jupiter conjunction in Virgo.
So we have the planet of beauty, art, good taste (let’s say) and Jupiter, the planet of expansion & abundance joining forces in ways he’s joined forces with some veritable vocalists like Pharrell & Kevin Parker from Tame Impala—who oddly have falsetto like voices.
His femme vocalists Pink Pantheress (An Aries) and Kali Uchis (Cancer) have high pitched yet soft vocals—almost sugary, but needed to balance his bass-laden beats.
Venus-Jupiter conjunctions—any conjunction means the planetary bodies appear to be close to one another—roughly occur every 3 years and about 3 months.
This rare alignment graces him with an extraordinary ability to create beauty on an expansive scale. Venus rules harmony and aesthetics, while Jupiter brings expansion and abundance. Together in precise Virgo, they generate his signature sound: meticulously crafted yet wonderfully expansive productions.
This cosmic gift manifests in tracks like "WEIGHT OFF" and "10%" - productions that feel simultaneously vast and detailed, with enough space for featured artists to shine while maintaining his distinctive musical fingerprint.
Mars in Gemini: Rhythmic Versatility
His Mars in Gemini, forms a square with Jupiter, explains his genre-bending approach and rhythmic versatility. Mars represents energy and action, while Gemini brings duality and adaptability. This placement drives his ability to weave between electronica (very technical and Gemini), hip-hop, R&B, and house music without ever losing his signature sound.
Experience this versatility by comparing "At All" with "Intimidated" or "4EVA" - completely different vibes unified by that unmistakable KAYTRANADA DNA.
Another signature that defines this Mars in Gemini the way he expresses desire through riffs and samples. Take for example, “Snap My Finger,” which borrows from George Michael/Wham’s Everything She Wants (at 2:35). You know, you can’t help but recall that classic line,
And now you tell me that you're having my baby
I'll tell you that I'm happy if you want me to
But one step further and my back will break.If my best isn't good enough, then how can it be good enough for two?
And it almost seems KAYTRANADA countered (Mars energy) song’s message (Gemini) in “Snap My Finger” in a saucy dialogue.
His Mars in Gemini trines Saturn (the fuddy duddy planet) in Aquarius. To explain this energy in music form, we look no further to “Midsection” with his idol Pharrell featured. The song makes out to be an upbeat and body positive femme anthem. Here, he samples the Beach Boy’s “Good Vibrations” chorus with
I'm feelin' this new vibration (Why, why, why, why)
And it's takin' over your nation (Ayy)
Collaborations
In a few interviews, he’s super composed.
In yet another interview he’s asked if he works in tandem with artists—and he says it’s more remote than tied up in a studio together.
His collaborative nature is evident in tracks like "What You Need," "Vex Oh," and "Midsection" reflects his Cancer Moon's nurturing quality combined with his Virgo Sun which exemplifies an archetype I call “The Meticulous Master.”
He creates perfect back beats for vocalists to ease into while maintaining his distinctive production signature which samples, riffs and pops in booty-bumping beats.
Weaving it All Together
Understanding KAYTRANADA through his astrological blueprint reveals why his music is currently seeping into restaurants like True Laurel in San Francisco’s Mission District—known for its highly curated music tracks & crafted drinks.
His genius level production style isn't just technically brilliant; it's cosmically aligned, channeling universal energies into sonic form.
Listen—if you wanna—to my curated playlist and experience how these energies manifest in his work.
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The universe has excellent taste in music. 🎧✨
PLAYLIST
In case you want to customize, here we are:
Lover/Friend - KAYTRANADA & Rochelle Jordan
What You Need (feat. Charlotte Day Wilson) - KAYTRANADA
Snap My Finger (feat. PinkPantheress) - KAYTRANADA
Witchy (feat. Childish Gambino) - KAYTRANADA
10% (feat. Kali Uchis) - KAYTRANADA
BULLETS (feat. Little Dragon) - KAYTRANADA
WEIGHT OFF (feat. BADBADNOTGOOD) - KAYTRANADA
Vex Oh (feat. GoldLink & Ari PenSmith) - KAYTRANADA & Eight9fly - From BUBBA (December 13, 2019)
Midsection (feat. Pharrell Williams) - KAYTRANADA
YOU'RE THE ONE (feat. Syd) - KAYTRANADA
GOT IT GOOD (feat. Craig David) - KAYTRANADA
VIVID DREAMS (feat. River Tiber) - KAYTRANADA
Wasted Words (feat. Thundercat) - KAYTRANADA
At All - KAYTRANADA
Intimidated (feat. H.E.R.) - KAYTRANADA
Neverender (Kaytranada Remix) - Justice, Tame Impala & KAYTRANADA
4EVA - KAYTRAMÍNÉ, Aminé, KAYTRANADA
Playlist link: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/essential-tranada/pl.u-oZyllR1TvvWvvX
Total runtime: 17 songs, 1 hour 2 minutes.
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