French DJ and producer KAYA is taking the stage at RETROSPEKT in Los Angeles this weekend and dropped off a mix to get everyone hyped!
Los Angeles-based DJ and producer KAYA is an artist who is quickly turning heads in the house scene – but his story begins well before he found a home in sunny Southern California. Before making his way to the US, he spent some of his most formative years growing up in France, where he was exposed to a wide range of music and began taking piano lessons at the age of four. Finding a love for piano performance and composition, he majored in the study and developed a passion for the classical works of Chopin, Beethoven, and Liszt while also looking to modern film composers such as John Williams and Hans Zimmer for inspiration.
KAYA’s tireless work in that realm of music led him to Los Angeles seven years ago after he got an internship at Hans Zimmer’s studio. But if you were wondering where electronic music comes into the picture, it parallels his artistic growth – “It all ties into my love for electronic music as well, especially when I was in high school listening to Daft Punk, Skrillex, Kaskade, deadmau5, and so many others!”
It wasn’t until the pandemic that KAYA began to DJ, despite being Pete Tong’s A&R Assistant for nearly two years. Yet in 2023, he’s performed over 200 gigs, which included an opening set for deadmau5. “It’s still unbelievable to me I got a chance to open for deadmau5 a couple of years ago in Miami,” he said, reflecting on the moment. “And that opportunity was and is a testament to the LA scene, which has never ceased to amaze me – to be in a constant state of creativity and support and to be surrounded by some of the most talented individuals that share the same passion for music is a blessing I don’t take for granted.”
Those in Los Angeles who are hunting for a set from KAYA won’t have to wait long, as he’s slated to play the sophomore edition of RETROSPEKT. Not only will this show be special due to the setting and its diverse lineup, but there are some surprises from the French artist as well. “After a couple of years of producing house music, it will finally be my first set playing all original music,” he said. “I’ve spent countless nights in the studio, and it feels gratifying to be able to share what I’ve been so passionately working on.”
I’m stoked to be spinning at RETROSPEKT this weekend because it is not only a milestone in my DJ career playing alongside a lineup of phenomenal artists (and one I’ve been following since college), but also because I strongly resonate with the show’s mission to provide a platform for women, POC, LGBTQIA+, and other underrepresented artists. This industry can be so tough to navigate without a certain level of privilege and so to have events like RETROSPEKT is a definite positive impact on culture- Let alone the fact it’s during Black History Month!
KAYA
With his upcoming set on the horizon and a remix of Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” that he co-produced with Coka Cobra due out this week, KAYA looked to stir up some excitement with a house-fueled mix. Featured in the tracklist are artists like Bruno Furlan, AMÉMÉ, Havoc & Lawn, and Sonny Fodera, among others, while he’s also layered in a flurry of IDs for fans to feast their ears on.
Listen to this exclusive guest mix from KAYA on SoundCloud and catch him when he takes the stage at the upcoming edition of Retrospekt LA on February 25.
