KAYTRANADA and SANGO at the Hoxton, Friday, January 24. Rating: NNN
The unusually frigid temperatures and blowing snow didn’t deter fans of Montreal DJ/producer Kaytranada and Seattle’s Sango from shivering in the long line to get into the Hoxton. The two artists might originally hail from opposite coasts, but as their recording collaborations have proven, they share plenty of common ground. They also complement each other as DJs, both opting to bounce back and forth between uptempo remixes and slow hip-hop rhythms, walking that line between Friday night accessibility and deeper flavours.
Sango’s opening set showed his knack for balancing aggressive club bangers with a subtly soulful undercurrent. He played a lot of his own productions, full of booming 808 kick drums and rolling high hats. Kaytranada also relied heavily on his own remixes and original tracks, bringing the tempo up and delving into some house vibes here and there. However, while the night was a great showcase of their studio skills, you couldn’t help but get the sense that they’re both producers first and DJs second.
