Ain't No Damn Way!
2025 studio album by Kaytranada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ain't No Damn Way! (stylized in all caps) is the fourth studio album by Canadian electronic music producer Kaytranada. The album was released on August 15, 2025, through RCA Records.[2][3]
| Ain't No Damn Way! | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 15, 2025 | |||
| Genre | House[1] | |||
| Length | 35:25 | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Producer | Kaytranada | |||
| Kaytranada chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Ain't No Damn Way! | ||||
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The album was announced on August 11, with the first single, "Space Invader" arriving shortly thereafter on August 12. Inspired by a sample of Latrelle and Kelis "My Life" the single showcases a hypnotic, house-inflected groove and highlights Kaytranada's production style.[4]
Following his Grammy Awards nominated 2024 album Timeless, Ain't No Damn Way! marks Kaytranada's first full-length original release since then.[5] He has described the album as designed for "workouts, dancing and studying for people that love beats," underscoring its instrumental, beat-driven orientation.[6]
Simultaneously with the release, he announced a co-headlining North American tour with French electronic duo Justice set to begin on October 16 in Vancouver.[7]
The album was longlisted for the 2026 Polaris Music Prize.[8]
Background and release
Kaytranada announced Ain't No Damn Way! on August 11, 2025, sharing its title and release timing via social media.[2] The lead single, "Space Invader" was released the following day.[3] "Backstabs" was previously released as a single in April 2021 by record club Vinyl Me, Please in collaboration with Pitchfork and Lexus.[9]
Artistic direction
In promotional comments, Kaytranada emphasized that the album is an intentional return to his dance-oriented roots, stating it is "strictly for workouts, dancing and studying and for people that love beats".[6]
Promotion and touring
Critical reception
Ain't No Damn Way! received positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 79, based on 6 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[10]
NME's Kyann-Sian Williams gave the album four stars rating out of five and wrote, "Ain't No Damn Way! goes a long way in proving why Kaytranada remains the scene's most influential conductor, tightening and loosening the groove with tiny gestures: a clipped snare here, a sudden synth swell there. Without special guests this time around, he doubles down on what he does best: directing the dancefloor with precision, patience and pure instinct.[13] Andrew Ryce of Pitchfork wrote, "Every drum hits with purpose, the basslines walk and burrow every which way, samples and voices are embedded in strange but intuitive ways. It's a beat tape that works as pop music for a generation of fans who have been conditioned to view instrumental electronic music as worthy of their attention, too, thanks to prominent representatives like Celestin himself."[14]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Space Invader" | 4:36 | |
| 2. | "Championship" | 1:58 | |
| 3. | "Home" |
| 2:16 |
| 4. | "Target Joint" | Celestin | 2:25 |
| 5. | "Things" |
| 3:14 |
| 6. | "Backstabs" | Celestin | 3:23 |
| 7. | "Good Luck" |
| 1:50 |
| 8. | "Shine Your Light for We" |
| 3:14 |
| 9. | "Goodbye Bitch!" | Celestin | 2:49 |
| 10. | "Don't Worry Babe / I Got U Babe" |
| 3:14 |
| 11. | "Blax" | Celestin | 2:48 |
| 12. | "Do It (Again!)" (featuring TLC) |
| 3:38 |
| Total length: | 35:25 | ||
Notes
Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.[17]
- Kaytranada – production, mixing
- Lauren D'Elia – mastering
- Alex Sowinski – drums on "Home"
- Karriem Riggins – drums on "Good Luck"
Charts
| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Dance Albums (Official Charts)[18] | 2 |
| US Top Dance Albums (Billboard)[19] | 8 |