News: Aaron Carl

Today, electronic music trio Keys N Krates delivers their third full-length studio album, IN:TENSION, a succinct body of work that sees the Toronto-based outfit blending their lifelong influences and versatile production chops into a passion project chock-full of talent. IN:TENSION, featuring tracks with R&B superstar Ciara, songstress Lion Babe, alongside rising singers Taite Imogen, Dana Williams, and the late, great singer Aaron Carl, is out now via Last Gang/MNRK. 

Channeling their innate love of pure, timeless house music, Keys N Krates pivot from the sound that once took them to the biggest stages in EDM to a more refined, precise, and intentional effort. On IN:TENSION, they dig deeper than ever before into their own personal tastes—citing influences from sampling master Armand Van Helden and house music legends Masters At Work— a sound that speaks to why they fell in love with dance music decades ago. They do this all without sacrificing their signature crisp rhythms and wall-shaking low-end that their fans have adored since their original hip-hop origins. 

Throughout the 12 tracks on the album, Keys N Krates build a comprehensive profile of house music, with the pop-tinged “Need Your Love,” the hard-hitting “Higher,” the sassy “What Girls Do,” the funky “Say You Love Me,” the disco-leaning “Get Up,” and the deep “I Know,” and beyond. The indubitable climax of the album, for most, will be “Fantasy,” a piano-house masterpiece that bridges the gap between the mainstream and the underground with the formidable singing and songwriting of GRAMMY Award-winning artist Ciara. As house music begins to get the recognition it deserves via infiltrating pop music with some of the biggest artists in the world giving it their own take, Keys N Krates serve as the next ambassadors of the genre, lifting up Ciara’s natural vocal abilities. It’s the first time she has taken on house music in such a fashion. 

“After vibing with “Fantasy” for the first time, I had good feels all over. I felt an infectious energy that made me want to dance, and I could envision myself living my best life to this song all over the world. This is the perfect party song for my collaboration with Keys N Krates. House is a space I’ve really been wanting to get involved in, so I’m excited for the world to hear it.” — Ciara

***Click to save/stream "Fantasy (ft. Ciara)"

“When linking with Ciara, we knew it was important to her and to us that her first dip into the house music realm felt organic and natural yet exciting and new. We used warm blocky drums you might normally hear on a techno record, paired with a classic M1 piano line and big 808s.  The heavy percussion and bass are the juxtaposition to the feel-good pianos and her sweet-sounding vocals. Our favorite records of hers often have this type of balance of soft and hard, and we really wanted to preserve that. Her lyrics, an indulgent profession of another’s love being her never-ending fantasy, glue the whole track together into a glorious and positive dance floor feeler.”   — Keys N Krates

A new milestone for the esteemed Toronto trio, IN:TENSION encapsulates the true definition of their style in a way that feels both effortless and deliberate. Keys N Krates has shown that their new house-driven direction fits them to a T. It’s a perfect union between their deep-rooted love for the genre and their established hip-hop/R&B exploits. 

1. Feeling Something
2. I Can’t Make You Love Me (ft. Dana Williams)
3. Fantasy (ft. Ciara)
4. What Girls Do
5. Get Up
6. Say You Love Me
7. Overdrive (ft. Lion Babe)
8. I Know
9. Need Your Love (ft. Taite Imogen)
10. Upright Madness (ft. Aaron Carl)
11. Higher
12. Final Word

Since forming over a decade ago in their native Toronto, Keys N Krates have carved their own path in music, melding the realms of hip-hop, electronic, and beyond. The group — composed of drummer Adam Tune, keyboardist David Matisse, and turntablist Greg Dawson — has built a venerable reputation as one of the leading live electronic acts today on the strength of their onstage instrumentation and energetic sets. With a new vision for what kind of energy they want to stir up on the dancefloor, Keys N Krates have been taking the stage on their IN:TENSION Tour from behind the decks, delivering DJ sets that mirror the sound of the new album. Check out glimpses from their recent stop at Brooklyn’s Elsewhere rooftop.

Keys N Krates Upcoming Tour Dates

November 10 – Q Nightclub, Seattle, WA

November 11 – Wild Buffalo, Bellingham, WA

November 17 – El Club, Detroit, MI

November 18 – Sound Bar, Chicago IL

November 30 – It’ll Do, Dallas, TX

December 1 – The Loft, Minneapolis, MN

December 2 – Liquid, Madison, WI

December 9 – Velvet Underground, Toronto, Canada

December 15 – Elsewhere, Brooklyn, NY

Keys N Krates have announced the release of their new album IN:TENSION, available in November, 2023 on Last Gang/MNRK. They've also delivered the next single from the project, “Need Your Love,” featuring Taite Imogen. The new release also comes alongside the reveal of IN:TENSION’s artwork and tracklist, which will feature Lion Babe, Dana Willians, Aaron Carl, and more. 

**Click to pre-save Keys N Krates' IN:TENSION

Infused with the soulful R&B inflections of Taite Imogen, “Need Your Love” takes on the form of deep house but with a more powerful edge through Keys N Krates’ tight, irresistible basslines and snappy percussion. 

**Click to save/stream "Need Your Love (ft. Taite Imogen)"

“The intersection between the warehouse and joyful soul—linking brightness and darkness—is what this “Need Your Love” is all about. This is an anthem for the club, inspired by the sounds of New York House from the mid to late 90s as well as modern UKG.”   — Keys N Krates

“Working with Keys has been such a great experience. The moment I heard the beat, I was so excited to jump on it and when we were working on the track, every idea felt like it flowed so easily. Seeing the response already when they’ve been playing it a shows has been insane. I’m so excited for everyone to hear all the amazing stuff they’ve been working on.”  — Taite Imogen

Adding to the list of singles thus far (“Higher,” “Say You Love Me,” “Get Up,” and “What Girls Do,” in addition to their debut on Defected Records, “What You Done” with Rochelle Jordan), the Toronto trio has shown that their new housey direction, which is inspired by their lifelong musical influences Masters At Work and Armand Van Helden, fits them to a T.

A new milestone for the esteemed trio, IN:TENSION encapsulates the true definition of their style better than ever before. Since gaining notoriety during the mid-2010s—then producing more EDM & trap-influenced sounds—Keys N Krates have carefully molded their sound to fit their own tastes, and they’ve done so without sacrificing their signature composition of sampling, synths/keys, and percussion. The new record, which arrives this fall, will serve as a perfect union between their deep-rooted love for house music and their earliest hip-hop origins. 

IN:TENSION TRACKLIST:

1. Feeling Something
2. I Can’t Make You Love Me (ft. Dana Williams)
3. Fantasy (ft. Special Guest)
4. What Girls Do
5. Get Up
6. Say You Love Me
7. Ovedrive (ft. Lion Babe)
8. I Know
9. Need Your Love (ft. Taite Imogen)
10. Upright Madness (ft. Aaron Carl)
11. Higher
12. Final Word