Photos by Katelyn Villon
October 28, 2025, Kaytranada and French electronic duo Justice visited Viejas Arena during the first leg of their joint North American tour. From Kaytranada’s popularity, to Justice’s mythic career, this was a concert fueled by some of today’s best contemporary electronic music.
Kaytranada has grown to become an act known for his blends of soulful rhythms, funky grooves, and viral blends. His artistry has permeated the music industry, evident in collaborations with notable artists such as Childish Gambino, PinkPantheress, and The Internet. Going into the show, I was not sure what I was expecting because the DJs I’ve seen before were criminal. I know Kaytranada is in his own league, but a DJ set at the scale of Viejas was intriguing, to say the least.
At the beginning of his performance, there was noticeable feedback coming from the audio. However, it was resolved quickly, and rather than making it awkward, he kept the energy up with the music and the crowd, which I deeply appreciated. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a general admission floor at that scale vibing so well to music. Of course, phones were up, but there was no one on anyone’s shoulders, no weird yelling, and from my view… no one fainted (fingers crossed). Thanks to Kaytranada, it felt like I was looking at a dance floor rather than a concert GA floor, which was so new and exciting to me. His grooves were peak artist performance. He jumped, clapped, swayed, froze, and in return, the audience followed. On top of that, his use of light, which synchronized with his music, had me in a trance. There was something so cinematic about the lights in this concert that had me ascending. From taking breaks during his set to shoutout San Diego, give an anecdote about his lost clothes in LA, or even giving his own adlibs, Kaytranada knew exactly how to keep his crowd engaged and excited. Not only did he provide an amazing set, but the crowd also gave attention and enthusiasm. It was not a crowd filled with people who were there for “Be Your Girl” and “Witchy,” but a crowd of people who love music. His set consisted of bangers from his remix of “Kiss It Better” by Rihanna, throwbacks like “If,” and deep cuts like “Weird.” His live mixing and dancing with the ambiance created such an entertaining set. His performance of “Dance Dance Dance Dance” had me in tears from laughing because during every pause, the light would dim and turn back on, showing Kaytranada in a different pose.
Now, the latter end of the show featured the second headliner: Justice. This French duo has been such influential musicians in the electronic music industry, constantly being compared to Daft Punk. Though the similarities are there, both duos have their own sphere of influence and have done great things in electronic music. They blend electro-house, distorted rhythms, and bring such raw sounds to the table.
Seeing them perform was truly otherworldly, as they mixed medleys constructed from their own songs. Although most of their performance was them standing next to their boards, their use of lights was absolutely crazy. If Kaytranada’s lighting was cinematic, Justice’s set had me feeling like I was in Blade Runner 2049. Staring at the lights that would morph from a hand, a cross during “Genesis,” and different creatures throughout the night left me speechless. On top of that, their mixes of songs like “D.A.N.C.E.” and “One Night/All Night” with Tame Impala were extremely impressive. Unlike many American DJs and electronic musicians who overuse synths and beats, Justice knew exactly how to build anticipation and get the crowd engaged. It was truly disappointing seeing so many people leave after Kaytranada or sit down during Justice, because this was a set of not only good music but an experience that took you to another galaxy — literally, because the graphic of stars was constantly recurring.
