Kastra (musical artist)
Kastra | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Ray Decker |
| Origin | Asbury Park, New Jersey |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | DJ, music producer |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Labels |
|
| Website | www |
Ray Decker, known professionally as Kastra, is an American DJ, music producer and songwriter from New Jersey. He is known for his singles "Fool For You", "U & Me" and "Wassup (Listen to the Horns)".[1][2] He is also known for his official remixes of Ava Max and 3LAU, Sultan + Shepard, and Two Friends.[3]
Early life
Ray Decker was born in Neptune, New Jersey. He attended Quinnipiac University where he received his Bachelor’s in marketing as well as his MBA. Growing up, he played the electric guitar in various local bands, and was influenced by the hard rock and heavy metal scene.[4] In an interview with Salacious Sound, he credited those early years as an important part of his sound and development. During a trip to Australia while in college, he was exposed to electronic music and nightclub culture.[5] Upon returning, he began focusing on electronic music production rather than playing guitar, because it allowed him to "make an entire song by [himself]".[4]
Musical career
2011–2014: Career beginnings
Ray Decker began producing mashups and bootleg remixes under the name Kastra in 2011. Many of his early mashups charted in the top 5 on Hype Machine.[6] and were also uploaded to popular YouTube channels such as Proximity. Kastra’s first original releases were in 2012 when he released "Hold A Light" and "Warning" on Antiblaze Records. In 2014, he released the single "Dolla Bilz" on the Disco Fries' Liftoff Recordings.[7]
2015–2016: Singles
In 2015, Electric Family named Kastra one of the "10 Most Underrated Acts You Need To Know for 2015".[8] He released a string of Melbourne bounce tracks beginning with "Placebo" on Hussle Recordings as well as "Twilight Zone" featuring Fatman Scoop. "Placebo" was included in Ministry of Sound Australia 2015 Clubbers Guide compilation.[9] That year, he collaborated with DJ BL3ND on "Boomshakalaka".[10]
2017–present: Style changes and international prominence
In 2017, Kastra started to transition to more of a commercial sound and began incorporating more future house and progressive house elements into his music.[4] He released "Feel Alright" with Buzzmeisters on Bourne Recordings, as well as "About Us" with Landis on Aftercluv Dance Lab. The following year he released numerous tracks including "Fool Me Twice",[11] and "Supreme" which was praised by Karlie Powell ofYourEDM for its balance of "softer tones" and layered melodies.[12]
Kastra collaborated with Timmy Trumpet and Chuck Roberts on the song "Wassup (Listen to the Horns)", released by TMRW Music on January 11, 2019.[3] Kat Bein of Billboard praised the song's production and disco-house influences, calling it "a tropical-flavored explosion, a refreshing vacation for your ears".[2] The song reached #1 on Radio Metro in Australia.[13]
In June 2019, Kastra and Andy Tongren collaborated with Lena Leon on her debut single "Walls".[14] Later that year, he released "U & Me", a collaboration with twoDB and Evangelia on Strange Fruit Records.[15] The song charted at #8 on Billboard's Dance/Mix Show Airplay,[16] making it Kastra's first Top 10 single.[17]
He released "Issues", a collaboration with Modern Machines and Bianca Linta, in November 2019. The song was released on Tiësto’s Musical Freedom/AFTR:HRS label and was met with praise from DJ Times,[18] and Dancing Astronaut.[19] Kastra's remix of "All Your Love" by Bonka peaked at #5 on the ARIA Charts in 2020.[20]
In February 2020, Kastra released the single "Around Me" with Blue Ivy and RUNAGROUND on Tritonal's Enhanced Music. He also launched his monthly radio show Niteshift Radio.[21]
He produced the official remix for Ava Max's single "My Head & My Heart", released on November 19, 2020.[22]
Kastra's cover of Fergie's "Glamorous" reached #16 on the Billboard's Dance/Mix Show charts in December 2020, making it his second Top 20 single in the US.[23]
In late 2020, Kastra signed with Ultra Music and in early 2021 released his label debut, "Fool For You".[24] The single reached #24 on the Dance/Mix Show Airplay charts.[1]
Discography
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | |||
| 2021 | "Fool For You" | 40[1] | Non-album singles |
| 2020 | "Savage" ft. TRIVD | – | |
| "Glamorous (Fergie Cover)" | 16[23] | ||
| "Circles" ft. Alex Byrne | – | ||
| "Around Me" ft. RUNAGROUND & Blue Ivy | – | ||
| 2019 | "Issues" ft. Modern Machines & Bianca Linta | – | |
| "You Don’t Know Me" ft. MIMO & Raquel Castro | – | ||
| "Walls"
(Lena Leon ft. Andy Tongren) |
– | ||
| "U & Me"
(TwoDB ft. Evangelia) |
8[16] | ||
| "Take Over Control" ft. Vinny Vibe (Afrojack Cover) | – | ||
| "Love Like This" ft. SM1LO & Katja Glieson | – | ||
| "Kill My Vibe" ft. Marat Leon | – | ||
| "Flexin" ft. DJ ZA & Chris Leed | – | ||
| "Wassup (Listen to the Horns)" | – | ||
| 2018 | "Tell Me You Need Me" ft. Hannah Sumner | – | |
| "Fool Me Twice" ft. Zach Matari & Dramos | – | ||
| "Supreme" ft. Kid Phil | – | Supreme (Remixes) | |
| "Renegade" ft. Lauren Mayhew | – | Non-album singles | |
| "Underdog"
(Freshcobar) |
– | ||
| 2017 | "Not Afraid"
(Ft. Bodhi Jones) |
– | |
| "Jack 2k17"
(WICKD) |
– | ||
| "Feel Alright"
(Buzzmeisters ft. Jacob Lee) |
– | ||
| "About Us"
(Landis, ft. Nisha) |
– | ||
| "So Good" ft. Damien Anthony and Kalide | – | ||
| "Everything You Want" | – | ||
| 2016 | "Who We Are" ft. Nicole Medoro | – | |
| "Switch It Up" | – | ||
| "Aight!" | – | ||
| "Lovin’ This" | – | ||
| "Kangaroo" ft. Buzzmeisters | – | ||
| "Stay Weird" ft. DNNYD | – | ||
| 2015 | "Boomshakalaka" ft. DJ BL3ND | – | |
| "#BOUNCEHEAD" ft. Peep This | – | ||
| "Tooty" ft. Big Ali and DJ Prime | – | ||
| "Twilight Zone" ft. Fatman Scoop and Tall Boys | – | ||
| "Placebo" | – | ||
| 2014 | "Jiggle It" | – | |
| "Knockout" ft. Pkeys | – | ||
| "Dolla Billz" | – | ||
| "Move Ur Feet" | – | ||
| 2012 | "Warning" ft. Xristo & Michelle Martinez | – | |
| "Hold A Light" ft. Chris Sorbello | – |
Remixes
| Year | Original artist(s) | Peak chart
positions |
Year | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||||
| "My Head & My Heart (Kastra Remix)" | Ava Max | – | 2020 | Heaven & Hell |
| "Stay the Night" | GT_Ofice ft. xoxomyah | – | Non-album singles | |
| "Teach Me (Kastra & twoDB Remix)" | Joe Bermudez | – | ||
| "Like Nobody (Kastra Remix)" | Vavo | – | ||
| "Younger (Kastra Remix)" | DLMT | – | ||
| "Say (Kastra Remix)" | Asher Postman, Disero, & Annelisa Franklin | – | 2019 | |
| "All Your Love (Kastra Remix)" | Bonka | 5[20] | ||
| "Sayonara (Kastra Remix)" | BEAUZ | – | ||
| "Dollar Menu (Kastra Remix)" | Two Friends | – | ||
| "We Found Love (Zack Martino & Kastra Remix)" | Sultan & Shepard & Showtek | – | Echoes of Life: Day | |
| "Mood (Kastra Remix)" | Zack Martino | – | Non-album singles | |
| "Better With You (Kastra & twoDB Remix)" | 3LAU & Justin Caruso | – | ||
| "If You Walk Away (Kastra Remix)" | The Rhetoriks | – | 2018 | If You Walk Away (The Remix Album) |
| "All They Wanna Be (Kastra Remix)" | Madison Mars | – | Non-album singles | |
| "Deja Vu (Kastra & Damien Anthony Remix)" | Timmy Trumpet & Savage | – | ||
| "Skitzo (Kastra Remix)" | Joe Bermudez | – | 2017 | New Ginza At Night |
| "Baby It’s You (Kastra Remix)" | Gianna Salvato | – | 2015 | Non-album singles |
| "Front 2tha Back (Kastra Remix)" | Tommie Sunshine & GLOWINTHEDARK | – | ||
| "Bottles Up (Exodus & Kastra Remix)" | Vandalism & Jason Risk | – | ||
| "808's In The Night (Tommie Sunshine & Kastra Remix)" | Eric Sharp | – | 2014 |
References
- ^ a b c "Dance/Mix Show Airplay Chart". Billboard. April 24, 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Timmy Trumpet & Kastra's 'Wassup' Is a Blast Of Disco House Brightness: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- ^ a b Stone, Katie. "Timmy Trumpet and Kastra Release Disco House Track "Wassup (Listen To The Horns)"". EDM.com - The Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- ^ a b c "Introducing… Kastra". IhouseU.com. 2018-10-10. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- ^ "Interview: Kastra | Salacious Sound". Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ "Breathe In That Air (Kastra & Jon Fox Bootleg)". Hype Machine. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ "Your EDM Premiere: Kastra - Dolla Billz". Your EDM. 2014-04-22. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ "10 Underrated Acts You Need To Know For 2015". Electric Family. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ "Various Artists - Ministry of Sound Clubbers Guide To 2015 2CD". Leading Edge Music. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ Aristocat, D. J. "New Kastra & Tall Boys & Fatman Scoop Collab | DJARISTOCAT.COM". Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ O'Keefe, Ariana (2018-10-02). "Kastra, Dramos & Zach Matari Drop "Fool Me Twice"". The Nocturnal Times. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ "Kastra Serves Up Bass House Ear Candy with "Supreme" ft. Kid Phil [LISTEN]". Your EDM. 2018-09-10. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ "Radio Metro Chart". Radio Metro. 2019-02-11. Archived from the original on 2019-02-27. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ Music, EDM com (June 21, 2019). "Platinum-Selling Songwriter Lena Leon Drops Debut Single "Walls" With Kastra and Andy Tongren". EDM.com. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Nguyen, Taz (2019-08-04). "Kastra & twoDB Join Up On New Smash 'U & Me' Feat Evangelia". Finest of EDM. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ a b "Dance/Mix Show Airplay Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ "Black Eyed Peas' & J Balvin's 'Ritmo' Tops Another Dance/Electronic Chart". Billboard. 2020-01-16. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ "Modern Machines Connects With Kastra For Uplifting Single, "Issues"". The Nexus of All Things DJ. 2019-11-26. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ "Kastra, Modern Machines, and Bianca Linta debut club primed collaboration, 'Issues'". Dancing Astronaut. 2019-11-22. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ a b "ARIA Top 50 Club Tracks Chart". www.aria.com.au. February 13, 2020. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Kastra - Fool For You (Original Mix) + Interview". Orange County EDM. 2021-04-02. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ Charts, The EDM. "My Head & My Heart (Kastra Remix) by Ava Max & Kastra". The EDM Charts. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ a b "Dance/Mix Show Airplay Chart". Billboard. December 26, 2020. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ PatrickAmesConner (2021-03-09). "Rising DJ and producer Kastra debuts "Fool For You" via Ultra Music". EARMILK. Retrieved 2021-08-08.