Malibu Babie and Shy Boogs
on high impact production

In the modern studio, perfection is often the enemy of the vibe. Whether it’s Malibu Babie dominating the unapologetic, high-gloss world of pop, or Eddie “Shy Boogs” Timmons locking into the heavy pocket of modern hip-hop, these individual hitmakers share a common goal: capturing a feeling that moves the room.

We sat down with them to discuss how Komplete 26 fuels their workflows and the no-rules philosophy that keeps their sound ahead of the curve.

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The philosophy behind their music: catching the human rhythm

For this group, the best tracks aren’t made on a grid; they are made through instinct and physical energy.

Malibu Babie: “My sound is very high-energy and very unapologetic. I’ve always leaned into sounds that feel bright and exciting. For me, it’s about creating a world in every song. I want the listener to feel like they’ve stepped into something completely different the moment the track starts. It’s about making a statement right from the first bar.”

Shy Boogs: “I’m all about the pocket. Whether it’s hip hop or R&B, if that rhythm doesn’t sit right, the song doesn’t work. My evolution has been about learning how to keep that raw energy while making sure the production is clean enough to compete. You want that street feel with a world-class polish.”

Finding power and presence in Native Instruments software

When you need a sound to cut through a busy mix on a phone speaker or a club system, you need tools that bring immediate character.

Shy Boogs: “I’ve been using Soul Sessions a lot lately. It’s got that immediate vibe that helps me find the soul of a track quickly without overthinking it. I also rely on Transient Master – it’s my secret weapon for making drums really knock. It gives them that extra bite so they sit perfectly in the pocket.”

Malibu Babie: “I am obsessed with Guitar Rig 7. I don’t just use it for guitars; I put it on vocals, synths, everything. It adds this texture and dirt that makes digital sounds feel more expensive and alive. I’m also constantly reaching for Massive X for those big, bold bass lines that define my pop tracks.”

Resampling and redefining status quo

How do you ensure your sound doesn’t sound like everyone else’s? You break the tools until they sound like you.

Malibu Babie: “I’m a huge fan of resampling. I’ll take a sound, run it through a crazy effect chain, record it, and then do it again. By the time I’m done, it sounds nothing like the original preset. It becomes a completely new texture that belongs only to that song. That’s how you build a signature.”

Shy Boogs: “I love creating what I call a vocal bed. I’ll take snippets of the artist’s own vocals, chop them up in Kontakt, and turn them into a synth pad or a lead melody. It makes the production feel like it’s literally growing out of the artist’s own voice, which creates a much deeper connection.”

Top career advice: be your own best friend

Shy Boogs: “Be an asset to the room. Whether you’re the intern or the main producer, bring an energy that makes people want to call you back. And be easy to work with – people want to be around unique creators who are also good humans. Character keeps you in the room as much as the music does.”

Malibu Babie: “The single most important thing is to be your own best friend sonically. Don’t look at what everyone else is doing. Put the blinders on. If you love it, someone else will too. You have to be the biggest fan of your own sound before anyone else will be.”

Bring the energy to your next session

Explore the pocket with Soul Sessions, Guitar Rig 7, and the full Komplete 26 suite.

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