Súbelo NeoReggaeton tour de force with KeyLab mk3
Súbelo Neo is the Puerto Rican duo behind some of today’s most iconic Latin hits. Made up of Phantom and Freddy, they have become synonymous with an innovative, hybridized reggaeton and trap sound which integrates Latin rhythms with house and electronic elements. The result is an influential production style and sound that resonates across the globe with over 20 billion streams, and credits from artists such as Bad Bunny and KAROL G.
As part of a collaboration with Rimas Publishing, we got to go behind the scenes of Súbelo Neo’s creative process and learn how they utilize Arturia’s KeyLab mk3 and software in their production, including what sounds went into the 2021 hit by KAROL G and Mariah Angeliq ‘EL MAKINON’.
Dynamic duo
Both Phantom and Freddy got their taste for music production and reggaeton from a young age. Phantom grew up playing the drums and was introduced to Fruity Loops, like Freddy, in his late teens. A few years later they met and decided to join forces with Phantom bringing his ear for fresh melodies and drum patterns while Freddy adds mixing and mastering know-how to take a track to the next level. A tried-and-tested creative rapport that has led to an explosive career.
A career that has led to some inspiring moments and memories, including being in the studio with Bad Bunny as executive producers for his second album, YHLQMDLG. With a trained ear and intuitive ability to respond to the demands of a leading artist, this pivotal collaboration resulted in a final release that was met with widespread critical acclaim.
From reggaeton to the world
Súbelo Neo have become renowned for their signature reggaeton style, made possible with a range of Arturia instruments at their disposal. Their ability to find that sweet-spot between reggaeton, trap and other electronic influences has made them key players in shaping the present and future of Latin music.
It includes hit tracks like ‘Me Porto Bonito’ by Bad Bunny and Chencho Corleone, which became Spotify's most-streamed Latin song of all time. They've also collaborated with Latin music giants such as J Balvin, Anitta, Rauw Alejandro, and more, with notable projects like Bad Bunny’s ‘La Romana’, which integrated elements of Dominican dembow. Súbelo Neo continue to make a name for themselves with a fresh and modern twist on Reggaeton, while also transitioning into a more performance-oriented phase of their career with DJ sets at global events like EDC Mexico and EDC Las Vegas.
Enter KeyLab mk3
When creating music with worldwide appeal, a studio setup should reflect the same quality and care that goes into the music. For Súbelo Neo, the Arturia KeyLab mk3 fits perfectly into their workflow, offering an uncompromising high-quality construction and seamless software integration that means they can stay in the zone and spend more time doing what they do best.
Lot of features, lot of good things, you’ve got the drum pad, you’ve got the plugins that you can use without touching your laptop.
The real-time control offered by KeyLab mk3 allows you to swiftly travel through presets, tweak sounds, launch clips and record layers without having to break focus by constantly switching to your computer. This is made possible with next-level software integration and dedicated DAW mappings, including comprehensive compatibility with Arturia software and Analog Lab, a suite of sounds that Súbelo Neo often use to find quick inspiration and add some analog fire to their production.
You’ve got a mix of the best sounds of each plugin.. it just boosts your creative process really quick.
EL MAKINON
‘El MAKINON’ released in 2021 as part of Karol G's album KG0516 and became a major hit, blending reggaeton, trap and lyrics redolent of female independence. Súbelo Neo’s slick production perfectly compliments the vocal line, leading it to become one of the standout tracks on the album.
The melodic elements of the track combined a range of samples and presets from Arturia softwares, including a main key line from Pigments and a lead overlay from DX7 V alongside other elements from Analog Lab. Put over the drums we are left with a smooth, stripped-back instrumental that is both evocative and instantly appealing - the perfect recipe for a reggaeton hit.
TSúbelo Neo utilize Arturia plugins in 95% of their tracks, which answers their need for impactful, high-quality analog sounds without investing in a studio of original hardware.
We just fell in love with analog sounds and we didn’t have access to the hardware…Arturia plugins are the closest sounding.
A Personal Connection
Súbelo Neo push the envelope of Latin trap and reggaeton production and have an exceptional discography of releases and production credits that resonate across the globe. Releases that are made possible with Arturia software and hardware, including the seamless workflow and playing experience offered by KeyLab mk3. The pair will undoubtedly continue to shape the latin music landscape and in the words of Freddy, they’ll also be “trying to improve in every area and keeping it real”.
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