Ones to Watch: Babsy

In our Ones to Watch series, we highlight rising artists who are carving out their own sound and reshaping the future of dance music.

One of the most exciting names emerging on the US circuit right now is Babsy, a California-born DJ and producer whose music fuses emotional depth with dancefloor energy. With more than 30 million streams already under his belt, a breakout remix that went viral, and an ever-growing presence on festival lineups, he’s quickly becoming one of the most compelling figures in the EDM scene.

How Malibu Inspires the Music

Growing up near Malibu, it wasn’t the bustling LA music industry that shaped Babsy’s sound — it was the ocean. “Growing up near the beach and surfing almost every day has had a huge impact on me,” he says. “Honestly, living close to Malibu influenced me more than being near LA’s music scene. The ocean, the calm, and that natural energy really shaped the way I approach creating songs.”

That connection to nature still pulses through his work today, giving his tracks a sense of serenity and intensity, just like the pace and flow of waves.

DIY Sound

Unlike many producers who came up through formal training or studio internships, Babsy is entirely self-taught. “I just spent countless hours experimenting, making mistakes, and figuring things out on my own until it started to click,” he says. That DIY approach has given him a unique edge and sound that feels deeply personal.

His earliest gigs weren’t so glamorous — bars and parties where the crowd weren’t there for the DJ. “People showed up for the party, not the DJ,” he remembers. “That’s why it means so much more now when people come up to me at shows and tell me they connect with the music. Moments like that truly inspire me to keep going.”

Going Viral

Everything changed with a 2023 remix of Fleetwood Mac’s “Everywhere,” which unexpectedly blew up online. “It all started from a random video I made that got 3 million views,” he says. “I wasn’t planning for it at all. Mentally, nothing really changed, it just confirmed for me that people really do connect with what I’m doing, and that gave me even more motivation to keep going.”

After “Everywhere” went viral, a wave of opportunities helped elevate his career. He’s played major festivals and events across the US including Insomniac and Lost In Dreams, supported Codeko on tour and the surge in streams and views boosted his visibility on Spotify playlists and radio. It also created momentum for new releases, like “Just Wanna”, and led to bigger live shows and festival appearances. Beyond the numbers, the viral success gave him a platform to connect with fans on a deeper level, and although viral fame can be fleeting, Babsy has built on the momentum to set up a fruitful and sustainable career.

A balancing Act

Music was always the dream, but family is something that remains of the utmost importance. “I still help out with my family’s business, but music has always been my number one priority,” he explains. “At the same time, family means everything to me, and keeping those roots strong is just as important as chasing my dream. Finding that balance keeps me grounded while I give my all to music.”

Emotion at the Core

At the heart of his sound is emotion. “I’ve always been an emotional person, and music became the place where I could put all of that,” he says. “The sounds I make are just an extension of what I’m feeling, the highs, the lows, everything in between. I think that’s why people connect with it — because it’s not just production, it’s me being honest in sound.”

That philosophy carries into his remix work too. He avoids being overly influenced by the original track, instead focusing on the core vocal or main element and then building “a new world around it.” The result: remixes that feel fresh, authentic, and unmistakably his.

When it comes to starting a new track, it usually begins with either a vocal idea or a chord progression. “Those two things set the emotional tone for me, and once I lock that in, the rest of the track builds naturally around it,” he says.

Influences and Inspirations

While his music sits firmly in the electronic space, his biggest inspirations come from closer to home. “My biggest influences outside of electronic music are honestly my friends and family,” he shares. “They keep me grounded, inspire me daily, and remind me why I’m doing this.”

It’s this support network that’s helped him chase big milestones: millions of streams, his first major festival appearance at Lost In Dreams, and opening slots for some of the biggest names in dance music.

Looking Ahead

Now, he’s pushing forward with new music. His latest single, “Free My Mind”, is a fresh take on speed garage, swapping the heavy bassline for a driving lead and vocal that carries emotional intensity. “It felt fresh to me, and it still captured the emotional edge I always try to bring into my music.”

The future is already shaping up to be big. On September 27th, he’ll take the stage at Grand Park in LA, opening for Hardwell, and he’s working on a new EP set for release next year. “It’s going to be some of my most personal and energetic music yet,” he says.

And as for the long-term vision: “My biggest hope is to play the major festivals one day and share that energy with huge crowds,” he says. “At the same time, I want to keep making music people can turn to for peace, something that helps them escape, reflect, or just feel understood.”

With a sound that blends emotional honesty with pure dancefloor energy, Babsy is well on his way to doing just that.