A Desert Hearts and Lee Foss Christmas Story

Desert Hearts

United States

The Torch - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Desert Hearts Festival 2023

Artists & Fans Share the Positive Impact of Desert Hearts

Explore The Sound of Desert Hearts Festival Through 5 YouTube Sets

The Essential Desert Hearts Playlist

In 1988, as rave culture began to ripple across the UK, a spirited English lad named Lee Reynolds pedaled his BMX dreams across the Atlantic to Los Angeles, chasing visions of soaring jumps and sunlit horizons. He was as unrestrained then as he is now. However, on two wheels, Reynolds' fearlessness led to fractures rather than rhythmic ruptures. 

Moon Matrix - Original Mix

By 1992, his BMX dreams came to a halt, and he soon found himself entranced by the allure of electronic psychedelia. Thus, one of the West Coast's most revered DJs embarked on his journey to the Desert Hearts movement, causing a fervor with each set.

Fast forward a quarter-century, and Reynolds boasts a rich tapestry of experiences, consistently infusing the dancefloor with eccentricity and enchantment. He refined his craft in the West Coast's iconic dance hubs––Moontribe, Moonshake, LiB––cultivating an expansive musical palette, a fondness for the mystic, and the belief that dance gatherings should transcend to a spiritual plane.

“When I DJ, my goal is for people to be enraptured, entirely in the present, feeling that only the rhythm matters,” he expresses. “I don’t just want to play music people can groove to; I aim to play tracks that ignite the urge to dance. I envision sounds that make it feel as though extraterrestrials are about to descend on the dancefloor.”

2011 marked a transformative year for Reynolds. A serendipitous meeting with a spirited group of young San Diegans became the purpose he had been cultivating all his life. Joining forces with Mikey Lion, Deep Jesus, Marbs, and Porkchop, the inception of Desert Hearts took place. The subsequent years saw bi-annual renegade gatherings and rigorous tours, solidifying "Papa" Lee Reynolds as the linchpin in what has rapidly evolved into the most influential cultural movement in US dance music.

Here's my live DJ set from Midnight Friday May 3rd at our amazing Tropical Hearts festival.. too much fun! Without a doubt the best and most beautiful dancefloor I've had the privilege of rocking out. Much love to everyone that was out there!!!

Lee Reynolds Live @ Tropical Hearts by Lee Reynolds

“In Desert Hearts, my primary role transcends music. It's about guiding us spiritually, ensuring we spread positivity and always stride on the right path,” reflects Reynolds. His wisdom is evident, but when behind the decks, Reynolds transforms, invoking his myriad experiences and worldviews into a dancefloor spell that's undeniably magnetic. Be it house, techno, acid, or breaks, it's all synthesized in a cloud of mystique, with Reynolds as its energetic nucleus.

Modern dance music narratives often highlight meteoric ascents and instant rewards. Yet, Lee Reynolds' journey stands as a testament to the depth and richness that comes with time. “I've harbored this passion for eons, always sensing the impending crescendo,” he muses. Now, as the crescendo reverberates, it seems destined to resonate perpetually––with Lee Reynolds orchestrating its rhythm.

United Kingdom

Lee Reynolds

Mikey Lion

The Chocolate Factory

Mikey Lion, Lee Reynolds & Guests

Porky (DH)

Marbs

tech house

uk tech house

Eskuche

The Knockdown Center

Desert Hearts New York

downtempo bass

Bad Snacks

classic dubstep

future garage

uk bass

Skream

Iran

bass house

persian electronic

Ardalan

Atish

Belgium

belgian techno

electra

Charlotte de Witte

organic house

Lee Burridge

m.O.N.R.O.E.

Canada

brostep

canadian electronic

dubstep

electro house

progressive electro house

Zeds Dead

canadian house

Bob Moses

alternative dance

dance-punk

electroclash

electronica

filter house

minimal techno

new rave

Tiga

deep disco house

deep house

detroit house

detroit techno

house

microhouse

minimal tech house

techno

Seth Troxler

Reveille Peak Ranch

Texas Eclipse Festival 2024

Germany

fidget house

german dance

german techno

Boys Noize

melbourne bounce

pop dance

progressive house

uk dance

Chris Lake

Chris Lorenzo

Destructo

Justin Martin

Patrick Mason

garage house

uk garage

Todd Edwards

Switzerland

Charles Meyer

Nala

nyc club

QRTR

Mary Droppinz

Russia

brazilian edm

VOLAC

Miami to Harvest Caye, Belize

Friendship 2024

South Africa

south african house

south african pop

Shimza

melodic house

progressive trance

Spencer Brown

Wakyin

Luna Mar

Earth Signs

Robidio

raw techno

Eats Everything

BLUE

Under The K Bridge

Blue: Shimza, Spencer Brown, Mikey Lion, Lee Reynolds, Wakyin + MORE

Ben Böhmer

munich electronic

Innellea

latin tech house

melodic techno

Maceo Plex

tribal house

Victor Calderone

hamburg electronic

organic electronic

pop ambient

Christian Löffler

Italy

italian techno

puglia indie

Giorgia Angiuli

german house

Henrik Schwarz

Jaguar

Kevin Knapp

Konstantin Sibold

ONYVAA

SHADED

SOHMI

Alan Nieves

Francis Mercier

SOEL

gardenstate

Avant Gardner

Cityfox Transcend Festival

France

french techno

minimal dub

Antigone

charva

indie hip hop

Bad Boy Chiller Crew

Ky William

KANYKEI

indietronica

nu disco

oxford indie

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs

Toribio

Paskman

Cosmo

folktronica

intelligent dance music

trip hop

Four Tet

Brazil

Viot

Lee Reynolds

Articles

Other artists