The Deep Dark Soul of Desert Hearts Black 



Mikey Lion on how Desert Hearts and Lee Foss turned two horrible holiday surprises into happy holidays for all







A significant driver of Desert Hearts’ ongoing story — perhaps as much as their namesake festival’s coronation as Best Boutique Festival in the world by DJ Mag or any of their other accolades and accomplishments — is the crew’s fostering of a cohesive community of partygoers around their home base on the southwestern tip of California.


A standout example is the DH practice of gifting every attendee at the festival with the same DH-branded necklace, be it pitted copper, iridescent chrome, or handmade wooden emblem — the latter being the case for the earliest editions of the festival over a decade ago.


“We have a faction of Desert Hearts that’s our Helping Hearts Initiative. We’ve done a lot of stuff for the homeless and needy children over the years,” explains Desert Hearts co-founder Mikey Lion. “For our Holiday Hearts party [in San Diego] which we always have right before Christmas, we’ve always thought it’s a really cool way for our community to get involved and to just give back. So what we end up doing is hosting a big toy drive right at the door — people bring a toy to give away, and in exchange, we give everyone a Desert Hearts necklace. So it’s a really good way to incentivize people to give back, and also it just brings our community together for doing something outside of dance music.”







As label head at Desert Hearts Records, Lion is laser-focused on maintaining the group’s cultural relevance by driving the ongoing sounds and aesthetics of the brand — both through the label’s ongoing releases and through their signature namesake festival. But there’s also attention paid by himself and co-founders Marbs, Porky, and Lee Reynolds toward how all of the above works holistically.


“We’re all part of a society here, and Desert Hearts is a small niche community within that society,” says Lion. “When we host these Holiday Hearts parties and give people the opportunity to give back to the greater society, it’s bridging the gap of what we’re trying to accomplish — which is spreading as much love and positive energy in the world as possible — and really inspiring people from inside our community into that greater society that we live in.”


Although the dedication to positively impact the community at large leads to sometimes predictable holiday traditions for the Desert Hearts crew, such as the toy drive, 2022 brought two big surprises.


“When we were figuring out where we were going to deliver our toys [this year], we reached out to [the San Diego County Foster Parent Association]. They were just through the roof, just completely gushing!” Lion recounts excitedly.



“They had this huge flood [in] their warehouse, so they lost all the toys that they’d been collecting for months leading up to when they give out all their toys to the children,” Lion remembers. “So when we hit them up asking if we could help them out, they were literally telling us that we were like real life Santa Claus!”






“These were the only toys these kids were gonna receive this year. For us, that meant everything. We told our community, and that really fired everyone up to get involved and bring stuff — just to make a real impact on these kids.”


As unexpected a surprise as the winter flood of a warehouse full of donated holiday toys was, that probably wasn’t as shocking to the Desert Hearts crew as the wild surprise they experienced on the day of the Holiday Hearts party.


“We had all our ducks in a row. We’d been wanting to do a warehouse party in San Diego for a long time. We finally found a spot that we were very happy with, they had it fully permitted and everything,” Lion states with incredulity. “Then, the day of the party, I received a phone call from a [police] lieutenant who was basically telling me this party was not permitted! That the warehouse did not have all their ducks in a row. And, [the police] were going to take the steps to shut it down if we didn’t shut it down right then and there.”



What to do, then? Sans action, there would be no party. More importantly, there would be no physical place to collect donations for the toy drive.


“We went on this mad scramble trying to figure out what we were going to do, and found out that our friend Lee Foss was playing in town,” Lion tells Gray Area. “We had all of our ticket buyers basically funneled into his party, and Lee invited us to play. It was great! It was a really cool party just getting to play in front of two different crowds coming together.”


“Ultimately, it was a huge win for us. Not only were we able to refund all the ticket buyers to our party cause everyone had paid for a warehouse party, but then we were able to add Lee Foss to our [holiday party] lineup!” exclaims Lion with a degree of reverence. “We’ve always had a great relationship with Lee Foss, have always really respected his parties and his music. So it was cool to link up with one of our heroes and just be able to get embraced. It felt really good!”


After a successful toy drive during a turbulent yet rewarding holiday season, Lion and the rest of the Desert Hearts crew have lots to focus on moving forward. But looking back at this past holiday season’s turmoil, what does Lion think in retrospect?


“It always feels good to give back. It always feels good to figure out a problem and solve it when your back’s against the wall,” concludes Lion. “Our whole mission has always been to spread as much love and positive energy in the world as possible.”



A Desert Hearts and Lee Foss Christmas Story

LP Giobbi, Mary Droppinz, Rinzen, Lubelski, Andreas Henneberg & More Share How The San Diego Crew Has Positively Impacted Their Lives & Boosted Their Careers







Not long after I moved to San Francisco in 2013, a friend played me Mikey Lion’s set from the first Desert Hearts Festival the year prior. I was instantly hooked and listened to the mix and my favorite deep and sultry cut from it, Elektrochemie’s "Pleasure Seeker," countless times. Then and there, I became a fan of deep house, Mikey Lion, and Desert Hearts. Consequently, my dance music journey veered into more underground sounds and scenes. My friend told us tales of the infamously snowy and intimate first festival and took us to the very chilly and fun fall 2014 DH Fest, where I felt at home amongst the friendly weirdos reliably found on the dance floor.

On May 4, Desert Hearts Festival returns with their 11th(!) edition at their newer home at Lake Perris with a stacked lineup featuring Catz’ N Dogz, Claude VonStroke, DJ Holographic, Derrick Carter B2B Mark Farina, Skream, Atish, DJ Seinfeld, Dusky, Tiga, Lubelksi, Mary Droppinz, Rinzen, and many more. They'll also be bringing their lively parties across the country again, including in New York and Detroit in March. What magical memories await you under the Desert Hearts disco ball?

It’s been amazing to see Desert Hearts continue to grow and expand while still feeling like a big, wacky family. And the growth hasn’t only positively impacted its four pillars (Mikey, Porky, Marbs, and Lee Reynolds), it’s had a profound impact on many of the fellow artists they’ve shared the spotlight with via their label, festival, and global events. Their positive reach has spread beyond the stage to countless fans who’ve had life-changing moments on their dance floors. Inspired by a Facebook comment from piano house queen LP Giobbi about DH’s powerful impact on her DJ career, we reached out to her and other DJs and fans for their stories on how the House Techno Love crew has positively impacted their lives.

LP Giobbi, Mary Droppinz, Rinzen, Lubelski, and Andreas Henneberg shared that working with Desert Hearts has dramatically affected their careers.



For LP, getting asked by Mikey to play a Desert Hearts livestream early in the 2020 lockdown was pivotal in lifting her mood and keeping her in the game. Without any gigs, she considered looking for an alternate career to stay afloat. At the time, she was DJing on her own channel, and her friends and regular collaborators SOFI TUKKER would “raid” their viewers over to her after their daily stream. Later, Insomniac would tap her for regular streams, but before that, when her following was still small, DH noticed her and reached out, and everything changed.

“I had an extremely modest social following at the time and right after the [DH] stream I checked my IG and saw that my count went up a couple hundred, which was insane for me then! And people were tagging me in their stories sending me kind messages. I had no idea just how badly I needed that boost on an emotional level,” LP says.

“One of the greatest gifts anyone can be given is belief in themselves and this community did just that. As a DJ, you get fueled by the energy of a dance floor and I was obviously deeply missing that during the pandemic. I was really surprised to feel a similar sense of belonging and energy and joy through the DH Twitch chat, which is a testament to how positive that community is.”

Partly inspired by Burning Man, Desert Hearts borrows the principles of radical self-expression and radical inclusion as a core part of their community. They champion eclectic sounds and trippy art on the label and at the festival, never limited to one sound or aesthetic. They continue to celebrate artists that join their family for the long haul, but are also seek to celebrate new talent and seasoned champs. And with their ever-growing fanbase, everyone is welcome and encouraged to dress to express, and let their freak flag fly.

Los Angeles-based Mary Droppinz also officially connected with DH as a DJ through livestreams. However, she’d been regularly attending their festival since 2015 and worked on their marketing team before she quit to focus full-time on DJing. Both as a fan, former coworker, and guest DJ, she’s felt supported by DH.

“Being a Desert Hearts DJ is honestly my greatest achievement. I personally had that as my goal when I started following this dream; to play DH was my first DJ dream. I didn’t even plan that an opportunity would present itself for me to work with them and build a relationship with them like it did. I noticed a growth and depth in my community 100 percent since going to DH Festivals since 2015 and then DJing for them [in 2020],” Droppinz tells us.



“They were always so supportive of me as an artist, keeping up-to-date on my latest and encouraging me… [When] the pandemic hit, Mikey, Tim, Phil, and I started collaborating on the Twitch livestreams I’d host on DHTV. It was honestly so dope to go through it together like that and see how massive the whole scene got on Twitch. I feel we all went through some crazy dimensional time warp and we just kept the vibes and beats strong over the interwebs. We will never let anything stop us from spreading the love through music! It really is awesome to see how much the streams impacted people.”

LA’s cinematic techno technician Rinzen joined the crew in 2019 to help Marbs, and Evan Casey launch the Desert Hearts Black sublabel, a home for darker sounds echoing the mood of late nights and early mornings, with their collaborative Torus EP. He made his debut at the fest that year with a sunrise set, and has remained a core part of DH Black.




“I’ve always thought that Desert Hearts attracts one of the most loving, fun, and music-savvy crowds in the US (if not the world), and it’s been a huge privilege to both perform and release music for this community. As my own career evolves, Desert Hearts have continued to give me some very incredible opportunities. As a producer, I’ve released seven tracks with them now (with more on the way). As a DJ, they’ve consistently put me on the road for their Desert Hearts Black showcases,” Rinzen explains. “Beyond that, I’ve grown especially close to Marbs and am proud to call him a good friend. I would describe the impact they’ve had on my career as a fortuitous blessing (is that redundant?) and something I’m continually grateful for. The biggest thing I’ve learned from Desert Hearts (and specifically Marbs) is actually a DJ perspective: it’s the power and importance of keeping a steady, relentless groove in a set. To choose my breakdown moments wisely, and to otherwise keep things moving along.”

For LA tech house champ and Percomaniacs head Lubelski, DH played a significant role in supporting his rise and inspiring him to really “go there” with his sound.

“It’s obviously had a big impact on my early growth under my Lubelski moniker. With DH Records, Mikey gave me a platform to thrust my weird house tunes into the world. And with the festivals and parties, the DH crew let me show how deep my crates could go. It all set the tone for how much I could push the envelope with my sets and releases,” Lubelski writes.

“Getting to know Mikey, Porky, Lee, and Marbs, as well as all the other wonderful weirdos by proxy has been an absolute pleasure. Going to my first DH Festival really opened my mind to the possibilities of expression in music and life in this sort of uncompromising, unadulterated fashion. Having their trust to push my vision of music on their label and parties fills me with gratitude. Obviously, meeting the attendees and making new fans at the shows has been amazing. The dance floor at Desert Hearts Festival is one of my favorite places on earth.”

And for their overseas brethren, Berlin rave mainstay Andreas Henneberg, DH’s continued support helped him finally break into the US market. (If you want to catch him in SoCal, he’ll bring his Cascandy alias to the festival again this year.)

“The Desert Hearts family had and still has a massive impact on my US career. Before I became a part of the crew in 2015/2016, I just had a few US bookings every now and then, mostly East Coast, NY, and Miami. The market is huge and completely different from the European scene. It’s difficult to get a foothold without any connections. My releases on the Desert Hearts label, the festivals, and the countless City Hearts raves had a huge impact.



The Desert Hearts fans, or as they say, their family, also feels very special. They welcomed me with open arms right from the beginning and showered me with love. Rather than being DJs and fans, it is kind of a big group of friends that get together, and you make great connections every time,” Henneberg reflects.

“I think one of the big differences to the rest of the world is that Americans tell you when they really like something. Positive feedback can be pretty rare nowadays. The kindness and positive vibes everybody contributes blew my mind right from the first time I went to the festival site. That’s not to be taken for granted.

Also, the friendships we developed over the years mean a lot to me. There is a lot of hugging going on every time we see each other. I sit here in Berlin, watching the whole thing grow. It’s fascinating how a little party in the dirt, some impartial dreams, and a lil’ bit of love can explode to what it is now.”


The messages from fans who reached out to us echoed the powerful connection on the DH dance floor and within their community.

Naomi from Washington DC discovered DH almost accidentally but instantly knew she was at home, amongst the colorful revelers in the often-dark-color-donning town. “The first time I walked into a Desert Hearts party was 2016 at Flash in DC Everyone was dressed in beautiful bright colors and the vibe was incredibly friendly, I knew I was at home. I had never heard of the label or party but after that night I was hooked. I’ve been to so many DH parties since then, [had] chats with Mikey, and felt the best feeling ever when you get gifted a DH necklace. I’ve never felt out of place.”

For Phoenix DJ Kody Black, DH has continued to inspire him and his sound. “I have been DJing for around eight years and I have been a fan of Desert Hearts since I first heard a mix from their label on SoundCloud back in 2016. My fandom really kicked in when I first saw them at Gem & Jam Festival in 2017. I’ll never forget walking into the late-night stage and Lee Reynolds was playing an insane house remix of ‘Low Rider.’ The energy all four of them had, and the vibe of all the fans in the audience was palpable. Over the years, they have become the biggest influence in my sound. Meeting them at their events and seeing how down-to-earth they are confirmed what I’ve felt in their music the whole time.”







For @charnizard from Denver, Desert Hearts is the best birthday party she could ask for. “Desert Hearts Festival is on my birthday every year and I’ve met some of my favorite people in the world there. Kevin Knapp and I had met in Berlin and reunited our friendship at the festival. I also brought an incredible girl named Lucy who was able to capture the sheer love and vibrancy of the festival as an incredible videographer.”

Hailing from San Diego, DH’s home, Zaquari’s birthday also falls during the festival. DH was his introduction to house, and he’s been hooked ever since. “DH has had a monumental impact on my life not only as an artist but in a spiritually healing way as well. My first house music event ever was my first DH event… [And] my first DH festival in 2017 was a pivotal shift in my life’s journey. Being submerged for three straight days in that lovingly chaotic and unique festival experience was truly soul-fulfilling. DH has created a safe, loving, and supportive community, where individuals can feel free and comfortable to express themselves fully.

As a dance music lover, you dream of being a part of something so special… The work those boys have put in have inspired so many new DJs and collectives/festivals to adopt that same ethos of House, Techno, and Love!”

If you’re ready to get a healthy helping of house techno love, snag your Desert Hearts Festival 2023 tickets, which go on sale this Friday, February 3, at 10 a.m. PST. 

Artists & Fans Share the Positive Impact of Desert Hearts 

Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to Desert Hearts, there's no doubt that the uniquely curated festival will offer a variety of the headiest house music around.




Born in the Mojave Desert, Desert Hearts Festival is a community-built event filled with surprise sets, live art, healing workshops, and more. Now hosted in Lake Perris, the yearly multi-disciplinary event celebrates art, nature, and music, encourages radical participation, and leave no trace camping.




The Desert Hearts mantra is "House, Techno Love," and there's plenty of that to go around thanks to the freewheeling whimsy and genre-fluid exploration of Desert Hearts founders Mikey Lion, Marbs, Porky, and Lee Reynolds. If you're missing the positive vibes of the Desert Hearts community, revisit the magic through five of the best sets from the festival.




1. Lee Reynolds - Desert Hearts Festival 2019

Lee Reynolds firmly establishes his status as a music industry legend in this expansive 90-minute set from Desert Hearts' 2019 iteration. Reynolds locks in from the start, running through a pulsating tracklist of toe-tapping tech house that slides through a spectrum of electrifying intensity. With this set, it's no question why he's called the "Papa" of Desert Hearts!




2. Mikey Lion - Desert Hearts Festival 10 Year Anniversary

Mikey Lion's return to the decks post-pandemic marks an emotional journey for the Desert Hearts leader, and the feeling of elation is palpable in this two-hour celebration. Speaking about his set at the 10-year anniversary of Desert Hearts, he shares, "this party for me was three years in the making with the constant setbacks from the pandemic, and I've literally dreamed about playing this set for our Desert Hearts Family since 2019. Not only did I play my best, but we all had so much pent-up energy going into this festival and I truly believe we expulsed all the love and positivity we had inside us into the universe during these two hours, which made for the most radical DJ experience I've ever had while surrounded by my family and friends. If you're an up-and-coming DJ watching this, I hope one day you'll get to experience something like this because it was one of the most incredible moments of my life. This is what this music and this movement are all about."




3. Marbs B2B Evan Casey - Desert Hearts Festival 2019

Raise your consciousness in this mind-bending mix from Desert Hearts co-founder Marbs and Evan Casey. The pair plunge into an interdimensional world through selections of panoramic progressive house and melodic techno. This two-hour winding journey is ideal for long drives and late nights.




4. SHADED - Desert Hearts Festival 10 Year Anniversary

Dim the lights and pop on SHADED's minimal tech set for an immersive dive into the deep end of house and techno. Emphasizing the cool factor, SHADED wears his sunglasses at night as he spins a mix inspired by the sounds of Detroit and Chicago with a modern flair.




5. Porky - Desert Hearts Festival 10 Year Anniversary

This sunrise set is where to go if in need of great vibes that fill the space between relaxing and revitalizing. From the storybook stage design to the steadily rising mood of the music, a mushroom-capped Porky wakes the crowd up with joyous disco and atmospheric house. There's an instantly-iconic Bloc Party needle drop hidden here too, which elevates the energy of the entire party.



Explore The Sound of Desert Hearts Festival Through 5 YouTube Sets

When Mikey Lion, Marbs, Lee Reynolds, and Porky started throwing parties with a few dozen friends in the desert, even they couldn’t have imagined their ragtag dust-covered crew would grow to become the powerhouse of west coast house and techno music that it is today. More than ten years later, Desert Hearts Records and Desert Hearts Black musically represent two sides of the same stylish coin. Their music ranges from fun-loving, trippy, daytime house to weird, dark, and sometimes even malevolent techno. Like Enid Sinclair and Wednesday Addams, the differences between the two are night and day, but together they represent something exceptional.






Apart from sold-out tours, bookings in more than 20 different countries, a wildly successful music festival, an infectiously fashionable merch line, and an entourage of more than 30 music producers in tow, Desert Hearts is far from a flash in the pan. Emblematic anthems in their catalog, like Mikey Lion’s “Above the Clouds” and “For The Love,” flex bouncy, sunny songs. At the same time, tracks like “Helix” and “Torus” from Marbs induce a moonlit shuffling, face-melting bliss that is so irresistibly addictive that it may as well be drugs.




Whether you’re a Desert Hearts die-hard or you just want to hear what all the fuss is about, sit down next to a speaker, pump the tracks below into your ears, and join us on a journey that showcases the duality of house and techno as much as it distinguishes DH from their peers in the genre.








1. Andres Hennenberg, Mikey Lion - The Tortilla Rap

Uptempo grooves and reverberating vocals gel in this potent mix from Andres Hennenberg and Mikey Lion. The lyrics sum up the end result, saying, “I made a song about a tortilla. It actually was a wrap.” If you’re a sucker for synthy crescendos and soft highs, this one may as well be your anthem.




2. Marbs - Needed Time

Off-beat and heavy-hearted, Marbs doesn’t hold back – ever. Like his infamously creative visual designs, his decorative soundscapes will have you time-traveling back to the early warehouse days of modern techno. His magnetic seven-minute banger, “Needed Time,” is a token example.




3. Lee Reynolds - People Like You

Like a fine wine, Lee Reynolds’ music will get you lit. With braps and bloops that could only originate from the far end of known space, his club-thumping track “People Like You” is as much a journey to experience as it is a lure to the dancefloor.




4. Porky, Mitch Dodge - Chameleon

When it comes to getting weird, nobody does it like Porky. In 2020 he teamed up with Dirtybird regular Mitch Dodge for “Chameleon.” Today, the boisterously beated track, which is known for blending island drums and stripped-down hip-hop hooks, is a fixture in his sets on the road.




5. Mikey Lion, Lubelski, Jackson Englund - When I’m With You

The low-fi keys and jazz guitar that adorn the colorful builds in Mikey Lion’s hit piano house track “When I’m With You” is like a day by the pool for your earholes. Englund’s silky RÜFÜS-like vocals and Lubelski’s technical prowess take the song to a whole new level too.






6. RYBO, Lubelski - Favela Funk

If maracas were contagious, it would be easier to break down the many reasons why RYBO’s undulating track “Favela Funk” is so sick. The hest of this gritty ‘City Hearts’ styled serenade is reminiscent of Spring time block parties, but with an extra kick.







7. Rinzen, Marbs, Evan Casey - Ark

Rinzen’s cinematic repertoire shines through in the shimmery track “Ark.” Co-starring Evan Casey and Marbs, it’s a definitive Desert Hearts Black sound, shrouded in mystery with a prepossessive flair.




8. Beth Lydi - Jump the Couch

Tribal percussion, steady shifts, and raining highs distinguish Beth Lydi’s “Jump the Couch” as a walloping paean. In addition to a sweltering rhythm that intensifies through the life of the song, her sound is a colorful addition to the Desert Hearts label. It’s at home as much in the club as on “the Playa.”




9. Popof - Rubber (SHADED Thicc Body Remix)

Somehow futuristic and nostalgic at the same time, Popof’s tech house heater “Rubber” offers 8-bits with a lot of oomph. With beefed-up sways courtesy of SHADED, it’s one of the defining tracks on the artist’s 2021 EP, Hybrid.




10. Joyce Muniz, G.rizo, Lubelski - Deeper the Soul (Lubelski Remix) 

Kaleidoscopic vocals and rhythmic verses bridge the world of soul-hop with tech house in Joyce Muniz’s orgastic track “Deeper the Soul.” G.rizo’s charm throughout the track is palpable, while Lubelski’s pyrophoric touch puts a mad science-flavored spin on the song.




11. Tini Gessler - Acid

Basslines and upbeat allures may as well be signatures in Tini Gessler’s persona behind the decks. The flailing harmonies of her captivating track “Acid” serve as a reminder that she’s a powerhouse who adds something unique to the Desert Hearts family, while standing strong just fine on her own.




12. Kevin Knapp, Baby Luck, RYBO - Cute (RYBO Remix)

RYBO’s booty-shaking spin on Kevin Knapp’s club catalyzer “Cute” puts the song in third gear, making it perfect for club listening. With Baby Luck’s playful vocals laid on thick, it’s also a brilliant summer anthem with attitude to spare.







Marbs

B. I. Empey

B. I. Empey

Ana Monroy Yglesias

Staley Sharples

Graham Berry