An Inside Look at Desert Hearts

In November of 2012, Desert Hearts was manifested from sheer determination and an abundance of positive energy. The 300-person Mojave gathering started as a collaboration between Christopher Kristoff and San Diego-based DJs Mikey Lion, Lee Reynolds, Marbs and Porkchop, with Andy Crane joining the team later on. Together they dedicate endless hours to creating a beautiful place where fans can gather and celebrate life through House, Techno and Love.

In short, “the Desert Hearts experience fuses the self-reliant and forward thinking principles of Burning Man with the mainstream defying sounds of the underground House and Techno community.” In contrast to major music festivals like Coachella and our beloved Burning Man though, Desert Hearts veers from the status quo and mainstream hype. In efforts to preserve the Desert Hearts vibe, the team focuses on the alternative music festival experience. Their shows are described as safe havens away from Babylon where people can connect with nature, be themselves and do what makes them happy. “One stage, one vibe, one beautiful and growing family.”

Desert Hearts has both a Valentines Day show and Spring Festival planned for southern California. If you’re local or have the chance to make the trek out west, both are going to be surreal experiences worth taking advantage of. This coming weekend in the spirit of love and life (disregard the commercialization of the holiday), Desert Hearts hosts City Hearts L.A. at the Beyond the Stars Palace in Glendale, CA. Slated for the event are longtime Desert Hearts DJs; Mikey Lion, Lee Reynolds, Marbs, Porkchop, DEEP JESUS and Tara Brooks. The show will lack the aesthetics of an outdoor festival but will no doubt be just as magnificent and surreal.

From March 27th thru 30th, Desert Hearts has planned their anxiously awaited Spring Fest in its fifth edition. For the coveted event set in San Diego at the Los Coyotes Indian Reservation, the Desert Hearts team have assembled together for the 72 straight- hours of House, Techno, and Love a collage of familiar faces and the likes of M.A.N.D.Y., Audiofly, Blond:ish, Monkey Safari, Rodriguez Jr. (Live), Justin Jay, Shaded (Live), Halo, Atish and many more. The festival will be a collection of cutting edge house and techno incorporating the best Funktion-One sound system, most beautiful décor, art, artists, performers, yoga, workshops, and sound healing amongst a number of other amenities positioned for the alternative camping festival. Get your tickets to the event on Ticketfly.

For the eclectic and continuously growing brand, 2014 brought to formation Desert Hearts Records and the party series City Hearts (that were excited to experience for ourselves this weekend) – thus, we look forward to their inevitable growth in 2015. Check out the recap of the Desert Hearts Two-Year Anniversay on YouTube and listen to Sean Reeves' mix from the event below.

Written by Charlotte Horton