One Time at Desert Hearts Festival…

If we ask practically any of the DJs, music producers, and performers who performed at Desert Hearts Pageant this weekend what makes the occasion so particular, most will most likely take us on an extended stroll down reminiscence lane. And, why not?

For a pageant in its eleventh yr, identified for its tight-knit crew, and potent love-centric philosophy few ship magic fairly like the dual labels: Desert Hearts Information and Desert Hearts Black. After greater than a decade of throwing this music pageant, these younger titans know find out how to get bizarre in essentially the most irresistible style. They’ll get bouncy and enjoyable within the trippiest methods throughout the day, however then go storied and cinematic with tunes so darkish they make the night time come alive.

Between a last-minute venue change to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and a difficult financial time that makes the whole lot from throwing a celebration to purchasing a ticket a bit tougher, Desert Hearts Pageant is actually going to be a particular one this yr. Past juggernauts of the dance scene like Skream, Dusky, Mark Farina, Lee Foss, Melé, and Catz ‘N Dogz–simply to call a couple of, this explicit version of the pageant is serendipitously extra intimate than the larger, more moderen iterations of the fest–a high quality music followers all the time lengthy for as the key will get out about our most beloved events and inevitably they change into more and more well-liked.

Like discovering a pageant in a time capsule, for a lot of, Desert Hearts Pageant 2023 would possibly even have been extra “prefer it was once” than it has been or will probably be once more for some time. It is an essential step on an extended journey for the crew and their followers as nicely. It was experientially extra akin to the Metropolis Hearts occasions of previous years. A far cry from the earthy, pashmina-rocking, tenting music pageant that Desert Hearts is so well-known (and beloved) for being, however within the context of the present financial state of the trade, that was simply outweighed by the truth that lots of our favourite boutique home and techno occasions have already cancelled on 2023. It is truly admirable that even with the challenges of fixing a venue final minute Desert Hearts did not take a go on the yr as nicely. It took guts to take that probability amid shifting plans, and it will most likely repay huge within the hearts and minds of home and techno lovers. One factor we will say for certain, this yr there will probably be much more cherished tales that begin out with these 5 little phrases: “one time at Desert Hearts Pageant…”

Justin Martin performs an epic dawn set for one of many largest all-night turnouts within the pageant’s historical past.

C/o Desert Hearts Pageant

To study extra concerning the golden vibes that home and techno followers and performers have skilled over time on the pageant, we requested among the most devastatingly badass OG’s on the lineup to share their favourite Desert Hearts Pageant reminiscence.

Learn on to listen to each what they sound like and what they needed to say.

Justin Martin

“I’ve had the distinction of taking part in fairly a couple of Desert Hearts events… however, by far my favourite reminiscence was being granted the dawn time slot in 2022. I nonetheless get goosebumps desirous about that morning, the quantity of affection that I used to be surrounded by on stage, and magical power radiating from the group. The group that this crew has cultivated over time is actually excellent! Second to none! I’m so excited to be again with everybody this weekend.”

Mary Droppinz

“My fav reminiscence was after I was on stage at metropolis hearts (DHLA) in 2019 and watched Patrick Topping take the tempo as much as 150 bpm. That is the primary time I had gotten to expertise that with my very own eyes and I have been loving the quick lane ever since! DH has all the time been tremendous influential and provoking for me as a DJ since I first began attending the festivals in 2015.”

Rinzen

“My favourite DH reminiscence was attending to play the pageant for the primary time in 2019! After attending the pageant as a fan for a few years, it was so surreal to be on the decks myself, on the helm of the music for two hours throughout dawn. I distinctly bear in mind the second of the solar peaking out over the bushes, and the way alive and current I felt in that second.”

Cascandy (aka Andreas Henneberg)

“The primary ever Cascandy present with the Desert Hearts household was on the autumn version of the pageant again in 2015 at Los Coyotes. This was the whole lot! The individuals, the music, the crew and the vibe was one thing very particular. We don’t have something just like this in Europe.

I’m greater than proud to be part of this particular occasion on the LA Coliseum. Let’s rock that sh*t!”