Joe Giuliano on April 7th, 2017

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The moment you arrive at Los Coyotes Indian Reservation outside Warner Springs, home of the Desert Hearts Festival in recent years, you get the unmistakable feeling that something is different — no one seems to be working. The greeters embrace you with open arms; the vendors are deep in conversation; and what little “staff” seems to be present is dancing to the endless beats. The deeper you get into the campground, the more surreal this feeling becomes. Campers welcome you, strangers soon become friends, and the overall vibe is that of oneness — something quite opposite to our daily lives, especially lately.

Now four years into what was merely a party among a few DJs with a love for all-nighters in the desert, Desert Hearts has developed a world-wide following searching for that “One Stage, One Vibe” atmosphere for which they’ve become known. In one camp alone, there were visitors from as far away as D.C. and Belgium. For an event that only recently broke the 3,000-capacity mark, this feat is staggering.

Boasting 72-plus hours of nonstop techno, Desert Hearts is like a marathon run at a sprint. Whenever you choose to get a few hours of shuteye, you are more than likely going to miss out on something. But rest is inevitable, which is what makes this event both an impossibility and something special — no matter what hour you return to the dancefloor, it will be bumping and you will not be alone.

No matter what hour you return to the dancefloor, it will be bumping and you will not be alone

For a festival that makes it a point to consistently remind that you are responsible for yourself — “bring your own water!,” “pack in & pack out,” and “B.Y.O.E. (Bring Your Own Everything!)” — the Desert Hearts crew came back from their year-long festival hiatus with plenty of upgrades. While there is no running water on-site, the Clean Carriage Soap Company offered a fully-functional shower system nestled in the refurbished innards of an old carriage. For those that didn’t bring enough food or booze, there were plenty of vendors, including the Electric Buddha Bar that was even serving up fresh alcoholic beverages free of charge. Perhaps as an afterthought on the way out of the festival, they’ve even created the Public Transfer Station — a waste disposal site of “Waste Warriors” and “Trash Pirates” who will dispose of your trash and recyclables for a nominal fee.

While yoga and workshops are not new to the event, there was a more serious, structured tenor to the activities. Overall, the event — known as a “72-hour hedonistic soireé contained by only one stage” — continues to evolve, now featuring full schedules at the Yoga Tent, Sound Temple and Red Tent. Particularly memorable were the sound baths and sacred soundscapes emanating from the Sound Temple and an important-for-the-times workshop by Ellcee Love titled “Heal Our Earth Campaign.’

When one stage provides an endless soundtrack with no dead air for an entire weekend, it can be difficult to differentiate between genres or even DJs. What follows is a highlight of those who were noteworthy enough to stand out from the bunch.

Ardalan on Friday night:

The San Francisco by-way-of Tehran DJ and producer ignited a fire on the dancefloor Friday night. His gritty bass lines and diverse track selection highlighting his place on the Dirtybird label set the bar early for a weekend chock full of talent. Labelmates Christian Martin and Justin Martin were playing catch-up when they finally got to play Saturday night.

Doc Martin on Saturday afternoon:

Fan favorite and house legend Doc Martin’s perfectly sculpted set was a Saturday afternoon delight, a sunny serenade for those still awake and a welcoming beck and call to those just now waking up to Day 2. On the far side of the dancefloor, staff in the Medical tent could be seen sneaking away from their shifts to be a part of the grooves.

Lee Reynolds late Saturday night:

In typical fashion, madman Lee Reynolds laid the foundation for what a resident Desert Hearts DJ brings to the table: danceable grooves, psychedelic overtones and one helluva party. The spinning disco ball heart beating over his head represents the connection him, Mikey Lion, Marbs, Porkchop and every other DJ throughout the whirlwind weekend have with each other and with everyone in attendance. For a brief moment in time, all that matters is the heart of the music.

Oona Dahl’s Sunday morning sunrise set:

No DJ on the bill was better suited for a sunrise set than the All Day I Dream powerhouse, Oona Dahl. From her heralded sets on the playa at Burning Man to the dancefloor dust at Desert Hearts, Oona’s sounds are vintage ambient lullabies. Those not whisked away to dreamland were even rewarded by Wench Toast — french toast served by the Savage Hearts camp dressed like pirates — during the follow-up sets by David Scuba and Deep Jesus.

Monolink (live) on Sunday afternoon:

To be billed as one of the only truly “live” sets is quite the responsibility, and Monolink delivered. His style seamlessly connects guitar chords merging into synthetic electronics. There was nothing but sheer talent on display by this rare combination singer-songwriter-producer.

Atish’s sunset set on Sunday evening:

While the festival carried on for nearly another half-day, for many it ended with Atish. The deep house aficionado embodies all that is Desert Hearts — palpable love and soul transformed into acoustic art. The journey of an Atish set mirrors the collective sentiment after it’s all said and done — everyone is left wanting more.