It Was A Desert Hearts DREAM Come True

I was fortunate enough to travel to Desert Hearts recently. We arrived at Playa Ponderosa Thursday afternoon. The smell of pines and dust filled the air as we approached. It was perfect outside; mid 80’s, partially cloudy with a cool enough breeze to keep the windows rolled down while we waited to approach the gate. The line to get in was relatively short and quick. Gate staff warmly welcomed us with beaming smiles and jokes. Before I knew it, we were off to the campground to set up our home for the weekend. 

Photo Credit: Brian Ngo

I wasn’t sure what to expect of the festival, but I had high hopes for Desert Hearts. As an Arizona local, I am no stranger to Playa Ponderosa. Every event held there has its unique atmosphere and energy. I was excited to see what magic would happen with Desert Hearts. Anything that Walter Where? House touches turns into gold, and I was confident that the collaboration with the DH crew would be nothing short of spectacular. This year’s event was my first time attending the former SoCal event. Stories and media from years prior years painted an attractive image in my mind of what the weekend would hold for me. If nothing else, I knew I could expect three things: House, Techno, and Love.

Arriving on Thursday meant that I was able to catch the crews working to finish setting things up for the festival. It felt like I was getting a behind-the-scenes experience. Something little, but it made me appreciate the experience more.

I’m not sure why, but at first, I did not realize that there would be a single, central stage. Most festivals that I have attended have at least two or more stages for patrons to explore. Desert Hearts focused on the “one stage, one vibe” and I vibed with that. 

The layout of the festival reminded me of a body, with various parts and flows allowing it to function. Playa Ponderosa was the body. Walter & DH crews were the brains and the white blood cells. The camps, different sanctuaries, and interactive zones are the vital organs. The patrons are the red blood cells. The roadways were the veins that led us to the different areas, and most importantly to the main stage, the [Desert] Heart at the center of the festival. Boy-o-boy was that heart beating and that blood flowing throughout the weekend. For 72 hours, a full spectrum of house and techno pumped through the speakers. This was a first for me, as I am accustomed to festivals cutting music sometime in the early morning, and then picking back up several hours later. Thankfully camp was close enough for a quick walk to stage, yet far enough to be able to sleep without needing earplugs to escape the bass. 

There were a couple of highlights for me at Desert Hearts. The first is all of the art. A festival that has lots of art is one of my criteria for a quality event (A+). I found myself spending plenty of time strolling through the artist’s alley, getting lost in the finished works on display, and watching the live paintings. Some of the artists’ work that caught my eye were that of artists Amanda Esrade (@luvvv_mana),  Peris Lopez (@perissweetlopez), Sarah Crossno  (@saracrossnoart), Jeff Logan, and Lani Kai Arts @lanikai_art). Those who were near their work were willing to share their experiences as artists and the Desert Heart family. 

Photo Credit: Brian Ngo

There were more than just paintings. Surrounding the main stage were a number of art cars that lit up the night. Desert Hearts also featured local Arizona artist, Sean T. French, famously known for his fusion of fire and metal sculptures and unique armor. An area to stage left was designated for a number of his sculptures, including a flaming heart and a metal aerialist in a lyra. If I ever felt too cold at night and didn’t want to make my way into the crowd, I could walk over to this area to feel the waves of heat from their “fire canons” and fixtures. 

Another highlight was the fashion. DH patrons did not hold back. Each and every day was filled with vibrant and well-thought-out outfits, with a variety of aesthetics. I’m talking elaborate costumes, coordinated couples ‘fits, multiple outfit changes in a night, and people were dressed to the nine. A friend of mine had informed me that fashion was a big part of the festival, however, they did not tell me that meant there would be a fashion show! Definitely a first for me. 

Did I forget to mention that there were 72 hours of music? Every set had its own flavor and energy. Picking the top sets from each day is tough. If I had to put them on a list (in no particular order) they would be:

Day 1- Miss Fitz, Techno Tupac, and Mira

Day 2- Tara Brooks, Color.Love, Disco Zombie, Mikey Lion, and VNSSA

Day 3: Walker & Royce, Ghettoblaster, Life On Planets, Mary Droppinz, and Coco & Breezy

It’s no secret to anyone who knows me that I love drum and bass. I walked into Desert Hearts knowing that this was not the place where I would hear any. To my surprise, Ghettoblaster dropped a couple of drum and bass tracks towards the end of his set. I was ecstatic, the crowd went wild, and EVEYONE was getting down. When I expressed my excitement to another attendee, they gave me a perspective on the “love” part of “House, Techno, Love.” It wasn’t just about expressing the feeling of love towards others, it was about sharing the music we love too. That includes a spectrum of subgenres of dance music, including a little drum and bass. This was definitely a highlight for me. 

Now it’s time for the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

Sorry to disappoint, but there isn’t any bad or ugly for me to share. People were well-behaved, friendly, and responsible. MOOP (matter out of place) was nearly non-existent and the porta-johns were cleaned regularly. Which is a blessing for anyone who does camping festivals. I will say that if the Desert Hearts stays in Arizona, some extra shade structures would be nice. The high-altitude AZ sun is a force to be reckoned with, and a little extra shade goes a long way when it comes to summer events. 

Photo Credit: Jess Gallo

I would happily attend Desert Hearts again, especially if it returns to Playa Ponderosa. It is easily one of the best venues in AZ and the DH and Walter crews made magic with the space. I felt the “love” in “house, techno, love” everywhere. The people were kind and took care of one another. I could feel the intention behind the overall design of the festival from the themed camps, down to the gifts & trinkets from the patrons. Plus there was plenty to do outside and explore outside of the music. This space radiated that love, something that I don’t always feel at festivals nowadays.