The New Year is an enchanting time to set intentions and manifest prosperity for the year to follow.
With that in mind, Desert Hearts Black is ready to welcome in 2022 with a renewed aim in delivering techno and house music for its international audience.
For its first release of ‘22, label boss Marbs kicks things off with his new EP, Minds on the Run, featuring an uncanny remix from none other than Oscar L. Made throughout 2021, ‘Minds on the Run’ was written for the return of live music and as a reflection of the collective experience of the pandemic.
‘Minds on the Run’ EP opens with a 7-minute club track, “Needed Time.” This anthem of the EP was written with peak hours in mind – accessing this golden hour energy with native american chants in the soundscape.
A message of psychedelia is enthused by a rolling bassline and melodic risers as the track progresses. Hugs, champagne, and the feeling of making it through the night should remind listeners of the collective experience DH strives for. The track also represents a shift in focus for DHB in 2021 – as they plan to expand from melodic house and techno into more diverse sounds packed with attitude and groove.
“Mental Gymnastics” offers a hastened vibe – contributing staccato synthe play and a thumping backbeat to impart upon the chaotic time it was written. It’s sprawling style lends to night time festivals – exploring sounds that range from melodic to electro to tech. Continuing the theme of ‘minds running,’ the track calls to the producers’ state of trying to adjust and figure out this new reality.
The title track is the final original on the EP, and conveys Marbs longing for the DH booth at sunrise. The production picks up the bustling energy to mint itself as the project’s certified banger. The release drop comes nearly 2 and a half minutes in, when a reverbered vocal sends listeners afloat on an oscillating bassline marred in instrumental and vocal elements.
The project wraps up with a bonus remix from Spanish Techno/Tech House veteran Oscar L. His sound marries classic and peculiar influences, and has earned placements with the likes of Drumcode (Adam Beyer’s label), Knee Deep In Sound (Hot Since 82’s label), Stereo Productions (Chus & Ceballos’s label), Truesoul (Adam Beyer’s label), We Are The Brave (Alan Fitzpatrick’s label), and 1605 (Umek’s label). Oscar also directs his own radio show, D-Mix, which is broadcasted in 16 countries through 130 different stations. Oscar L’s professional framework continues to expand, foreshadowing a prolific future and a privileged position amongst the most outstanding figures of his country. For his remix, Oscar L offers up a ‘On A Trip’ techno rework of “Needed Time.”
Quote from Marbs: “I’ve been an Oscar L fan for a long time. When I sent him the music and he said yes, I was really excited to have him on Desert Hearts Black.”
Having grown up in Southern California with the infamous motley crew known as Desert Hearts, Marbs was primarily influenced by legends like Pink Floyd and Tool, while also listening to underground hip hop, reggae, and rock. Displaying a no holds barred love for all genres from an early age, this would lend to his fortuitous career as a DJ/Producer.
Over the last several years, Marbs and Evan Casey have helped grow the DH label subsidiary, Desert Hearts Black, into a respected platform for melodic strains of house and techno. The inaugural EP Torus – a collab from Marbs, Rinzen, Evan Casey – reached the #1 spot on Beatport’s Overall chart after its singles were supported by Deep Dish and many others. The label has already seen releases from Tim Engelhardt, Dance Spirit, Thugfucker, Arude, Anakim, Rinzen, and Lunar Plane.
They’ve continued to thrive through an otherwise tumultuous year for the industry, taking the Twitch world by storm and reaching tens of thousands of viewers weekly with their music.
Desert Hearts looks to celebrate 10 years this Spring, when Desert Hearts Festival moves into its new venue of Lake Perris, California. Minds on the Run previews the label’s excitement to return to festival, as well as a renewed focus to expand on its electronic offerings. Join the Desert Hearts community for their grand return and most magical festival yet:
Thursday, April 28- Monday, May 2, 2022.
Tracklist:
1. Marbs – Needed Time
2. Marbs – Mental Gymnastics
3. Marbs – Minds on the Run
4. Marbs – Needed Time (Oscar L On A Trip Remix)
