This set from 04-14-24 really exemplifies my deep house curation and mixing style.  

For 6 months I've been digging through my collection, resisting the urge to buy new music and instead learning my 29-year music collection better.

Over that time, I went back through and labeled thousands of tracks by energy and feeling and created playlists from there.  

The overall energy of this mix is uplifting and dreamy, starting and ending more vocal. 

You won't know many, or perhaps any, of the tracks.

The tracks were mixed on CDJ 3000s.

Never synced, never looped, never wasting time with filters and effects with just one track playing.

Fully concentrated on blending two tracks together beautifully with subtle EQ-ing only.

It's so weird, I was thinking this was the best I'd ever done with my levels on a live mix, perhaps because I was being a good boy, carefully watching the decibel meter at Mars Bar :) 

I added the fade in and out in Logic and gave it a light mastering in LANDR.  There I got a message that my mix was lacking in dynamic range - meaning there might not be enough difference between the high and low levels of the mix - which on a live DJ mix, I am taking as a compliment 100% :)

Ok enough geeky DJ talk...
As always, I'd love to know what you think in comments <3

Huge thanks to Chris Phleck and Ryan Stubbs (Duserock) and the Watch Our Step crew for bringing me to San Francisco, it's such a fun and friendly crowd.

Another big thanks to David Kiely of Mars Bar for providing a safe and lovely space for people to dance.

Final thanks to Anne Plehn for the great photo capture!  IG: anneplehn

Ben Annand Live Mars Bar 04-14-24 at Watch Our Step

A live recording of my 2-hour back-to-back special set with my fellow DIODE campmate, Keith Mattar.  This was only our second time performing together, but I hope it's the start of a new trend.  Big thanks to our sister campmates at Camp Lamp for having us back behind the decks together and letting us take the crowd on a journey the final night of the festival.

Keith Mattar b2b Damien Paul - Live at Camp Lamp 2024

With a heavy heart for my friends affected by fires in Los Angeles this week, I release my set from just a week ago when we started the year with hope and optimism at Subtract and Moon Kitty's super fun shindig to open 2025.  

First of all, big thanks to Treavor and Anton for having me.  It was so, so fun to play this party.  I knew close to half of the people there, had many great conversations and much fun dancing after.  Moontribe DJs are no joke!  So much talent :). Sarkis was great too!  I was happy with my set and am excited to share it.

I lived in various parts of LA for 36 of the 38 years between 1980 and 2018. It is not the world's most beautiful city by any means, but I always tell my friends not from there how special and thriving the underground music scene has always been in LA.  It's a city where you have to know someone to have a good time I think -  one of the least digestible cities as a tourist.

But all it takes, or ever took, is to experience one good LA underground event and a whole world opens up to you.  If you are bored in LA, it's no fault of the music scene.  

For me this one event was 1995's Big Wig Thumper at what was then called the Orange Showgrounds.  Though technically my 3rd rave, the other two were in 1991 when I was just about to graduate high school, and appreciated it but wasn't really ready for it.  Let's just say I hadn't found my dancing shoes yet.  But in 95, I was ready and I never looked back.  I've thrown a hundred parties and DJed hundreds in LA since.  

This is a hard mix description to write because my favorite US city is in flames.  Many of my friends have lost their homes, and several venues I've hosted Tropical at have been destroyed.  It feels inappropriate to promote events there with the fires raging, and I've struggled to even post this mix.

But... it is music.  And music can only help.  

I am here to help in other ways too!  I'm not in LA, but super connected so reach out if you need help.  Also have space in my home in Oregon for friends who want to get away to clean air for a bit.

Hoping for safety for my friends, squashing of fires asap, and then hopefully a hard look at how prepared we are for fires like this, and how we can improve on that <3


Ben Annand Live at Moontribe NYD 1-1-25 Los Angeles

A two hour mix tape journey, of some electronic broken beat deepness featuring a less known gem from Burial and some fresh new producers from the UK and beyond. Representative of what you might hear me play at Balance Croatia in August 25.

Adam Freeland-Out of Balance

Tourist - Essential Mix 27-07-2024

Marques Wyatt live from the Junkyard at Lightning in a Bottle 2025

Marques Wyatt @ Lightning in a Bottle 2025

We’re kicking off our official Prelude to the Playa mix series with a legendary selector: Mark Farina. This series sets the tone for Desert Hearts at Playa Ponderosa: a sonic warm-up for the dust, the forest, and the family vibes to come.

Expect deep grooves, soulful rhythms, and that signature Farina flavor that’s been moving dancefloors for decades. Whether you’re road-tripping to the fest or just vibing out under the trees, this one’s for you.

Join us 

Prelude to the Playa is an ongoing mix series from Desert Hearts, highlighting the artists who shape our sound and spirit. Stay tuned for more volumes dropping soon.

Desert Hearts Festival returns to Playa Ponderosa, AZ this July 4th weekend! 4 days of music, art, and radical self-expression under the pines. Join the tribe, dance with intention, and be part of the magic.

Tickets + info at: desertheartsfestival.us

Stream, share, and let the journey begin.

House, Techno, & Love... We Are All Desert Hearts

Mark Farina - Prelude to The Playa, Vol. 1

Thanks to DoLab - Jesse, Dede, Megan and all for producing another amazing festival that I'm so honored to be regular at, and to the Junkyard- Patricio and Chino for the amazing stage and sound!

Edit July 16 - Track List just added!  A million thanks for the artists represented here for their dedication to making interesting electronic music in a world with limited interest in that.  There are those of us that care!

1 - State Of Mind - Andromo (@andromo)

2 - Burning - Zetbee (@zetbee-1)

3 - Versace - Jorick Croes, Enrico Chirchiello  (@jorickcroes,  @enrico-chirchiello)	

4 - Special For Me (Extended Mix) - Michel De Hey (@michel-de-hey)

5 - Space System - Nick Dare  (@nickdare)

6 - Bonjour Tokyo - M.ono (@m-ono)

7 - Gorgeous (Oscar Barila Remix) - Oscar Barila, Vasily Umanets  (@oscarbarila, @vsiliyumanets)

8 - I Can't Lose You (Pete Moss Remix) - Mo'Cream	(@petemosstracks, @mocreamproductions)

9 - Control (Gorge & Nick Curly Remix) - Hank (@gorge, @nickcurly, @hankkorsan)

10 - Grow (Joel Mull Remix)- Paul Brtschitsch, Malte, Mrrod (@joelmull, @paulbrtschitschofficial) 

11 - MOOG Hero - Joel Mull (@joelmull)

12 - A Feeling (Instrumental) - Jasper Street Co., Nicole Moudaber (@jasperstreetco, @nicolemoudaber)

13 - La Petite Faveur (Fsk24 Remix) - DJ W!ld (@chris-carrier-841295497, @djwild)

14 - Cami's House - Hector Couto (@hectorcouto)

15 - New World - Tuccillo (@tuccillo)

16 - Celestiarp - Vini Pistori (@vinipistori)

17 - Indignation - Kevin Yost (@kevinyost)

18 - Nothing 2 Me - Jorick Croes, ØN.THE.RUN (@jorickcroes)

19 - So Good - Supernova, Thomas Newson  (@supernova, @thomasnewson)

20 - Daydream (Extended) - Archie Hamilton, Sadie Walker (@archiehamiltonmusic, @sadiewalkerband)

21 - Urban House (Leo Portela Remix) - Luis Caballero (@leoportela, @luis-caballero)

22 - Frunky (Ray Okpara Remix) - Berami (@rayokpara) 

23 - What U Need (Marco Grandi remix) - Moe Turk (@marco-grandi, @djmoeturk)

There are just a couple of parties that I play enough times to make a completely specific set for each time, and make it my absolute best.

One is Lightning in a Bottle, which I'm not a resident of but have played 7 of the last 8 fests.

I've prepared for many different time slots at LIB, always looking at this large and spectacular festival as one where people primarily want to dance and have fun.

So I ramp up my funk and vocals (usually playful but i did have one protest lyric in this year's - you can't miss it).  

I lean on the uplifting side, spend a lot of time choosing music and organizing a playlist so i can play appropriately for my time slot and come back thinking it was one of the best sets I've ever played.  

Something that was different for me this year is I took a year and a half off from buying new music prior to LIB in order to reporganize my collection, which now spans 30 years.

Sometimes it's better to understand better what you already have before adding to a massive music collection.

But I never intended my break to be that long!  It just kept going.  And I had a couple of hard drive farts in the middle which didn't help.  

But anyway,  I started buying music again about two months ahead of LIB because I wanted to play an all new music set,  and I also wanted to to  take the time to understand the new music very well.

The problem with playing all new music at a gig is that I don't always take the time to understand it well enough to know if it's as good as the music I already have.  It's fun because it's new... but is it really adding something?

So this time I really took the time to select tracks - I was picky AF!  
This time I spent a lot of time also to play with my tracks, mix them in different ways and really try to only include tracks that were blowing my mind, so that I could give that to the dance floor.

Also spent a lot of time on tagging producers in this description - hope it helps you to discover some great new artists and music!

Ben Annand LIB 2025 Junkyard Closer

Just a little groove-on journey with a little uptick on the tempo. bouncy and fun to move to it and bob your head.  Take it for a spin and let me know what you think.

TRACKLIST:

Osunlade - Wut IZ Style
FLETCH (GB) - Elevate 
Damelo - Disco Cha Cha
Cristina Lazic - Whatch the Time (LondonGround Remix)
Traumer - All the Love (Marsolo Extended Version Remix)
Supernova, SLM - Zero Relation
Hunter Game, ALIAGA(ofc) - Shapeless (Frankey & Sandrino Remix)
Toby Simpson - Dance Desire
Demi Riquisimo, Luke alessi - Yes Baby
Matara - In This House
Chinonegro - Funky Beat
SOG (US), AJK - Hold On Fuck That
Melon Bomb - Workin'
Radio Slave, Nathalie Duchene - We are Youth (CASSIM Remix)
Nina Simone - Feeling Good (Aanghel Edit)
Roel - Amour Sans Future
Retromigration - Cloudiin

MINIMAL:MAXIMAL

Poker Flat Podcast 62 - mixed by Doc Martin - Live in Los Angeles

01. Chuffing Buffy-What do you want
02. Riven-Disco Acid(Beatamines rmx.)
03. Arkajo-Fathomless Music
04. Kerri Chandler & Jerome Sydenham-Mama(Voyeur)
05. Dj Garth-Set it off
06. Kevin Griffiths-Twenty Mids
07. Guy Gerber-Full Circle
08. Antenna Happy-Horseshow
09. Luigi Seija-Twisted Voyage(Brian Busto rmx.)
10. Vangeli Kostoxenakis-Fantasy Girl
11. Mathias Kaden-Clarity(Redshape rmx.)
12. Glen Morrison-Save Me(Chewy Rubs Bang Bang Dub)
13. Age of Chance-Times Up Dub
14. Jay Tripwire-Heart
15. Shit Robot-Work it out(Todd Terje version)

Poker Flat Recordings

Vajra EP

Poker Flat Podcast 62 - mixed by Doc Martin

What's up Desert Hearts Family,

The next live set we've got for you comes from one of the funniest people we've ever met and a community treasure in our Desert Hearts Family, @Jozif. His Saturday afternoon set was the perfect compliment to the thick daytime vibes that were spinning around the dance floor and beyond that day. 

If you were there, go back and relive them... if you weren't, you're in for a treat.

House, Techno, and Love... We Are All Desert Hearts.

♥ Stay Connected ♥

www.deserthearts.us
facebook.com/WeAreDesertHearts
@desert-hearts-records
instagram.com/DesertHearts
twitter.com/DesertHearts

JOZIF

@Jozif
https://facebook.com/jozifmusic
https://twitter.com/jozifmusic
https://instagram.com/jozifmusic

Live @ Desert Hearts - Jozif - 091

Damien Paul is a Boston-based multimedia artist, DJ, and event producer. A long-standing stalwart of the New England underground scene, Damien has dedicated his work to combining cutting-edge art forms with emerging sounds to create transformational dance music experiences. For nearly two decades, he built his name as a trusted selector and tastemaker with his signature sound of raw and emotional dance music.

His events have earned him critical acclaim, ranging from a "2012 Best of Boston" award for his residency at Good Life, to helping RISE earn a "Top 100 Clubs" award by DJ Mag with his Wonderland weekly event series. His visual art has been featured by the City of Chelsea, Somerville's Boynton Yards District, Artisans Asylum, and The Boston Children's Museum. ​​​His sounds have been showcased on festival stages such as Identity Festival, Love Burn, Firefly Arts Collective, Fractalfest, It Takes a Village Fest, Hydrotechnics Festival, Figment Boston, and the Together Festival.

Keith Mattar b2b Damien Paul - Live at Camp Lamp 2024

djdamienpaul