https://soundcloud.com/theuntz did an article about this release:
https://www.theuntz.com/news/luke-mandala-releases-its-all-about-remixes-on-desert-trax/

My tenth song released with Desert Dwellers' label Desert Trax is released as a single and we did another remix contest. Thanks so much for tapping into this tune, sharing and dancing <3

Look deeply enough into any underground music scene and you’re bound to find a handful of producers and DJs who have been with the scene for the better part of their life. They’re not always the ones headlining global festivals and running biannual thirty-city tours, but show up to any of their performances—no matter the environment or time slot—and you’ll find the dance floor alive with movement and a colorful mixture of friends, fans, and dazzled newcomers all moving to the music like they’ve been doing it for years. Creating dynamic dance floor experiences every time they assume command of the decks and maintaining relevance long after the come-and-gones have had their time in the spotlight, it is these artists who serve as the mortar of the scene and keep the sonic narrative flowing from one season to the next. 

Luke Mandala is one such artist. A longtime fixture of the west coast underground dance scene, he is known for his uplifting productions and live performances in the realms of house and techno, world-inspired chill-out, and vibrant psychedelic bass. Producing the latter under the moniker of “Mandala Affect” and all of his uptempo under his original pseudonym, Luke Mandala has created hundreds of songs in a breadth of musical styles and genres since first entering the scene two decades ago. His tracks have appeared both domestic and abroad on a multitude of esteemed labels, including Desert Hearts, Merkaba Music, Traum, Selador, Digital Structures, and his own label, Activated Recordings. 


Luke Mandala’s latest sonic excursion takes him into the realm of ethereal house on psychedelic electronica label Desert Trax. Conceived as a heart-opening track for the emotive journeyer, “It’s All About” is a sunrise-lover’s dream that yearns to be enjoyed on a morning dance floor amidst one’s closest and most intimate friends. Beginning with evocative piano grounded by a soft and persistent beat, it expands into a progressive journey through dreamy chords and danceable grooves while maintaining a warm and shimmering drive that crests but never truly breaks. 

“It’s All About” was released by Desert Trax in the spring of 2018 as a remix contest—Luke’s second such release with the label. Two submissions were selected for the EP along with a third remix that was arranged by Desert Trax: an uplifting, progressive mix by Pranavah (a new project by Brad Moontribe and Griffin Paisley), a warm and spacious breaks track by Bay Area DJ and producer Keerd, and a soothing deep-tech rework by German techno duo Unique Repeat. 

Echoing the melodic tones of the original mix while exploring a wider range of textures, energy levels, and emotions, the tracks demonstrate the tunability of Luke Mandala’s dreamy atmospheres to different sonic flavors, frequencies, and intensities. Each is a unique journey into the sublime and ethereal united by the joyful, journey-like hallmarks of the original composition. 

Administered in the right set and setting, it is tracks like these that have the ability to propel listeners into positive head- and heartspaces that some may go an entire lifetime without glimpsing. With its pleasant and restorative undertones, “It’s All About” in its various incarnations offers a mesmerizing opportunity to peel back the illusory layers of separation we so often throw up and embrace the unifying and universal sensation of joy—be it alone at home, with a stranger on a dance floor, or in the intangible worlds that live within us all.

Luke Mandala - Its All About [Desert Trax Remix Contest] Out Now.

Music, movement, and mindfulness 🤠⚡🪩

Offerings: Live or DJ music sets, evidence based functional medicine protocols (healing the gut, metabolism, tiredness, available worldwide virtually), life or music career coaching, music production lessons, event production consultation or lineup curation.  

lukehenrywells at gmail.com

For my bass/downtempo moniker, Mandala Affect: @mandalaaffect 

Patreon is the best way to support the music in exchange for early access to it, guest passes to shows and other rewards: https://www.patreon.com/LukeMandala

Luke’s dynamic live act includes playing a mixture of electronic and acoustic music while mixing in multiple live wind instruments and live drumming. His lifelong devotion to community dance medicine started at age 14 in 1998 when he started to DJ at northwest USA raveriffic events! He then started touring the world and releasing hundreds of songs released with a large number of the biggest labels in the world like Selador, Desert Hearts, Digital Structures, Dreaming Awake, Desert Trax, Booka Shade Music. 

This is deep piscean scorpio music, sprinkled with unusual sounds, unexpected twists, eclectic mix of global sounds, various tempos and grooves. It reflects stories of love-driven culture and open-minded ideas.  Depending on the crowd, the sets can vary from being pretty and uplifting to deep, dark, and primal, although they typically feature melodic and atmospheric textures infused with a lot of emotion.  Luke also has a functional (natural, root cause) medicine practice as this weaves so beautiful with dance and music medicine. He helps people heal frequent issues of the gut, metabolism and tiredness. 

Luke’s songs have been played by legends like Sasha, James Zabiela, Boris Brejcha, Solomon, Desert Dwellers, Dave Seaman, Kaya Project, and BLOND:ISH. Official remixes from artists like Desert Dwellers, Bluetech, Christian Martin, Chloe Harris, Kaminanda, Govinda, Roger Martinez, Pezzner, Robert Babicz, and Deya Dova.