After 23 years on the Playa, the Free Burn last year had to be my favorite adventure in the dust so far. The original spirit of Burning Man had never been more palpable.
Driving solo into the desert for the first time, in the middle of the night, felt like traversing the moon: submersed in complete darkness with no other vehicles or lights in sight, using only a compass app to find my camp (that just happened to be conveniently situated a stoneʼs throw away from Robot Heart). When I arrived, I parked behind the RH bus and immediately started getting ready to dance to my brothers Sabo and Goldcap. Friends started showing up to my van-house and I had never felt such a sense of home in my largely nomadic life.
I played the first set of Thursday evening at 11pm, so I warmed up the night and moved quickly into some deep and experimental genre mixing to match the vibe of the gathering crowd. It was extra exciting to start my set while the bus was driving and a trail of illuminated bikes followed close behind. While I have played the bus before with my former group KMLN, this set felt like a new experience re-establishing myself as a solo artist after the better part of a decade. Thereʼs so much I can say about this, but in short itʼs been quite the journey and the feeling after my set was indescribable. I have so much appreciation for the Robot Heart family pulling off the almost impossible in getting the bus out to the desert last year; it truly brought my experience (and I know so many others) to the next level!
After more than two decades of returning to the Playa, my RH set last year felt like a full 360. I was one of the very first fire dancers in North America back in the 90ʼs and helped form the performance troupe APSARA, San Franciscoʼs first fire ensemble. Our group bonded with El Circo from Ashland a few years later, and we joined their crew to become the first proper ‘Soundcampʼ on the Esplanade. Every Friday night, we brought a massive art, music, and theater variety performance where thousands would gather around the Star Stage in the middle of our teardrop-windowed 300-foot dome to watch. Back then, we were all making our own costumes and BM looks, which inevitably birthed a style that still thrives today on the Playa and across festivals worldwide. Itʼs unbelievable how far BRC has come from the rawness of those early days. Iʼll never forget the year Robot Heart showed up. It was the first massive sound car to hit the Playa and we were all blown away by this new desert powerhouse. Many years later, I am beyond happy to be a part of their community.
Now, they are transporting the Playa magic out of the desert and sharing it to the world, allowing a taste to many who have never experienced it before. I just bore witness to this at Robot Heartʼs Fare Forward event in NYCʼs Central Park.
Some of the tales that I heard there honestly melted my heart - lives were changed by this bus! I am so proud of my RH family for all they have accomplished as well as the magic yet to come - it is my honor to be a part of it.
<3 Go Team!!! <3

shawna_schwamama
instagram.com/shawna_schwamama?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

fraulein.hofmann
instagram.com/fraulein.hofmann?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

kmlnlife
instagram.com/kmlnlife?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

areulisted 
instagram.com/areulisted?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

prspctvmx
instagram.com/prspctvmx?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Shawna
https://www.facebook.com/shawna.hofmann
www.facebook.com/ShawnaOfficial

KMLN
m.facebook.com/KMLNofficial/

Listed
facebook.com/listedbookings

Photo Credits:
John Dill

instagram.com/robotheartfoundation
facebook.com/RobotHeart/
www.robotheart.org
www.robotheartfoundation.org
www.fareforward.com

Shawna - Robot Heart - Free Burn 2021

Joseph Lee is a celebrated DJ, producer, and community organizer whose career has been instrumental in shaping San Francisco’s electronic music scene. Known for his deep, soulful house music sets, Lee has captivated audiences across iconic venues, street fairs, and transformative gatherings such as Burning Man,. His contributions to the city’s cultural landscape extend beyond the dance floor—he played a key role in bringing the internationally renowned Love Parade to San Francisco, further solidifying the city’s reputation as a global hub for electronic music and community-driven events.

Early Beginnings

Joseph Lee discovered his love for music in the vibrant, eclectic atmosphere of San Francisco in the late 1990s. Drawn to the underground rave scene, he began DJing at intimate warehouse parties, honing his craft and developing a distinct style rooted in deep house. His sets became known for their emotional depth, seamless blending, and ability to create an inclusive, uplifting atmosphere on the dance floor.

Lee’s reputation quickly grew, and he became a regular fixture in San Francisco’s club scene, performing at legendary venues like 1015 Folsom, The EndUp, 177 Townsend, Bergerac, Monroe, Monarch and so many more. His commitment to creating community through music was evident from the start, as he often collaborated with local artists, fashion designers, dancers, musicians and visual performers to elevate the nightlife experience.

Burning Man and the Playa Soundtrack

Burning Man played a transformative role in Joseph Lee’s career and artistic vision. First attending in the late 1990’s, Lee found inspiration in the festival’s ethos of radical self-expression and community. He became a staple in the deep house camps on the Playa such as Robot Heart, Distrikt, Kalliope and The Luna Art Crane, crafting immersive, sunrise-to-sunset (and sunset to sunrise) sets that connected thousands of burners in shared transcendence. His ability to curate soundscapes that mirrored the desert’s vastness and beauty earned him a loyal following both at Burning Man and in the San Francisco music scene

Love Parade and Cultural Advocacy

One of Joseph Lee’s most significant achievements was helping to bring the Love Parade to San Francisco. Originally founded in Berlin, the Love Parade celebrates music, peace, and community, with thousands of people gathering for a massive dance procession through the streets. Lee’s vision and passion for electronic music led him to advocate for and organize the first-ever Love Parade in San Francisco in 2004, inspired by curating, building and doing on this 50 foot silver spaceship art car ‘float’ for SFPride in 2000.

His efforts helped adapt the event to the city’s unique character, blending the spirit of Berlin’s techno roots with San Francisco’s love of diversity and artistic expression.

The San Francisco Love Parade (later rebranded as LoveFest and then LoveEvolution) became one of the city’s most beloved annual events, drawing massive crowds and cementing the city’s reputation as a leader in electronic music culture. Lee’s role in bringing this event to life demonstrated his ability to merge his artistic talents with a deep commitment to community building and cultural advocacy.

Street Fairs, Golden Gate Park, and Public Spaces

Beyond the club circuit, Lee’s music often spilled into the streets and parks of San Francisco, creating accessible, free events that embodied the city’s inclusive spirit. He became a frequent performer at street fairs such as the Folsom Street Fair and Haight-Ashbury Street Fair, Castro street fair, Pink Saturday and Halloween in the Castro, where his sets brought people from all walks of life together in celebration.

Golden Gate Park was another favorite stage for Lee, where he organized and performed at outdoor gatherings that blended music, art, and nature. These events highlighted his dedication to making deep house music a shared, communal experience, breaking down barriers between artist and audience.

Legacy and Impact

Over the years, Joseph Lee has become a revered figure in the San Francisco music scene, not only for his technical skill as a DJ but also for his role in fostering a sense of connection and belonging through music. His commitment to deep house as a genre—marked by its soulful melodies, rich textures, and emotive rhythms—has inspired countless DJs and producers in the Bay Area and beyond.

By bringing the Love Parade to San Francisco, Lee left a lasting legacy that continues to influence the city’s electronic music culture. His work as a DJ and organizer has helped elevate San Francisco as a global destination for dance music, creativity, and community-driven events.

Today

Though the music industry and San Francisco itself have evolved over the years, DJ Joseph Lee remains a cornerstone of the city’s vibrant cultural scene. Whether behind the decks at a packed club, orchestrating pop up renegade parties with his mobile DJ Void sound system called the ‘Robo Kart’, a sunrise Playa set, or spinning at a community event in Golden Gate Park, Lee’s passion for music and connection shines through. His career is a testament to the transformative power of music and its ability to unite people across boundaries, one deep house beat at a time.

House Party was born from a love for the amazing things that can happen when people come together to celebrate life.

The friendships, memories, and communities formed can last a lifetime and give us hope in a crazy world.

We've experienced this magic at some of the best parties and festivals far and wide, and we wanted to bring some of it home right here to Reno!

Robot Heart is a collective of doers and dreamers, artists and entrepreneurs. Our home is in the desert dust of Burning Man, and the streets of New York City, Detroit, Bay Area and Hong Kong. Home is wherever the Heart is.

Robot Heart is a community and a family, and our events are an extension and celebration of that community, bound together by shared values of inclusion, giving, environmental responsibility and mutual respect.

Music is our first language, and our mission is to bring love and beats to the world. We work with and support artists, technologists and visionaries of all types in order to create incredible experiences and connected moments. To create love and beats, for you.