After six years of believing that I was fully done with Burning Man, the stars happened to align this summer when I got a calling to go. 

Back in 2016, I never thought that Burning Man would allow me to press the reset button and relieve myself from many things I was carrying emotionally. Then suddenly when I was out on the playa in my element, I began to feel myself again: connected, worry-free, present. 

Thanks to 11 days of complete disconnection from my computer and phone, I was left at the mercy of nature’s elements which brought me back to a place of peace and serenity.  

It was such a joy to take part in Burning Man’s social experiment, one that unites a community of like minded beings from various backgrounds. 

I loved getting my hands dirty while building the camp, helping out with a friend's art structure and chatting with new and old friends every single day.  This was a whole new experience for me; an experience that filled my heart and inspired me in powerful ways. 

For the first time, I can safely say that I have been transformed by my time on the playa, and for that I feel grateful and humbled. 

Memorable moments like riding solo on my bike, letting go of plans, eating nourishing food, getting totally lost in the city, visiting random camps and more often than not connecting with strangers was pure magic. For me, this is the essence of Burning Man: an experience of contribution, full of serendipity and spontaneity. 
 
Here’s a personal highlight of mine that I’d like to share: 
It’s Friday evening, and I have been chosen to set the mood on the Robot Heart bus (which I must admit was one of my favorite nights out there). Here I am pre-set drinking Sake and sharing stories with my dear friend Benjamin Alexander.  The bus is parked at camp when I jump on top and begin to play for 20 minutes before the wheels start turning. Our drive to the deep playa begins, and with that a brutal dust storm follows.  I was instantly taken back in time to my 2015 Burn when I was fascinated by the fairy-lit bicycles chasing the bus, lighting up the space with an array of moving colors.  Eventually, after an hour of driving around, the wind stops, the dust settles, and the bus finds its parking spot for the night.  I finally remove my dust mask and watch the vast space in front me light up as I finish my set.  An unforgettable moment, visual, crowd…everything was perfect. 
 
To all of you who are reading this who were there dancing and glowing on the playa, I would like to say a huge thank you!  I will cherish that moment for the rest of my life.  You inspired me to smile and shine. 
 
Until next year.
 
Julien aka YokoO xx 
 
FOLLOW YOKOO
soundcloud.com/yokoo 
instagram.com/yokoo_dj/ 
facebook.com/yokoomusic/
yokoo.bandcamp.com/ 
youtube.com/user/YokoODj 
https://djyokoo.com/ 

Photo Credit:
John Dill

YokoO - Robot Heart - Burning Man 2022

LIQUID DUST

I recently found this mix buried in my iTunes. I made it with All Day I Dream in mind around the time the events started in June 2011 (those being the now distant days the title speaks of!). As we drift through winter I thought you might enjoy some twinkles and longing melodies to brighten those grey skies and let a little imagined sunshine in. Close your eyes...



ALL DAY I DREAM OF DISTANT DAYS

"Starting a set on the Robot Heart bus, in motion, in the middle of the desert, was certainly the least expected and most unparalleled moment I have experienced as a DJ. Watching the burners follow us on their lit up bikes, dust swirling all around, with the majestic Black Rock City as a backdrop completely blew me away.

I still get goosebumps all over, when thinking about it.

There truly is no place like Burning Man, a HOME for people who breathe LOVE.

I hope the mix will somehow convey the feel of my magical  & ever inspiring experience out there.

Thank you Robot Heart. Thank You, ALL. I shall be back next year, the universe willing; may you be there too! <3"

https://soundcloud.com/yokoo
https://www.facebook.com/yokoomusic
http://djyokoo.com/
Photo: Christian Lamb

YokoO - Robot Heart - Burning Man 2015

YokoO returns to the bus in style but this time, Future style. Enjoy!

https://soundcloud.com/yokoo

YokoO - Robot Heart - Further Future 002

I'm happy to finally release my first extended set with you, recorded at StereoBar in Montreal. StereoBar is a club that's quickly jumped onto my shortlist of favorite venues in the world. Beyond the nailing the club fundamentals (sound system, layout, lighting, staff), they feature the "All Night" series where one DJ plays as opener, headliner, and closer. I love this format since it gives me the opportunity to build the energy from scratch and take the night in any direction without constraints.

But more importantly, I get to play for one of the most enthusiastic, supportive crowds that I've ever encountered. The energy from this night was the strongest I've felt in quite some time, certainly my best gig of the last year. Almost everything I threw out there worked, which actually makes me think that I might not have worked hard enough. There are many more sonic landscapes I'd love to explore, so hopefully I can come back again soon and we can take another journey in that special room...

Recorded October 1, 2016
Special thanks to Kora for scrambling to record my set at the last minute!

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Tracklist

atish - [063] - october 2016 - live at stereobar, montreal

It was well into the night when we commenced our search for the Robot Heart Bus. We say search, as the sand storm started earlier in the night had completely covered the desert, making the visibility extremely limited. Since this was our first Burning Man, we weren't well prepared for the fury that nature would bring - our eyes were filled with sand as the shivers of the cold night rolled through our bones. We drove around aimlessly not always knowing whether we're headed in the right direction. All the directional signs were completely covered in sand and any people around us were just as disoriented by the storm while trying to find their own path. 

After a while we noticed a silhouette resembling a glowing heart. As we started moving towards it, there was no doubt that the Robot Heart Bus was in front of us. There really isn't anything like it, and if you haven't seen it before it's not easy to paint its picture with words. Completely covered in speakers and a large flickering heart at the top, the bus stands in the middle of the desert. It's filled with amazing people, who immediately make you feel as if you've known them for a lifetime. 

There are places on earth that are so rapt with special meaning, that from the moment you experience them... the first minute, this unique, magical atmosphere shakes you to your core and settles comfortably into your soul for eternity. For us, Robot Heart at Burning Man is definitely one of those places. 

Gorje Hewek
www.facebook.com/gorjehewekmusic
www.soundcloud.com/gorjehewek

Izhevski
www.facebook.com/IzhevskiOfficial
www.soundcloud.com/izhevski

Photo: John Dill
Art: Shrumen Lumen to Foldhaus Collective

Shrumen Lumen is a garden of over sized origami-inspired mushrooms that react to the presence of people by blooming and shrinking. At night their light patterns undulate through their folded structures.

Gorje Hewek & Izhevski - Robot Heart - Burning Man 2016

♫ Download ♫:
http://www.deephouseamsterdam.com/dha-mix-267-yokoo

Catch YokoO in St. Martin at SXM festival 2017, March 15-19

https://soundcloud.com/yokoo
https://soundcloud.com/sxmfestival

♫ DOWNLOAD ♫

YokoO - DHA Mix #267

Where to start . . . ?! This second Burning Man experience was indescribable. 
Filled with serendipitous moments, my week was as magical as it could have been.

Robot Heart was the last of the seven shows I played and certainly one I was looking forward to the most. Why? Because I was given the opportunity to play an extended set. Pretty damn special isn't it?!

It's 7.30AM, Saturday after man burn, I wake up all dusty in my yurt after playing through a mad storm at White Ocean from 3 to 5AM hoping for the weather to have settled a little. I walk outside and guess what . . . 
it is a complete white out!!! 

Putting all the good will I have out there, I decide to jump on my bicycle and ride out to the deep playa to find the bus. The wind is very strong and the visibility so low that I literally get thrown off it. I desperately start walking, like a blind man, following whatever sound I can hear. Slowly losing hope, I eventually run into a bunch of white walkers on the same mission. I realise time is running low as I have lost all sense of direction. My skepticism increases, yet my ears magically take me to the Heart just before the start of my agreed set time - 8.30AM. Monolink is performing live in front of a bunch of troopers. I get informed that performances have slightly been delayed due to weather conditions. The sky gets darker by the minute. The crew warns me that rain had been forecasted and that music would have to be turned off for safety reasons in case of another storm. I then realise that my set could just get canceled. Sad face. I pray the weather gods for mercy.
As I get on, the sky magically clears. No more wind, barely any clouds, no more dust. My nightmare turns into a dream and my journey on the decks begins.

I hope you’ll appreciate and enjoy the spontaneity of this set.

Love, and Love only.

https://soundcloud.com/yokoo

Art Project:
Ursa Major
Reaching to grab what is within her grasp is Ursa Major, a 14 foot tall, grizzly bear sow. She may simply be reaching for berries but perceivably she is reaching higher: to the northern sky and the constellation that is her name, Ursa Major. In navigation, the constellation is useful in pointing the way to the North Star.  Ursa Major’s pose is inspiring, she brings the gaze and hopes of the participant skyward. She also demonstrates respect for the bears and nature, her pose is not like a taxidermy bear. She is in her natural state and unthreatening.  With a durable, unique material that was used on their previous Burning Man project (Penny the Goose), Ursa Major’s fur will be made of US and Canadian pennies. The pattern and feel will be like fur.

Mr and Mrs Ferguson Art
www.facebook.com/Mr-and-Mrs-Ferguson-Art-434710516694820/
www.lisa-and-camera.com

Photo by : Jim Parisi

Robot Heart - Burning Man 2016 - Sunday Morning - Black Rock City

YokoO - Robot Heart - Burning Man 2016

"This podcast marks the end of a chapter, and the beginning of a new one. Yet again, through countless emotions, it retraces some key moments of my life over the last few months . . .
May you appreciate the depths of the journey and relate to it as profoundly as I do.
All Day I Dream of Unity."

All Day I Dream Podcast 013: YokoO - All Day I Dream of Unity

© artwork by franz zünkler ➲ contact ✉ franz.zuenkler@t-online.de

Atish (https://soundcloud.com/atish) presents Afterhour Sounds Podcast Nr.134

Unsere Nr. 134 kommt heute von einem amerikanischen Künstler, der mich seit 3 Jahren ununterbrochen musikalisch begleitet. Ich erinnere mich noch sehr gut an seine damalige Bunring Man Aufnahme… Sie haute mich schlichtweg um. Seitdem komme ich nicht mehr um Ihn herum. 

Die Rede ist von „Atish“, einem ehrlichen und unkomplizierten Künstler, der keinen geradlinigen Weg ging. Anfangs noch Programmierer für Facebook, entschied er sich vor knapp 10 Jahren selber Musik zu mixen, wie seine unzähligen Mixe belegen. Anders als viele andere Künstler, die gerne ihre so genannte ‚peinliche‘ Anfangszeit verheimlichen möchten, sind bei Ihm tatsächlich noch alle Mixe zum Anhören verfügbar. Dass er damals wie heute seinem Sound gleich geblieben ist, spricht umso mehr für diesen sympathischen Menschen. 

Sein Coming Out hatte er 2012, als er auf dem Robot Heart art-car spielte. Seitdem ging es steil bergauf. Tokio, New York, Istanbul, Berlin,…um nur einige Stationen seines vollgepackten Kalenders zu nennen.

Aber auch in seiner Wahlstadt San Francisco treibt er weiterhin sein Unwesen. Und wie!!! Neben dem etwas anderen Clubformat mit dem Namen ‚Late night tonight!‘, einer Mischung aus Talk-Show und Club Party, gründete er auch das Label ‚Manjumasi‘. 
Und wäre dies nicht schon genug, feilt er in jeder freien Minute an kommenden Releases und Remixen. Tendenz steigend. Sowohl in Qualität, als auch in Quantität. Wir sind gespannt.

Das von Ihm eingespielte Set ist eine herrlich ‚afterhoureske‘ Reise ins Dickicht der melodischen und verträumten elektronischen Musik. Das sich Atish für dieses Set etwas ganz besonderes einfallen lassen hat ist unüberhörbar. Ich war beim ersten Hören des Sets tatsächlich komplett geflasht, hatte ich doch etwas anderes erwartet. Aber diese Überraschungsmomente, die unsere Reihe und die jeweiligen musikalischen Interpretationen immer wieder mit sich bringen, hauen mich, nein uns, immer wieder um. Darauf darf man auch ein wenig Stolz sein. Vor allem wenn man am Ende ein ganz außergewöhnliches Set erhält. So auch hier. Schnallt euch an… Ich kann mich nur wiederholen, aber es erwartet euch eine Reise durch verspielte, sehr deepe und hypnothische Felder, wie gemacht für eine tanzbare Afterhour sind. Das gabs bei uns schon lange nicht mehr….seid gespannt.

Wir danken Dir vielmals für dieses besondere Set Atish. Umwerfend und überraschend gut. Wenn Unikat, dann Hier. Chapeu.

Wir sind entzückt.

[Text: arkadiusz.]


✘ Atish (San Francisco/United States Of America)

soundcloud.com/atish
facebook.com/atishmusic

TRACKLIST | bit.ly/atish-afterhour

Podcast 2018

download

atish presents Afterhour Sounds Podcast Nr. 134

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.