The “FreeBurn” was so needed! To celebrate life - we needed to reflect, dance, laugh, cry, and let go - in the place we call home. 

I was a bit nervous playing music this year - I had not DJ'd on the bus for four years after parking myself on “a bench” because of hearing issues. So when I found out I was going to play a small “opening of the bus” set I was stoked to get reacquainted before my scheduled Friday sunrise set. I started with my favorite chill track at the moment. The rest were selected because they gave me a dusty vibe, and I wanted to hear them on the bus system. Some were given to me by close friends - So it was a dusty family affair of sorts. The last track of that set has the vocal “Fade out again” - those lyrics gave me the idea to fade the set into my sunrise set. It was unplanned that these two sets would live together. Or even work together - I only planned my bus opening track and my sunrise moment. 

This leads me to my sunrise set. Where to begin? - how to honor Geo - celebrate the sun - tip my hat to the night - take the crowd on a bit of a journey - share sounds that speak to me - spread some love. I knew I wanted to have a special moment for Geo, but it did not hit me until I was on the plane headed out west. It was sunset and the sun was hitting my eyes through the plane window - and that was the moment it clicked. I was lucky to have WiFi on the pane and searched on all our group chats for a sound bite of Geo that would make sense with the track I had in mind. It took me a few hours, but I found a video with one. It was perfect - very subtle and very Geo. I did a quick edit in Ableton and thought WOW indeed. Big thank you to Brian Cid for taking the edit to the next level and to Jean for delivering the track to me before my set. 

We designed a Geo tattoo this year - I placed one on each forearm - facing opposite directions a few hours before I was to play. Energy in, energy out - That was my “mantra” for my set. I could feel so much love around me, in front of me, and above me in the heart - then the Drone show appeared and blew my mind. Thank you Studio Drift for the beautifully concepted and executed tribute.  

It was hard to judge the sun this year -  as there was so much smoke, but in the end, all was perfect. Feeling all the emotions, I just looked directly at the sun and had a little chat with Geo, expressed gratitude and shed some tears of my own. 

One of my favorite all time sunrise Djs was to play after me - it was surreal. Looking back now, I can see Lee Burridge showing up at sunset and surprising us all was part of Geo’s doing. Geo always called me Dilly Dill. So to have a DillLeeDill morning still has me smiling. Ironically this was the ten year mark where Lee and I first truly connected on the bus with a random morning 5 hour b2b set that started our friendship :) 

Lee had to leave early and there was only going to be an hour left till we were originally scheduled to close the morning. We had asked Holmar if he wanted to play the next day after Diplo (so he could have a long set) and I would just go back on after Lee. Somehow this one hour turned into almost three hours. And I was playing music from folders that were dusty themselves. This set is a whole other story!

Thank you for listening! And to my dusty family and friends from that sunrise/morning thank you I’m still in awe ✨☀️

To the dreamers and doers who put in the extra effort to make this year happen on and off the playa and to my Robot Heart family for the continued love and support - THANK YOU ❤️

I feel blessed to have been able to express myself musically on our magical bus after such a long break. Let’s see what’s next.

PSA - wear earplugs my friends! 

Much love, 
Dill, aka "Dusty Pickle"

JOHN DILL SOCIALS
https://www.soundcloud.com/johndill
https://www.instagram.com/sliceofdill
https://www.facebook.com/sliceofdill
https://www.sliceofdill.com

Photo Credits:  Christian Lamb, John Dill

John Dill - Robot Heart - Free Burn 2021

It has been quite some time since the last time we gathered for a night of MBTS. I wanted to take some time after the pandemic to be quiet and see how the dance music scene would evolve, and what sounds would come out of the standstill that was Covid. Now that I have a good sense of where I want to be sonically, and what kind of energy I want to spread onto dance floors, I am ready to restart MBTS in 2023. Stay tuned for more info, and enjoy this preview of what's to come.

Much love, 
The Scumfrog

M.B.T.S. (Most Below The Surface) 2023

“On sacred Colombian territory we entered a challenging and rewarding adventure that will help us deconstruct limiting beliefs to access and ignite our authentic self.” (Re-treated)

It was night time and the full-ish moon was smiling down as the river flowed and all the creatures made their distinct sounds. A fire warmed our bodies as music feed our souls. 

Inspired by the human experience that unfolded in a beautiful container surrounded by Mother Nature. This set was a celebration of the journey’s ending … or was it the just beginning ;) I was in a complete flow state, I knew two tracks I wanted to start with and two towards the end. Tunes were pulled from many different pockets of my collection.

On the property was an amazing labyrinth. Our journey and realizations through it weaved their way into this set. I later googled life and labyrinth and found this:  

“Our life path can be viewed as a labyrinth guiding us to deeper meaning and fulfillment. Walking a labyrinth takes us through numerous twists and turns that symbolize the ebb and flow of life. Like the design of a labyrinth, what looks like an end point in life can also be a beginning point.” (link below)

I’m now obsessed with labyrinths!!! Thus the title of this release.

Special thanks to the Re-treated family 001 - “Class” of Feb 2023 - Santa Marta - Colombia! Your love and energy brought this set to life. Eternally grateful to each of you!  

Let’s keep dancing together ❤️💪


//
https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/the-meaningful-life/202111/life-and-the-labyrinth-meaning

//
✨✨✨
https://youtu.be/6gjOumeZdeA

Life as a Labyrinth - Santa Marta - Colombia - Feb 9 2023

If you've been to an MBTS night, you know that I like to set up the night from the beginning. Opening with an empty dance floor, and setting the tone for the night. This set is a recording from the first hour of a recent MBTS night. Hope you catch these 'early grooves' on the next one: January 18th, Outer Heaven, NYC.

Listen to the other M.B.T.S. sets here: https://soundcloud.com/thescumfrog/sets/m-b-t-s-most-below-the-surface
The Scumfrog

M.B.T.S.(Most Below The Surface) Opening Hour

M.B.T.S. (Most Below The Surface) 2025 Peak Time

Daniela Live @ CAMP 7/6/2025 Fairy Forest Sunday Night Tracklist:
1. Turker - Nomade
2. Samer Soltan - Close To You (Meera (NO) Remix)
3. Niv Ast, M Love - Behind the Grace
4. Jamek Ortega - My Love
5. Kellerkind - Somebody
6. Talbot - Hear Ma Call (Club Mix)
7. Lunar Plane - I Feel For You
8. Nicone - Only You
9. SAMM, SENTIN - ID (Unreleased)
10. Hot Since 82, Tomaz, Filterheadz - Sunshine 2025
11. Boy North, KC Lights - The Art of Walking On Your Own (KC Lights Extended Remix)
12. Luisito Quinter - Yamaya (Manoo’s Touch)
13. Route 92, Vigro Deep, Jess Glynne - My Love (Vigro Deep Mix)
14. Jack Rouben - You Are x Ain’t Nobody (Jack Rouben Edit)
15. Dosem - Answer
16. Elias Dore - Critical Step
17. Jesse Perez v. DJ Mind-X - Never Talk To Aliens
18. Rüfüs Du Sol - Break My Love (Kaz James Remix)
19. Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill (Infusion Remix)
20. Luzon - The Baguio Track (Full Igorot Vocal Mix)
21. Ivory (IT), Solique - Burn Through
22. Mumbai Science - Iris
23. 1979 - Vulcano

Daniela Live @ CAMP 2025 Fairy Forest Sunday Night

a beautiful year in the forest - thank you to everyone who was a part of such a magical weekend

this felt like me really coming into a sound I want to play out - something real and authentic

enjoy <3

panacea 2025

- The Goldcast 140 - 

Celebrating the 10 year anniversary of this sunrise set. Being released on The Goldcast whilst i am at Black Rock City during my 10th official burn. Hope you enjoy

The Goldcast 140 (Aug 29, 2025) live at White Ocean, Burning Man 2015

deep house & Afro-house fusion blending soulful tribal vocals, and country guitar vibes.
This track combines emotional depth with energetic rhythm — inspired by freedom, nature, and the timeless spirit of the wild.🪶

Untamed Spirit

Shaday

It was the last morning of the 2016 Burn and there was a small, but beautiful crowd of dedicated burners gathered, as most had already continued back to the outside world. We were feeling very spent, tired, dusty and freezing, but powered through the transition from night until dawn and once the sun broke through, it brought warmth to our bones and it turned into very special morning indeed...

https://soundcloud.com/nicostojan
https://soundcloud.com/thugfucker

Photo credit: Julien Vergely

Art piece: Pulse & Bloom 

Pulse & Bloom is an interactive art installation that visualizes participants' heartbeats with the hope of syncing human heartbeats in a rhythmic pattern.

www.pulsebloom.com