The Desert Hearts crew has had a massive year in 2017 with shows around the world on top of their own successful festival and takeovers at others. To kickoff 2018 right they have decided to drop a compilation with some of their best talent as well as some new faces in the Desert Hearts Friends & Family Vol. 2.
The compilation is full of the most funkiest tech house jams that are full of energy and passion executed with minimalism and subtlety. Fritz Carlton and RYBO kickoff the opening track with a disco heater. Things get darker with Dirtybird legend Justin Jay and Matt Ossentjuk on ‘No Goin Back’.
This release is jam packed with legends including Teddy Wong, Lubelski, Eyes Everywhere, Joluca, Luke Mandala, Kevin Anderson, Wolf Story, Kody Monroe, The Glitz, Chick Iverson, Emuh, and Slumber.
One of our favorites is the release from OKNF natives Chick Iverson and Emuh. Their track Greed is a dark funky nightmare full of colorful production.
Checkout what everyone had to say with their contributions to the compilation.
RYBO – “When on the dance floor one of my favorite things to hear is a wicked disco sample and to ‘Disconnect.’”
Fritz Carlton – “RYBO and I wrote this track before a fun night out in DTLA a little while back; it epitomizes what we’re all about – good vibes, solid grooves, and big smiles”
Matt Ossentjuk – “I flipped an old session that Justin and I started together a few years back and it was just kinda collecting dust until an uber passenger i picked up told me it made them very aroused… included it last minute when Mikey hit me for demos after a very serendipitous and funky DH takeover at meow wolf in santa fe that I just happened to be in town for, and… here it is! weird.”
Teddy Wong – “”My first DH experience was actually the City Hearts Festival in Downtown LA. It was so much fun, the energy and the vibes of everyone there was just amazing; and listening to my track being played that night by Mickey Lion was surreal”
Eyes Everywhere – “4 am at the Pink is and ode to our favorite neighborhood haunt, The Pink. Bar closes at 4, but depending on how cool you are with the bartender you may be lucky enough to stay after those lights come on.”
Joluca – “We’ve been following Desert Hearts ever since David (one half of Joluca) stumbled upon Pile Palace at Burning Man a few years ago. The collective mentality and positive atmosphere is something we resonate strongly with. Honored to be a part of such a bangin’ compilation and thankful that such an established label is willing to showcase up-and-coming producers.”
Luke Mandala – “Group Unity, for me, is a heart-based song based on unity on the dance floor. It’s a picture painted of what happens when people are at peace with each other and dancing together through the night. ‘With Every Moment’ is just meant to be funky and playful and I wanted a unique psychedelic bassline. Since I Alan Watt’s is well known for his lectures on psychadelics, I decided to sample him in the track.”
Kevin Anderson – “Because y’all the same. I feel like the title is pretty self-explanatory.”
Lubelski – “Desert Hearts has shown me nothing but love since i joined their little community. Couldn’t think of anything better than to celebrate the new year with this family!”
Wolf Story – “The “Chicago” track is our little contribution to embrace Chicago House, where it all started a few years back. You will hear sounds of a plane taking off since plane travels are now part of the DJs life while touring. Being selected for the Family & Friends compilation means the world to us as we’ve followed Desert Hearts music since day one, the people who run the label have some incredible forward thinking skills, and now their brand is well respected in the U.S and around the globe.”
Chick Iverson – “I’ve been a huge fan of Desert Hearts for a few years now. After a Summer full of dancing to Desert Hearts and alongside collaborators Emuh and Zof, this track was created with the intention of ending up on a Desert Hearts dance floor. I was in a pretty dark place while creating this track and to see it get signed to the label it was made for really brought me out a major creative funk!”
Oona Slim – “After Öona played Desert Hearts she felt a very emotional and deep connection. We wrote ‘Arise’ after a festival we were inspired by so it only made sense to complete the circle.”
The Glitz – “Sometimes we love to make rough house music inspired by wild nights we had on the weekends.
Our track “Row Two“ is made for the dance floor cause it’s coming from the dance floor.”
For anyone looking for some juicy house music look no further because this release is everything you need.
