Desert Hearts Inks Deal with EMPIRE and Steps Into New Era with ‘California’ EP

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**Mikey Lion, Lee Reynolds, and Marbs are opening the door to a new era of Desert Hearts by signing a deal with EMPIRE and releasing the California EP.**

For nearly a decade and a half, Desert Hearts has brought house, techno, and love to the dance music community. The Southern California collective grew immensely during this time, bringing parties to far-off cities and releasing some incredible tunes along the way. Last year saw a bit of a shake-up, though, as Desert Hearts announced that their annual festival would be going on hiatus and that Porky would be departing the crew to focus on his own career.

Many were left to wonder what the future of Desert Hearts looked like in the wake of those announcements, but Mikey Lion, Lee Reynolds, and Marbs clearly intended to press on. Fresh events began to be announced this year, and now, the three founders have released their first-ever collaborative EP, California, to reintroduce the world to what the collective is all about.

“Desert Hearts has always been California to the core. We grew up here, threw our first parties here, and built this community in the SoCal desert,” the trio shared on Instagram. “We’ve all released music over the years, but what happens when we come together has always been the magic. If you’ve been to a Desert Hearts party, you know the vibe. Putting out California as Desert Hearts just feels right. This is where we come from, what we’ve built, and what’s next.”

The California EP arrives on the heels of Desert Hearts inking a partnership deal with EMPIRE Dance, the label which acquired Dirtybird in 2022 and has continued to breathe life into that multi-faceted brand. Its two tracks represent what the collective has been about since the start: collaboration and a community-focused “One Stage, One Vibe” ethos.

The title track fully embraces the dancefloor-forward mindset that Mikey Lion, Lee Reynolds, and Marbs bring to the stage together, with funky disco elements, pitched vocals, and more guiding the way. Meanwhile, “Dancing Feet” offers its own infectious groove that feels like a blast from the past while being perfect for peak hours simultaneously.

Listen to California on Spotify or your preferred streaming platform, and stay tuned for more from Desert Hearts by following their social media channels.