Desert Hearts founders Mikey Lion and Marbs join forces with Canadian duo Smalltown DJs and vocalist Mr. V for “The Cure,” a new collaboration released via Desert Hearts Records. Arriving fresh off the collective’s intimate Microfest gathering in Northern California, the single brings together artists whose contributions to electronic music extend beyond the studio and into the communities and dancefloors they help create.
For Desert Hearts, that community-driven approach has shaped its evolution from early renegade gatherings into a record label, touring collective, and international movement. The partnership with Smalltown DJs connects that history with another act deeply rooted in its local scene, bringing together years of experience building dance music culture through clubs, festivals, and DJ sets.
The Canadian duo, made up of Pete Emes and Mike Grimes, has spent more than two decades developing a bass-heavy approach to house music. Their sound reflects their roots in Calgary, where they co-founded Hifi Club, as well as their longstanding connections to Canada’s outdoor festival circuit. Appearances at Shambhala and Bass Coast have helped establish their presence within the country’s electronic music community, while their releases have reached labels including Fool’s Gold, Dirtybird, and Night Bass.
Their reputation as DJs has also taken them beyond Canada, with performances at venues such as fabric in London. That combination of underground club experience and festival energy makes the collaboration a natural meeting point for artists who share a connection to dance music culture and the people who sustain it.
“The Cure” follows a productive run of releases from Desert Hearts, including August’s collaboration with SHADED, “Time To Roll.” The single also joins a catalogue featuring the duo’s debut California EP, “HTL,” the Life on Planets collaboration “This Is The Place,” and “A Place For Us.”
Together, these releases have helped establish Desert Hearts as a unified artist project in its own right. For Mikey Lion and Marbs, the music offers another way to develop the creative partnership they have built through years of producing and performing together, extending their identity beyond the gatherings that first brought the community together.
That community recently returned to its roots at Microfest, held October 1–5 at the 132-acre Deloro Valley retreat in Northern California. The gathering brought Desert Hearts back to the intimate atmosphere of its earliest parties, emphasizing the close-knit experience that has remained central to its identity.
The lineup featured established underground artists including DJ Minx, Stacey Pullen, Danny Daze, Doc Martin, Justin Martin, and DJ Holographic, alongside the Desert Hearts crew. Set within the retreat’s expansive grounds, the event connected the collective’s history with its continuing role in bringing artists and audiences together.
With “The Cure,” Mikey Lion, Marbs, Smalltown DJs, and Mr. V continue that connection through music. The single adds another chapter to Desert Hearts Records‘ growing catalogue while reflecting the collaborative spirit that links its releases with the gatherings, performances, and community at the center of the project.
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