Mikey Lion interviews Damian Lazarus on the world's best parties and rave omens

Both lauded for organizing and soundtracking their infectious and mystical parties, Crosstown Rebels boss Damian Lazarus and Desert Hearts conductor Mikey Lion are two of clublands most colorful characters.

Ahead of their upcoming performances at Haunted Hearts in Los Angeles, master storyteller both on and off the decks Damian Lazarus sat down for an exclusive one-on-one interview with interviewer Mikey Lion to share their collective musical wisdom with one another and swap stories about omens, rapturous moments of musical ecstasy, their favorite party locations and more.

Damian Lazarus is teaming up with Mikey and the Desert Hearts crew for their annual Halloween extravaganza, Haunted Hearts, on October 31 at the Belasco Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles. Secure tickets here.

Dive into the illuminating interview and listen to Damian Lazarus' four-hour sunrise set from the 2018 edition of Desert Hearts Festival below.

Mikey: When I was 17, the first time I ever heard house music was also the first time I ever took ecstasy. It also happened to be during the debut of the Daft Punk Pyramid at Coachella 2006. That was the exact moment I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life. Did you ever have a moment that set you on the path you’re on today?

Damian: I've had a number of early ecstatic moments like this. I think there was one night at a club called Bagleys in Kings Cross, London when I found myself taking a breather outside when the friend I was with looked at me and said, “Wow, getting wasted really suits you." There was another time a couple of years later when I had a bad trip and got chased by a bunch of little people at a Mutoid Waste rave and this moment almost put me off the whole thing for life, but alas I am still here.

Mikey: As a DJ you have become famed for really being able to set a vibe, and push boundaries during a set. I know your five-hour set at Desert Hearts this year included several head-spinning moments. As a DJ, how easy is it keep coming up with new 'oh shit' moments in the internet age?

Damian: Thank you for the kind words, Mikey. This is a perennial issue; continually being able to find new tricks and special moments in a time when whatever you do is documented. I do believe though that no matter how many times someone has heard this classic track or that killer tune, played in the right moment with the right people, it will always work.

Mikey: You just put out a new record with your band The Ancient Moons. I would think that after 20 years of DJing you're used to marching to the beat of your own drum. What made you want to take the leap from solo to DJ to touring band? What has been most rewarding and challenging about that evolution?

Damian: The most challenging thing is to spend all day at the location of the live show, sound checking with your crew of eight people, making sure to get everything right. Then waiting around all day and sometimes all night, to finally come on stage and play your show which lasts for just one hour.

The most rewarding thing is to look out at the crowd when your performing and see an entire audience singing back your songs or simply really digging your live show, knowing that they are real fans of a record you have made. This is a great feeling. Its also great to share these moments with the people you made that record with, my band has a very close connection to one another.

Mikey: You've thrown parties in incredible locations around the globe, and pioneered going to new countries and markets. We know the challenges of throwing events in unproven and remote locations, but we know how important these settings can be in making a party. For you what's the process in scouting and discovering a location? Do you always feel an instant magical connection with a place?

Damian: I know you understand all about this because I felt the magic feeling on the drive towards your brilliant Desert Hearts festival last summer. Sometimes you just know when the journey to get there is so special, that what awaits you at the other side will be mind-blowing. I have been scouting many locations recently for some exciting new things we have planned.

Just last week I went somewhere very special that I've visited before as a tourist and mainly only read about in history books. My team and I arrived at sunset, we stood at the foot of the place in question, looked up, saw the incredible natural light display around us and immediately felt the strongest vibe, as if this place had been waiting for us to arrive and consider bringing our music and experience to it.

Mikey: After playing desert playas, remote mountains, ancient ruins, magical cruises or deep jungles do you find it hard to go back to playing nightclubs? Do clubs still inspire you the way they used to?

Damian: I love that I have the combination of both. Of course, you can't beat playing in the cenotes and jungles of Tulum at Day Zero but it's also hard to beat playing deep and dark sets in the main room at Fabric or on the terrace at Space Miami.

Mikey: Call me biased, but I truly believe you and my crew are throwing some of the best parties in the world with Day Zero and Desert Hearts Festival. Are there any other parties that you’d put into the conversation?

Damian: Burning Man has been giving us some very special moments over the last 10 years, but more recently Storytellers in Ibiza and the Gardens of Babylon parties in Amsterdam have been very special too.

Mikey: You've been running labels for two decades. We've only been doing it for two years! What are some lessons you can impart? What goes into your thought process when signing new artists to Crosstown or Rebellion? Is it all about the music or does the vibe of the artist play a role in your decision?

Damian: It’s super important for me to have a close connection with the artists I work closely with. Yes, the music has to be on another level of genius, but the people behind it must have love in their hearts and a strong personality. There is no kudos or enjoyment in releasing music from someone that maybe doesn’t deserve it or you cant find a way to connect with. I like to think, like ex-girlfriends, I am still close with almost everyone I've ever worked with.

Mikey: The first time I discovered my partner, Lee Reynolds, I walked into his party and he was playing my favorite song at the time, 'Vampire Nightclub' by Art Department. That interaction set the course which the entire Desert Hearts movement grew from. Do you believe in good omens? And if so what was the last one that you followed?

Damian: That’s a cool story! I like to think we are surrounded by signs at all times, you just need to have all your receptors open to understanding they exist. Like the person that bravely comes up to you and announces they are a new producer or DJ and says all the right things and you have a feeling that they are right and you take them on they go on to be a huge success, or the stars aligned one night and the moon sending you energy and that gives you the motivation and the confidence to create a new experience that people will cherish forever. It’s all in the stars my friend, it’s all in the stars. See you at Halloween mate, and thank you!

[Photos: Beth Marsh, Haley Busch, Here & Now, Jess Bernstein]