MONÉT X CHANGE

MONÉT X CHANGE MAY HAVE BEEN VOTED MISS CONGENIALITY FOR RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE SEASON 10, but gentility and manners aside, she has plenty to say and is taking it on the road with drag sister Bob the Drag Queen for their Sibling Rivalry tour. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

BY ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ

Quickly becoming a fan favorite for her lewks, quick wit, and kitchen sponge couture, she has returned to the Drag Race universe for All Stars, guest lip sync assassinations, and tours, and has expanded her brand as an entertainer to not only include drag and reality TV, but consummate podcaster and recording artist. Her bigger-than-life personality and cutting, dry humor started at an early age.

I was very talkative. I was always in trouble for talking. I was definitely the class clown. I would always get in trouble and would always call my house. My mom’s dying wish (well, she is still alive) was for me to stop talking in class and for the teacher would stop calling her at home.

Born a Brooklyn girl, she was raised in Saint Lucia, later moving to the Bronx and literally finding her voice (she’s a bass!) in the world of opera, training at Westminster Choir College, and performing roles in The Magic Flute and La Boheme. The world of opera did not just help her gain a voice but would help in her coming out and ultimately lead to the world of drag.

Opera was like my gateway to coming out because opera was so dramatic. I would use that opportunity to bring wigs and corsets and heels home. And to my mom, it was part of a production and I used that as a way of coming out.

And once an opera girl, always an opera girl. She’s not done.

I didn’t really leave opera. I just took a break. Honey, she’s coming back to opera. After college rehearsing, I would practice for hours and hours a day by myself in a room and it was a lot. Drag allowed me to be a little more with people and presented more opportunities at the time. But I love operas, was my first musical love and I’ve never left. Just took a little nap.

The first exposure Monét had to drag was when Drag Race alum Peppermint came to host an event at Monét’s school called The Student Drag Ball, a moment memorialized in a photo shared with a story during Monét’s one-person show. With the pageantry and on-stage skills learned through opera, Monét would make her drag debut. Did she nail it?

No, no, no. I mean, no. I mean, yes, yes, no. My first drag performance was at Saliva Tuesdays at the Ritz and in New York City where it’s very customary to do mixes. So, I did a mix of Beyonce’s “Run the World (Girls)” into Ella Fitzgerald’s “Stormy Weather” into some other song. It made absolutely no sense. I looked crazy, but I had a really good time doing it and I knew I wanted to do more.

I am very grateful for New York City, for learning to do drag there. I was able to see lots of great drag queens like Peppermint, Candis Cayne, Bianca Del Rio, and really see what they did and saw how they were able to win over a room of drunk, homosexuals with their charm, wit, and personality. And I think I have learned to do that in my career as well.

Monét would go on to win her first drag pageant at the sixth annual Gay Caribbean USA Pageant in 2014, representing Saint Lucia. It would still take a few years and a few audition tapes to get to Drag Race.

I actually auditioned five times before I got on the show. My first time was for Season 6, and it was terrible. I maybe had two wigs and I was living in Portland at the time. But to trick them into thinking I had all this drag, I borrowed a lot from a friend who was in the Portland Opera with me. I borrowed her costumes and wigs and pretended like they were mine. So, my first tape was really bad. Season 7 was a little better and Season 8 was even better. I really thought I was going to get on Season 9. But then Season 10, was the crème de la crème.

Filming her debut season of Drag Race was a learning experience. Fans instantly connected to her energy and even in the guise of her alter ego, she maintains a genuine level of

I’M NOT SOMEONE WHO GETS IN DRAG AND BECOMES A CHARACTER. I AM PRETTY MUCH THE SAME IN AND OUT OF DRAG.”

sincerity and truthfulness in everything she does. She is not playing a role, she just IS Monét.

I learned that Kevin aka Monét has a lot to offer the world. And there is no reason to try to go on TV to be someone else that you’re not. The reason you’re cast is because you’re you, that’s what they want to see. So, my first season I felt that from day one. And every time I have gone on, I felt the same way. It has always led to a good result.

I’m not someone who puts on a drag persona. I’m not someone who gets in drag and becomes a character. I am pretty much the same in and out of drag. There are still differences, but for the most part, the same person.

Since Drag Race she has traveled the world with her one-person show, released music that demands repeating, appeared in music videos for Madonna and Todrick Hall, taken part in numerous web series, and crossed into mainstream media for shows like CBS This Morning, The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Bachelorette, and even The View.

I love The View. It’s my favorite show. I watch it at least three or four times a week. (Being on it) was great. Whoopi was amazing, Sarah and Sunny were amazing. Every time I’ve gone though, I’ve missed Joy. I’ve never met Joy in real life. I’m kind of upset about that. Joy is avoiding me.

In 2018, Monét joined forces with Bob the Drag Queen for the podcast Sibling Rivalry. With their candid opinions about everything, infectious humor, and ability to read each other for filth in a loving way, the podcast has become a hit. Often asked if they are indeed related, they have become family. Bonding over the inability to style wigs and through conversations amid the many miles driven when one of them actually owned a car in New York City, their friendship goes beyond the Drag Race world and into real life. They may drop in on each other unannounced, borrow gowns and even a Roomba that may never be returned, or offer each other sisterly life advice. This has become a winning match for their audiences.

I think my personality and Bob’s mesh very well. Where he’s weak, I’m strong, and vice versa. I think there’s a really good level of honesty in our friendship, which helps it grow and not to allow things to fester. Bob and I overshare, we overshare on this podcast too much. [Laughs] The good, bad, and the ugly. I think people like to listen to that. They like to hear people putting their real lives out there. I think that’s why reality TV is so successful. So, when you can just stick it in your car, instead of watching The Kardashians, you can listen to Monét talk about her first hookup after Drag Race, which gave her chlamydia in Belfast. Like, bitch, you are tuning in!

The nation may not be ready for their live version of the show hitting the circuit this September.

People are thinking it’s going to be Bob and me coming on stage and just sitting down doing a podcast. No, it is like a full, full show. We have dancers. We have choreography. Bob might do a back flip. I might bring the splits out again. I’ve not done them since the pandemic, but I might be putting some splits back in my repertoire. So, we are going to give them a full show and podcast. It’s going to be crazy.

Does Monét get into shenanigans on the road?

I’m very well behaved. You never see anything about me because I haven’t done anything.

And what does Monét think she and Bob have taught each other through their friendship?

I’ve taught him beauty. Well, he’s still learning. [Laughs] I think I’ve taught Bob a little humility. Bob can be a bit of a showboat, but he has seen someone like myself who can do something well, but not have to put it in everyone’s face. And from Bob, I have learned how to perform. Honestly, I would go to see Bob pretty much every Monday night at his gig at Barracuda, and I learned a lot about how to entertain from him.

With the high exposure of Drag Race and our current attack on the drag world from national conservatives, does she think queens need to use their voice for activism?

I believe no one has to be an activist. If that’s your calling and you want to do that, sure. If your calling is to be an activist, you have a lot to say, then go ahead, go for it. But I think sometimes social media people feel pressure to be activists and they have to speak out or else. No. Not everyone is good at that, and that’s okay. Like if that’s your thing, you want to do it. Sure. But you don’t have to be.

There is no doubt that Monét has taken the spotlight since that first performance at The Ritz. She has successfully established her brand outside of the Drag Race world and now with the success of the podcast, is she worried about saying too much with cancel culture continually standing by?

I mean I speak honestly and sometimes I even apologize afterward if I feel I’ve said something wrong. But I don’t believe in censoring myself in order to spare feelings. Everyone has a politically incorrect thought come into their head and not everything deserves to be on Twitter. But I don’t ever censor myself from speaking out publicly about something because I’m afraid of the backlash.

Along those lines, she has something to say about the backlash the drag community has received for reading to kids in libraries.

We don’t like kids. I don’t like children. We

EVERYONE HAS A POLITICALLY INCORRECT THOUGHT COME INTO THEIR HEAD. I DON’T EVER CENSOR MYSELF.”

don’t want to be by them. Okay. So why the uproar? So, we will read to them, sure, we will be nice to them, but I don’t want no kids. I don’t want to be by no kids! [Laughs]

Drag is now a mainstream topic. It is now being talked about as a political issue. There are more and more iterations of Drag Race coming out every season. Straight people are now doing drag. Is drag becoming too commercial?

I don’t think drag is at risk of becoming too commercial. I think is a booming industry and there is nothing else like it. You’re going to see a lot of people coming into it and trying to figure out other, different spaces in drag. But I feel the quote, unquote mainstream of drag was bound to happen at some point, but you still have the die-hards who would be doing it still in the darkest part of the club. And that’s the beauty of drag, in my opinion.

With the growing success of Drag Race also comes growing egos and hyper drama from some of the cast members. There seems to be an increased number of social media feuds commenting on each other’s abilities or lewks. Fans have gotten wrapped up in the Twitter drama and glitter-laden feuds. Monét’s take?

I don’t think it’s drag specific. I think it’s in any industry. But when you do these competition shows, there are lots of egos involved, especially in drag. There are many things for people to pick apart - your face, your fashions - and sometimes a little comment will hit the wrong person the wrong way, and they got to let you know, you know? But it’s all humans, not just drag queens.

When asked about what she would be doing if she hadn’t followed a career in entertainment, she was actually speechless. There is nothing else. Entertainment is her blood, music is her soul, and drag is her art. You can meet Monét on the road for Sibling Rivalry, listen to the podcast (they insist on recording according to schedule rain or shine), or catch her pop-ins to the Drag Race world. Beyond the witty comebacks, her message to her fans is sincere.

My message to my fans is peace and love. I know that sounds really corny, but with everything going on, peace and love, but radicalized. Let these bitches know - Tweet about it, post about it - let people know and let your voice be heard. Let them know that this mess is not

okay. Period. ■

You can follow Monét on IG: @MonetXChange Check out Sibling Rivalry at www.siblingrivalrypodcast.com

FIND YOUR APPY PLACE SIX APPS AND BOOKS FOR WELLNESS

BY JEFFREY JAMES KEYES

WE’RE GIVING YOU A PEEK INTO MEDITATION APPS, DIGITAL HEALTH PLATFORMS, AND EVEN A CRYSTAL HEALING SELECTION FOR THIS YEAR’S WELLNESS ROUNDUP. With the ongoing pandemic, threat of monkeypox and meningitis outbreaks, mass shootings and ominous politicians attempting to take away our rights, it’s important to take a holistic approach and find time for self-care. Rather than just looking at books we took a closer look at popular apps like Calm, Headspace, Noom and HealthTap and two great coffee table books to change your outlook and mindset in these complicated times. Relax, take a deep breath, and arm yourselves with resources that will send you off on a balanced note the rest of the summer.

CALM

www.calm.com $69.99/annually or $399.99 for life

Calm, the leading mental wellness brand, is known as the top app for sleep, meditation, and relaxation. The app offers hundreds of hours of original audio content including sleep stories, soundscapes, meditations, music, and more. The app recently hosted the “Calmest Day of Pride’’ on June 15 providing the LGBTQIA+ community with an alternative way to celebrate Pride. Lower your stress level by kickstarting your morning with meditations and anxiety boosters like their Morning Coffee playlist, Mindful Walking meditation, Daily Jay wisdom by Jay Shetty, or shake things up with the Daily Move by Mel Mah. Each audio track is relatively short and manageable so you can “choose your own adventure” with the many offerings of this extraordinary app. Don’t just start your day with Calm. The New York Times recently referred to Calm as “The App That Tucks Me In at Night.” Popular sleep stories include Tom Hiddleston reading Winnie The Pooh, Harry Styles’ “Dream With Me”, and Matthew McConaughey’s “Wonder.” With over 100 million downloads and a 4.8-star rating from the Apple App Store Calm is definitely here to stay.

CRYSTALS

By Sadie Kadlec Published by DK www.dk.com $30

Interested in crystals but don’t know where to begin? Kadlec’s remarkable book, which doubles as our favorite new coffee table book, is a lavishly illustrated encyclopedia of over 200 crystals. In addition to the formal directory which provides clear information regarding how to use them and what they can add to your life, Crystals provides details regarding how to choose and care for your crystals. Beyonce might charge her crystals in a full moon, but Kadlec offers a variety of additional ways that might serve you and your unique collection. Kadlec, a spiritual muse and mentor, founded Mineral Muse, a crystalcentric empowering offering “as a way to encourage people to cultivate a more sincere relationship with the earth and themselves.” Interested in learning more? Book a session with the author virtually or in person in NYC. Offerings include Mind Alchemy, Mineral Alchemy, and Reiki. In her foreword, the author says, “Each of us has our own unique connection to the energies that surround us, and crystals are one of those many energetic forces that we gravitate toward for support, inspiration, and connection. What we may feel, or come to understand, through our relationship with the crystals will always be filtered through our experiences, so it only represents a slice of awareness.” Some unique crystals we discovered through the book include fuchsite, orange selenite, cuprite, shattuckite, rainbow moonstone, blue tiger’s eye, and pegmatite. What’s in your creativity grid? Pick up the book to discover more.

HEADSPACE

www.headspace.com $69.99 annual

You might have caught John Legend’s sexy Headspace ad during the 2022 Super Bowl in which he states, “I’m Going to Let You Sleep With Me,” which announced the new Headspace Sleepcast, narrated by Legend. Headspace was created with one mission in mind: to improve the health and happiness of the world. Through science-backed meditation and mindfulness tools, Headspace helps you create life-changing habits to support your mental health and find a healthier, happier you. Over 70 million members tune in for high quality meditations by gurus like Andy Puddicombe, Dora Kamau, Eve Lewis, Kessonga Giscombe, and Samantha Snowden. Headspace is part of Headspace Health, the world’s most accessible, comprehensive provider of mental health and well-being care. Headspace Health also consists of Headspace for Work and Ginger, who partner with over 2,500 companies and health plans to provide access to meditation, mindfulness, coaching, therapy, and psychiatry to their members and employees. Are you a chronic worrier? Learn how to move forward with less stress in their 10-day meditation course. Try Headspace for two weeks, then it’s $69.99 annually. As John Legend notes in his commercial, “Sweet dreams, lovers.”

HEALTHTAP

www.healthtap.com $45 every 3 months

HealthTap believes everyone deserves easy, affordable primary care. This app is designed to connect people with medical professionals for online doctor visits, with or without insurance. Noted as one of the leading mobile programs, HealthTap offers both primary care and 24/7 urgent care with board-certified telemedicine doctors. Online doctors in their medical group are U.S.-based and ready to meet and address your needs. Membership, at just $0.49/day includes your personal doctor backed by a whole network of care. Members can choose their own doctor and schedule an appointment for just $39 (or copay) per visit or $59 (or copay) for a more urgent visit within minutes. “Not only is primary care a key to improving public health, but it also represents a significant business opportunity for HealthTap,” said Sean Mehra, HealthTap co-founder and chief executive officer. “With more than 82 million Americans lacking a primary care doctor, we have a very large population in need of our robust telemedicine service.” As a bonus, subscribers can also text with their primary care doctor at any time for no additional charge.

HOW TO DO HARD THINGS:

Actual Real-life Advice on Friends, Love, Career, Well-being, Mindset, and More By Veronica Dearly Published by DK www.dk.com $16.99

Illustrator Veronica Dearly combines her insight, humor, and creativity in this adorable visual journey into the parts of life that leave us lost for words. With a nod to the Wheel of Life coaching tool, Dearly digs into fitness, career, love, spirituality, family, money, fun, friends, and even preparing for change. In her book she notes, “Life is hard. It’s also pretty magical, it’s full of ups, downs, loop-the-loops, and then, like a roller coaster, it’s suddenly over and you have to get off. And that’s life. What a ride.” The book is, at times, laugh out loud funny, gripping, emotional, and poignant. I found it chock full of inspiration and helpful reminders. Just when things get real there is an adorable illustration like a cute worm saying, “Oh Crap.” Feel free to sharpen your #2 pencil because there are worksheets, tables, scales, and places to reflect and take notes. It’s so rare to find a book so full of wisdom that you can actively engage with. It’s a great gift for that friend who might be stuck, going through something difficult, or just in need of a little inspiration. Pick up a copy for yourself and someone you love.

NOOM

www.noom.com Noom Mood: $149/4-month Noom Weight: $199/12-month

No two Noom journeys are the same. Noom is a consumer-first digital health platform that empowers its users to achieve holistic health outcomes through behavior change. Noom was founded in 2008 with a mission to help people everywhere lead healthier lives. Fueled by a powerful combination of technology, psychology, and human coaching, Noom is backed by more than a decade of user research and product development. Today, Noom’s platform includes two core programs: Noom Weight for weight management and Noom Mood for stress management. Noom’s programs feature daily lessons designed to fit into anyone’s schedules. They offer one-on-one coaching in order to keep you feeling encouraged and supported. Users can interact and engage with their coach as often as they like. Noom Mood is a program dedicated to helping people develop and implement healthy habits to manage daily stress and anxious thoughts. Noom Mood guides you, step by step, to mental wellness so you can live a happier life. Need to lose those extra pounds you put on in the pandemic? Noom Weight is a weight management program that helps you build and maintain new habits that result in healthy weight loss. Noom Weight coaches help users better understand their relationship with food, how to be more mindful of their habits, and give them the knowledge and support they need for positive health outcomes.

Any health, wellness, medical or cosmetic claims contained in this feature should be verified with the product provider and your health care professional.

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

A BOUTIQUE MUSIC FESTIVAL LOCATED ON SACRED CALIFORNIA GROUND REVEALS THAT AT THE HEART OF EVERY HEALTHY LIFESTYLE IS AN OPEN-MINDED COMMUNITY THAT ACCEPTS OTHERS

BY MEGAN VENZIN

THERE IS SOMETHING HEALING ABOUT THE DESERT. THE UNFILTERED SUNSHINE, THE DRY HEAT AND THE OTHERWORLDLY TERRAIN, ALL HAVE A WAY OF RESETTING THE MIND AND SOOTHING THE SOUL. Perhaps that is why a small community of open-minded nomads have set up shop around Jacumba Hot Springs, California – home of Temple Peak, a sacred landmark for the local Kumayaay Indians, who have long marveled at its ancient story-telling petroglyphs and enigmatic beauty. At its base, trailers and RVs fill in the wide-open spaces surrounding DeAnza Springs Resort, a destination where those who prefer a naturalistic lifestyle go to get away for a weekend, or often stay a while.

“Take off your clothes, girl!” one woman calls to us from the retreat’s modest pool deck before letting out a hearty laugh. Admittedly we are dressed head-to-toe, on a fierce hunt for a spot with reliable Wi-Fi, and therefore aren’t quite “proper” for the occasion. We are in town for a three-day music and wellness event, which is set to take place on these unique grounds, which for the other 362 days a year serve as a nude haven for those who prefer to bare all.

The friendly heckler introduces herself as Deborah. She’s here for a few days with some friends, but at the moment, she’s solo and soaking wet, smoking a freshly lit cigarette and minding the instructions of a nearby sign that reads “Clothing Free Zone” in big bold letters. The beads of water that run down her naked body are quite literally the only thing she’s wearing at present. She seems happy.

“You know, my uncle was a nudist and he lived until he was 93,” she shares unprovoked. “It’s something about the lifestyle. You just feel free. There is less stress. That’s gotta be good for you.” We chat a bit longer about the nearby boulder formation that presides over the community, like a powerful presence that has watched the world change around it for centuries upon centuries. “It’s a very spiritual place,” she adds.

Deborah isn’t here for the festival like the 1,000 or so other attendees who’ve set up camp nearby for a weekend filled with DJ sets, organic eats and wellness workshops, but she shares the same brand of open-mind. (She may have wandered over at some point or another though, and if she did, we’re certain she had a good time.)

The celebration is called Love Machine, and it launched in 2021 just as the world was waking up from COVID-imposed lockdowns. In November of last year, it served as a place for artists, music lovers and health-focused adventurers to reconnect in a place where the rules are sparse, and the vibes are high.

“It’s intimate, so you get to know everyone here – and let me tell you the love spreads fast,” says Nick Trikakis, a house music producer who also heads up the media team for the boutique festival.

He’s not wrong, within our first day of wandering between the two stages we’ve repeatedly encountered the same familiar faces with whom we’ll share our three-day journey. There’s the couple who outfitted their couch into a motorized vehicle, the tie-dye donning jokester with wristbands covering his right arm, signaling the long string of parties that preceded this one, the independent resin artist whose creations sparkle in the sun, and the impeccably dressed massage therapists who rain biodegradable glitter everywhere they walk. Add them to the former Wall Street traders, the Hollywood production assistants, the tech kids, and the traveling street food chefs, and you’ve got a good glimpse of exactly who trekked it almost as far as Tijuana for good times.

Daylight hours are for kicking back, either by the Oasis Stage which has its own splashy aquatic viewing platform (a must for those 88 degree days), or up at the Hilltop Sanctuary where Insta-famous yogis and wellness thought leaders teach courses with titles like Intro to Tantric Expansion and Therapeutic Flying Flow, a class that pulls from a type of acro-yoga lineage in which partners work together to take flight and build shapes reminiscent of those seen on stage during Cirque du Soleil performances. The endless views alone lend a breathtaking experience but incorporate a little breath and movement and the results are simply transcendental.

Among the most transformative offerings is the pranayama sound bath, led by accomplished circus performer, musician, yogi, aerialist, fire performer, and sound healer, John Beck.

“Most people turn to sound baths with a goal in mind: to relieve stress or reach clarity on an issue that’s constantly bothering them,” Love Machine Founder, Ryan Spalding tells us ahead of our visit with Beck. “That said, you will get the most out of a sound bath when you can identify a clear intention as your goal for this type of sonic therapy. By creating this awareness, you will allow yourself to drop in deeper to the session.” As such, we arrive filled with determination.

Beck’s presence is warm and lifted, but we soon learn, this grounded nature comes from years of pain. He chronicles his story on Saturday afternoon as students gather beneath a colorful canopy for a powerful breathwork session.

Beck details a complicated childhood defined by family rifts and substance abuse. When ties with his biological relatives became severed, he was taken in by two men who treated him like their own son.

“The love these two had for each other was so pure, and so real, it was unlike anything I’d ever experienced,” he shares with an air of reverence in his voice. Their unadulterated compassion and radical acceptance led him toward a livelihood where he too could help others.

During this exposition of sorts, he introduces an activity that invites us to drop any defenses we may have had before walking up the mountainside. One by one, souls find themselves in another’s arms, where we align our hearts and exchange our energies. With each partner, we take three long, deep synchronized breaths, feeling their backs rise slowly beneath our hands. After a few goes, any sense of awkwardness has subsided, leaving us feeling fully

relaxed and utterly connected. And that’s probably for the best, because what comes next is intense.

“You’re going to want to lay on your back for this,” Beck instructs the group, shortly after revealing that this type of breath work helps him access a euphoric state that goes beyond what he found in the drugs that strained his relationship with himself and those around him. He alludes to some of the more visible benefits while he’s at it. “Look at me. I’m 53 years old. This stuff WORKS,” he says, letting out a huge chuckle. It’s hard to know if what he’s saying is true, but he’s convinced us that the claim is genuine (this guy doesn’t look a day past his 30s).

The next 15 minutes are like a roller coaster — and we can’t say that our guru didn’t warn us. “If you need to laugh, laugh,” he offers. “If you need to cry, cry. Do what you’ve got to do.” Okay, well, here goes. The music of Tibetan quartz singing bowls, Nepalese gongs, wind chimes and bells begin to cut through the air, adding a new layer of potency to the mind-opening exercise.

Soon, we’re caught in a flurry of rapid inhalations and exhalations. We eventually hit a rhythm that manifests itself physically in the form of tingling hands and feet, and at one point our hands involuntarily assume the shape of the lotus mudra. With eyes closed we

pause to reset our breath, and that’s when we feel a sturdy hand on our shoulder followed by the words, “You doing okay?” A comforting squeeze from Beck gets us back in the groove and sure enough a few tears squeeze out from the corners of our eyes. You know what? It feet great!

On our way to a similar hilltop jaunt we meet Resy Clement, a DJ and producer known to many as REsy. Earlier in the day she unleashed a soulful set tinted with tribal drums and upbeat house selections. Now she’s playing the role of attendee herself.

“Sick lineup, all natural foods, juices and elixirs, incredible landscape? Yes! My kind of fest,” she says with a smile, revealing the many reasons she was excited to perform at Love Machine for the first time. She hits on some of the more cathartic aspects too. “Communing through music, dancing and other intentional body movement fosters freedom and creativity,” she adds. Currently on her own plastic and alcohol-free journey, REsy embodies so much of what’s to love about this group. “Fellowship is very important to the soul,” she continues. “I believe in laughter and connecting with my community as medicine.” Her positive attitude makes us all the more amped for our evening.

After the daytime activities break, it’s time to gear up for the main party. When the moon rises, the stony venue transforms into an allnight dance party, complete with festival level production and lighting designed to dance across the textured rocks in ways that illuminate how mystical our backdrop truly is. This touch adds dramatic dimension to extended sets from acts like West Coast house legend Doc Martin and Innervision label boss, Âme. The sounds are rich and progressive, and despite the fact that temperatures drop some 30 degrees after the sun goes down, we manage to keep cozy with the help of fellow dancers and a whole lot of faux fur, which apparently is the unspoken after hours dress code of this far-out event (quite opposite from some of the more “natural” looks that define sunnier afternoons). Synths and heavy bass provide a different type of sound bath that is life-giving all the same. And we did we mention, it slaps?

The vibe shift after nightfall is palpable, but the rejuvenating qualities of the event remain constant. The cogs that run this Love Machine are the people - the artists and the wellness experts, sure - but also the forward-thinking community of Jacumba Hot Springs who so generously share their slice of heaven with the music lovers who come to dance themselves clean under a star-scattered sky.

When playa hero David Homme unleashes his signature Bubbles and Bass sunrise set early Monday morning the feeling of comradery is strong. Revelers tip back bottles of Champagne and take their final victory lap, sharing hugs with new friends they have met that weekend – with the spirits that keep this Machine running strong.

It makes us think back to our new friend Debra, and her wise uncle, the man who made it to 93 by embodying a lifestyle that erred on the sides of wild and free. We peek around in hopes we might be able to share with her a heartfelt goodbye, but it is cold, and Debra knows better. Even though we are in heat-tech and leggings, we’re sure she’d be proud. After all, the metaphorical drapes are down, our hearts are open, and even after fizzy drinks our minds are clear. So, it is possible to stay young forever – you just have to strip off a few layers.

Want to become part of the Love Machine? Visit www.lovemachine.live to learn more about upcoming installments. ■