New York City was the creative incubator for the neo-soul surge in the mid-to-late 1990s. It was a moment when hip-hop’s boom-bap beats collided with live jazz, funk, classic soul, and spoken word inside Greenwich Village recording studios, with Electric Lady Studios famously serving as the sanctuary for The Soulquarians. If you love neo-soul and are looking for things to do this weekend, you’re in luck because Sony Hall is welcoming a tribute to the genre’s most iconic songs.
On Sunday, October 4, hits like D’Angelo’s “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” and “You Don’t Know My Name” by Alicia Keys will be reimagined on strings inside the historic venue. The genre’s blend of vintage tracks with modernized hip-hop production mirrors the venue’s setting—a 1930s Art Deco subterranean hideaway where opulent architecture meets state-of-the-art acoustic technology.
Neo-Soul and Hip-Hop Favorites: Neo-soul meets vintage glamour at Sony Hall
The program celebrates pioneers of the genre, such as D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, Sade and Boyz II Men, alongside contemporary artists in the likes of SZA, Frank Ocean and Childish Gambino. For one night only at Sony Hall, you’ll hear some of your favorite neo-soul songs, including “Thinkin Bout You”, “End of the Road” and “Smooth Operator” surrounded by thousands of twinkling candles. That NYC soul lineage will feel right at home beneath the streets of Midtown, where you can discover a hidden, gilded relic of the city’s musical past illuminated by candlelight.
The performance takes place this weekend on October 4 at 6:30pm, where a talented string quartet will enchant audiences with their own classical renditions of these soulful tunes. Tickets are sold in tiers (Zone A to C or VIP), starting at 32$, with seating assigned on a first-come, first-served basis within each zone. What’s more, the concert is set to last about 60 minutes and doors open an hour before the start of the show.
To make the evening even more romantic, you can secure a delicious three-course dinner from the Prix Fixe Menu (60$) and get your own Candlelight plush mascot (18$)—both purchaseable at checkout. It’s a soft and cuddly souvenir you can gift your sweetheart, or even take home to your little one.