Right off the bat, the team at Hidden X Soul has made it clear: what happens at HXS, stays at HXS. Their first event, Colorblind, hit the NYC event scene cloaked in full secrecy. Every detail was on a need-to-know basis, inviting crowds to trust in the unexpected in order to create an experience that was both enticing and exclusive.

For those of you who didn’t get your hands on a golden ticket, the mysterious nature of Hidden By Soul has probably left you endlessly wondering, what went down at Colorblind? The only ones who can dish the details are the selected guests who were able to experience the once-in-a-lifetime event. So...if you know, you know. But if you don’t know, then you’ve come to the right place.

Let's start with one of the masterminds behind the event, musician and Art House Director, Amish Darr. In an earlier interview, Amish explained, “Part of the vision behind HXS is to bring people in the NYC creative community together. Let’s be fair to each other. When you treat everyone justly, that opens the doorway to positive change. Regardless of the color of your skin, or where you are from, everyone should be treated with fairness and love." So, was the mission accomplished?

Dear wondering souls, here is the moment you’ve been waiting for. We’re dropping the curtain and uncovering the secrecy of HXS Colorblind.

On July 30th 2021, the groups of curious guests began to gather in front of an unmarked location in Brooklyn, New York. They were ushered through a candle-lit hallway and told to wait in a room in front of two iron double doors. That’s right. From start to finish, even the guests had no idea what they were in for. You can imagine the intrigue splashed across their faces as they waited for the doors to open. Anticipation filled the room.

What could possibly lie behind the double doors that led to Colorblind?

The doors creaked open and slowly the guests filed in. A deep voice boomed from the speakers announcing their arrival. The space was dark except for the row of backlit translucent curtains running through the center of the room. The booming voice instructed guests to take their seats. The lights went out. The room fell silent.

Showtime.

HXS wasted no time shocking the audience. A flash of red burst into the center of room as the first artist, an Indian dancer, twirled around the luminous curtains. The lighting followed her movements, casting her brilliant silhouette over the audience.

The exciting display was the entire vision of architect and designer, Hira Sabuhi, who transformed the warehouse event space into an interactive dream theatre. Her architectural inspired set was designed to, “blur the boundaries between the artist and audience,” and that’s exactly what it did. There was no distinction between the performer and the guests as the stage blended seamlessly with the seating. Her unique design integrated floating transparent panels and lighting to create an illusion. A projection of the artists illuminated the layers of hanging translucent fabric, casting their lighted image over the audience and onto the walls. Guests were fully immersed in the art itself as part of the experience.

Following the electrifying opening dance number, Natalie Nascenzi, Media Director and host of HXS, made her entrance into the center panel. The energy instantaneously shifted from exhilarating to intimate and thoughtful. Her opening poem, titled “Colorblind,” sent the audience into a philosophical trance–prompting them to shed their previous perceptions of one another.

When HXS claimed, “expect the unexpected” they weren’t kidding. Just as the audience was settling into one energy, they would promptly shift direction and entirely different artist would enter the spotlight. In an instant, an intense rapper shocked the audience with his quick lyrics and invigorating drum solo. Immediately, he was followed by a cellist, accompanied by a captivating contemporary dancer. Every artist was completely different from the next, in both style and culture. This carefully curated line-up of artists was driven by the overall message surrounding the celebration of inclusivity and diversity.

Across every part of the show, HXS made the point of seeing beyond the visible and experiencing only the art and soul as the true star of the show. It didn’t matter who was taking the stage. It didn’t matter the color of their skin, their age, or their identity. It only mattered how their performance made you feel.

As the night went on, audience members were enthralled by a classical pianist pairing her traditional piano skills with a techno soundboard. Next, the room was forced to listen intently as an artist spoke of race while simultaneously creating a painting. To bring the show to a beautiful close, Amish Darr, lead musician and Art House Director of HXS, entranced the audience with his eclectic music in a spellbinding finale performance.

Overall, HXS created an incredible experience with their culturally diverse, extremely talented line-up of New York City artists and their one-of-kind immersive set design. The message of the show, to shatter the norm and see everyone through the eyes of fairness, was present from beginning to end. Adding to the magic of the evening, there was delicious Jamaican and Latin cuisine, open conversation and networking, and a variety of local artisans selling their works.

In addition to putting on a show-stopping event, HXS gave a whole new meaning to lights, cameras, and action. According to the team, “The ideas to make an impact can only become a reality when action is taken. At HXS, we plan to act.” To give back to the community, HXS asked their audience members to bring items such as notebooks, art supplies, and books to donate to the New York City parks and recreation centers. Amazingly, guests generously contributed, and the team was able to donate hundreds of items.

One thing is for sure, HXS promised enlightening and mysterious…. Colorblind delivered.

So, what’s coming next for HXS? Follow @hiddenbysoul to find out.