The Sound Designer Behind Some of the World’s Most Exclusive Spaces
Richie Hell curates immersive soundscapes at Faena Miami Beach, blending music, art, and design into unforgettable experiences. The post The Sound Designer Behind Some of the World’s Most Exclusive Spaces appeared first on Haute Living.
Photo Credit: Karli Evans
Richie Hell has built a career on shaping distinctive sound experiences that blur the lines between music, art, and design. As Music Director of the renowned Faena Hotel Miami Beach, he’s spent the past decade designing immersive musical experiences that enhance the hotel’s atmosphere and reflect its evolving identity.
Originally from Buenos Aires, Hell made Miami his home in 2015, bringing with him over 25 years of global experience as a DJ and producer. His passport is inked with collaborations from Tokyo to Tel Aviv, but it’s within Faena’s velvet-lined walls that his artistry truly found a stage. “I’ve been playing at Faena since 2008 back in Buenos Aires,” Hell shares. “When I moved here, it wasn’t just a job; it was a chance to create a full sensory experience.”
Faena, with interiors by Baz Luhrmann, has become both a playground for the elite and a sanctuary for artists. The brand has expanded to New York, Tulum, Dubai, and São Paulo. Luhrmann once said, “Alan Faena does in reality what I try to make in movies and theater—that’s why we connect.” That dreamscape is powered by Hell’s music programming, which fills every space, from The Living Room to beachside soirées.
Photo Credit: Karli Evans
“I see my work as building a sonic bridge between architecture, design, and emotion,” Hell explains. “The music must not only reflect the ambiance but enhance the story the space is telling.”
His approach is rooted in balance: blending familiar and new, local and international. “I take into account the architectural design, the time of day, even the artwork on the walls,” he says. That attention to detail has helped position Faena as more than a hotel—it’s a living art piece, with music as its soul.
Beyond shaping Faena’s atmosphere, Hell’s work has attracted major names. Iggy Pop has spun Hell’s tracks on his BBC radio show. In 2019, The Rolling Stones stayed at Faena during their U.S. tour and requested to jam in The Living Room. “That evening, they played jazz standards and covers—it was surreal. Later, I DJed their private dinners. They personally thanked me. I was tripping,” Hell recalls.
Under his direction, Faena has hosted performances by Grace Jones, Sting, Madonna, Jon Batiste, and Lenny Kravitz. Hell also oversaw the sound design for Francis Mallmann’s restaurant Los Fuegos, and his influence reaches luxury destinations like The Morrow in Washington D.C., Envoy Hotel in Boston, and The Helmsman Restaurant in Connecticut.
Still, his connection to Miami’s music scene remains vital. “Miami is a melting pot of artistry. We collaborate with local artists and festivals, creating opportunities that enhance both the hotel and the community,” he says.
This philosophy mirrors Faena’s broader ethos. Recently named one of Oprah Winfrey’s favorite hotels in her 2024 O-wards, Faena was praised for its Tierra Santa Healing House, offering “shaman-inspired therapies” and a sense of grounded luxury. It’s no surprise the hotel continues to draw A-listers like Beyoncé, Jay-Z, President Donald Trump, Leonardo DiCaprio, Rihanna, and Oprah herself—all enveloped in the atmosphere Hell helps create.
Photo Credit: Karli Evans
“My goal,” Hell says, “is to make every guest feel like they’re stepping into a movie where the soundtrack was made just for them.”
With one foot in the underground and the other firmly planted in luxury, Richie Hell isn’t just playing music, he’s creating cultural experiences.
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The post The Sound Designer Behind Some of the World’s Most Exclusive Spaces appeared first on Haute Living.
