Local Producer

Sofar Sounds has launched Sofar Studios, a creative division offering brand partnerships, experiential work, and original content. The company operates across more than 300 cities in 64 countries with 1.85 million digital followers. Sofar Studios will be led by Karoline Komolafe, promoted to VP and Managing Director. Former Complex executive Caleb Hannabury joins as Head of Brand Partnership Sales after eight years at Complex. The division develops custom live events, branded content, cultural programming, and multi-city activations. Past collaborations include work with Visa, Delta, Lexus, Apple, and Google. For O2, Sofar created Live from the Highlands, featuring a remote Scottish concert livestreamed to London, which became a finalist at the 2026 Digiday Media Awards Europe. The company's network has hosted over 55,000 live experiences for 3 million guests, featuring more than 50,000 independent artists.

Sofar Sounds brings concerts and connection to Yonkers. The global music organization that connects artists with local communities will start hosting live events in Westchester this year. The 914 music scene is getting a fun addition to its already vibrant culture. Sofar Sounds, a company that organizes live music events in cities across the world, will touch down in Yonkers sometime this fall. Founded in 2009 by London creatives Rafe Offer, Rocky Start, and Dave Alexander, Sofar Sounds seeks to transform unconventional venues into intimate stages for up-and-coming artists. Apartments, art galleries, clothing stores, and churches - cozy community spaces that are not typically used for concerts - are just a few examples. Sofar has a track record of highlighting stars right before they take off. Musicians like Billie Eilish, Olivia Dean, and Hozier all played gigs organized by Sofar early in their careers. Is the world's next pop icon right here in Westchester? Follow the music. Since its founding, Sofar Sounds has introduced its widely popular concert model across the globe. It has established chapters in over 300 cities worldwide - including New York City, Vancouver, Los Angeles, and Melbourne - but recently shifted its focus to hosting in mid-sized metropolitan areas. That's where Yonkers comes into the picture. - Advertisement - Community connection with Sofar Sounds. When organizing in a new city, the Sofar team gauges the community's musical interests and needs. Local producers who live in the area are hired; their role is to seek out compelling locations for shows and find artists to play them. (The Yonkers chapter of Sofar is currently hiring local producers; check out this application if you're interested.) Once a show is announced, those interested in attending a Sofar show buy tickets online. Venue addresses aren't revealed right away and only become available to ticket holders via email within 15 minutes of purchase. If a resident has a fitting event space in mind, Sofar also accepts suggestions through its website. "Typically, we're looking for spaces that fit 200 people or fewer so we can keep things feeling intimate," says Chyna Brackeen, vice president of experiences at Sofar Sounds. "People who come to our shows will sometimes say, 'My neighbor has this huge backyard that feels like you're in the middle of a forest. Wouldn't it be cool to do a show there?' We'll definitely take those suggestions." Play on. Musicians interested in playing a Sofar Sounds concert can fill out an application form online, which asks for one to three live performance videos and basic profile information. To keep things accessible for budding artists, Sofar does not consider touring history, social media presence, or similar components. Each Sofar show typically includes three acts on the bill. There's no specific headliner, giving each act an equal opportunity to show off their skills. All genres are welcome; R&B, pop, folk rock, and funk are just a few examples of sounds you might hear at a Sofar set. - Partner Content - Hitting the right notes. Along with giving local artists a chance to shine, Sofar's goal is to bring community members together through their love of music. Whether it leads to friendship - or even romance - Brackeen hopes their shows can be a "third space" for the music lovers of Yonkers to feel connected with their neighbors. If all goes well with the Yonkers launch, there might be plans to bring Sofar shows further up the Hudson. "We are currently recruiting in the mid and upper Hudson Valley," shares Brackeen. "We want to expand into the Rivertowns as well."