5 Things to Know About D'Angelo’s Voodoo Recording Sessions

D’Angelo recorded Voodoo at Electric Lady Studios in New York City. The sessions took place over two years, from 1997 to 1999.

The studio’s vintage gear shaped the album’s sound. Electric Lady’s classic Neve console and analog tape machines gave Voodoo its warm, live feel.

D’Angelo used a live-band approach rather than overdubs. He recorded with his full band, the Soulquarians, playing together in the same room.

The sessions were famously loose and improvisational. D’Angelo often wrote lyrics on the spot and let songs evolve organically during takes.

Electric Lady’s history influenced the creative process. The studio, built for Jimi Hendrix, inspired a psychedelic-soul atmosphere that permeates the album.