Drop the needle and listen
Needle and Groove is inspired by the Japanese kissa tradition: a dedicated listening room where music is the main event. Built for focused, immersive listening, the space centres on a single sound system and one record at a time, with no interruptions, requests, or background chatter.
Inspired by the intimate Japanese jazz cafés, it offers an intimate, atmosphere shaped by a deep respect for music, analog listening, and the quiet ritual of being fully present with sound.
This is a place for people who value the ritual of listening. At Needle and Groove, the experience is slower, deeper, and more deliberate.
What's on the turntable
While primarily rooted in jazz, the Kissa serves as an educational space for music lovers of all ages, occasionally expanding its sonic palette to include Funk, Rock, Classical and other forms of improvisatory art music.
The listening experience remains dynamic throughout the year, featuring unique themed sessions and guest selectors who bring fresh perspectives to the turntable.
Sessions run from start to finish on full LP sides. This uninterrupted, side-to-side format preserves the intended album experience
Sign up for schedule, guest curators, and more.
Listening sessions
Needle and Groove hosts listening sessions on Sundays, when the rest of Wong Chuk Hang is moving at a pace that suits the format. The room holds a small number of people and has comfortable spaces to enjoy the listening experience.
Kissa Info
Listening is the activity. Conversation happens before the needle drops or after the side ends.
Like a Concert setting without the live musicians. Quiet, no distractions.
All ages are welcome - anyone who can sit still and listen.
Kissa sessions play through full LP sides in their original sequence without shuffling or skipping.