On her brand new album This Place, Reeya Banerjee proves that home isn’t always a fixed location. Home can be a feeling, a memory or even a song. The record is equal parts intimate reflection and widescreen arena rock.
The album opens with an immediacy that pulls the listener into Banerjee’s world. Her vocals are warm, commanding and human, serving as the album’s compass and guiding us through songs of transition, loss, resilience and love that holds steady through change.
Standout tracks like “Snow” shimmers with atmosphere, while “Misery of Place” rides a darker, restless energy that nods to Banerjee’s rock instincts. “For The First Time” finds strength in its vulnerability, and the closing track “Upstate Rust” is nothing short of an anthem – its soaring choruses and full band firepower leave the listener uplifted and changed. Each track carries its own weight, but together they form a cohesive narrative about moving forwards while carrying the places and people that have shaped you.
The album fuses indie rock grit with dreamlike textures, bringing in influences that range from R.E.M. to Florence + The Machine without ever losing Banerjee’s distinctive voice. Her longtime collaborators in The Merseyside Darby breathe life into the musical arrangements, their chemistry palpable in every layered harmony and guitar lines.
What makes This Place so striking is not just its richness and emotional generosity. Banerjee doesn’t shy away from complexity. She embraces it, creating a body of work that feels both grounded and expansive. This is the kind of album that grows with each listen, offering new corners to explore and moments to hold close.
This Place is a record about movement, memory and the enduring beauty of connection. It’s like a map of the heart.
Keep up to date with Reeya Banerjee on her Website
Nestled just steps away from the dazzling lights of Times Square and the world-famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, Hell’s Kitchen offers a striking contrast to Midtown Manhattan’s holiday frenzy.
It’s a neighborhood that pulses with history, resilience, and creativity – a vibrant mix of artists, shopkeepers, and locals who form the backbone of its enduring charm.
In her latest holiday single music video, “Hell’s Kitchen at Christmas Time,”Sarah Pillow and the team at Buckyball Music captures the spirit of this unique corner of New York City.
Part love letter, part festive celebration, the video is a heartfelt tribute to the small businesses, quiet streets, and resilient community that make Hell’s Kitchen feel like home. Even as the chaos of the holidays unfolds just a few blocks away.
With playful nods to iconic New York traditions, from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to the glittering Fifth Avenue window displays, the video weaves together a narrative that celebrates both the hustle and the haven that define Hell’s Kitchen. Featuring a talented ensemble of musicians, actors, and local shopkeepers, it’s a project that shines a light on the people and places that keep the neighborhood alive.
Watch here:
We asked Sarah to tell us about the inspiration behind the song, the challenges of filming in the heart of Manhattan, and why shopping locally is more important than ever during the holiday season.
1.Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically in this way?
I’ve lived in Hell’s Kitchen since 1996, and while the neighborhood has evolved over the years, it has managed to retain its unique charm. I was reading about how local businesses are struggling due to reduced foot traffic as more people turn to online shopping.
This inspired us to create a fun holiday video celebrating our neighborhood – the artists, the community, and the small businesses that make it special.
The holidays are an especially meaningful time here, as we’re right next door to one of the busiest places in the world during this season.
2.What was the inspiration behind this new video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?
We were inspired by the juxtaposition of our quiet neighborhood nestled right next to Times Square – the center of the world, especially during the holidays – which led to the lyric, “you’re in it all, but off to the side.”
The storyline follows me navigating the chaos of Midtown Manhattan – Times Square, Rockefeller Center, and Saks – while also highlighting the anchors of my neighborhood: Hudson River Park, Restaurant Row, and long-standing local businesses that have been part of the community for decades.
It’s a celebration of their resilience and enduring spirit.
3.What was the process of making the video?
We invited some actor friends to play the roles of crazy holiday shoppers and collaborated with our colleague Eliane Amherd – also a Hell’s Kitchen local – to play guitar and sing with me. For the horn section, we enlisted three excellent horn players who were students at the time (one has since joined the band of Saturday Night Live). The marching at the beginning of the video is a nod to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
We visited some of our favorite local businesses and asked if they’d like to participate, celebrating the importance of shopping locally.
We also wanted to feature the musicians, highlighting the artists and performers who make New York City so vibrant. Filming took place in our studio, along the West Side Highway, driving through the streets of Hell’s Kitchen, on our rooftop, and even in front of Saks Fifth Avenue (who were surprisingly cool about it). To add to the festive spirit, we included Manhattan holiday window displays in one segment of the song.
The much buzzed about EL VY creates an inspiring album, Return to the Moon, out now via 4AD. Consisting mainly of Matt Berninger of The National and Brent Knopf of Ramona Falls/Menomena, what the duo creates is something honest, heartfelt, and truly unique.
Like when all high profiled musicians break off from their main band, there seems to be a bit of a back and forth skeptical reaction that travels throughout the internet. I believe it was in Pitchfork that I had read a blurb stating that Berninger and Knopf were “incompatible” as musicians. To be honest, yes, they kind of are incompatible as musicians; but on the bright side, that is exactly what makes this combination work well.
The first two singles shined light on the blending of two parties; first with “Return to the Moon (Political Song for Didi Bloome to Sing, with Crescendo)” and the follow up “I’m the Man to Be.” The first singles were definitely a departure from Berninger’s deep and heavy sounds of The National, but it allowed us to see a more upbeat version of what he has to offer. Knopf on the other hand, brings a stunning element of instrumentation to the table that sometimes provides a lively vibe, and other times, a haunting and unusual sound. The mixture of these elements seem to work completely, as they weave throughout each track of the record.
The biggest misconception that a listener can have going into this, is that it’s going to sound like a “National” record. It’s not. Then Berninger would just be working on National songs right now (Right? Right.). What would be the point? The voice is there, but the content isn’t always as heavy. You’re going to dance, you’re still going to get depressed as hell, and you are going to love every moment of it.
Releasing a series of lyric videos directed by the multi-talented Tom Berninger, it provides multiple songs with an intimate look to capture your attention even more. Tracks such as “Happiness Missouri” bring a haunting, yet determined sound into play, while harmonies fill the album in pieces such as “Silent Ivy Hotel,” or the chilling musicianship of “Paul is Alive.” Songs such as “No Time to Crank the Sun,” offers up Matt’s signature delicate crooning, as “Need a Friend,” shares a more vibrant sound, that brings Knopf’s intricate brand of musicianship to the table. Together they create a truly special musical experience within Return to the Moon.
Each piece on the record is strong enough to stand on their own, which is perhaps why the group decided to release a track one at a time leading into the record. Return to the Moon is perhaps the finest record of 2015; mark my word.
EL VY is currently on tour, recently kicking off their Eastern U.S. dates, with two stops in New York. Friday at Bowery Ballroom, and Saturday at Music Hall of Williamsburg. See you there kids.
Brad Oberhofer is on a roll. Recently signed with Glassnote Records, Oberhofer will be releasing their debut album in the early months of next year. While we wait for that, he just premiered on Pitchfork the single “Gotta Go,” which will be released through White Iris and will come out physically on October 4th. You can get “Gotta Go” HERE.
On top of that, the band will be joining Les Savy Fav on stage on September 6th at the Music Hall Of Williamsburg in New York after a year touring with bands like Twin Sister, Sleigh Bells, Neon Indian and Bear In Heaven. Needless to say, the Tacoma native has the indie music scene at his feet.
People don’t always think very much of New Jersey, especially when its standout celebrities right now are the cast of Jersey Shore. Real Estate proved that not all that comes out of the Garden State is terrible with their first self-titled album released in 2009. Can they keep it up? We’ll find out on on Tuesday October 18th, 2011 when they release the follow-up, Days, which was recorded in Upstate New York through the late winter/spring of 2011 with Kevin McMahon.
For now, we know the album is made up of nine new recordings and a revisit of last year’s standalone single “Out of Tune.” You can listen to the first single off the record, “It’s Real,” HERE. It’s due out on September 27th in the US and October 10th in the UK. In the meantime, the band is touring around the US and Canada for the rest of July so check below to see if they’re headed near you!
Hard-rocking Canadians The Trews have just kicked off a foot-stomping tour of Canada with fellow rocker (and Bourbon conniesseuer) Kid Rock.
The band recently released their fourth full-length album, Hope & Ruin on Bumstead Records, and now will be melting faces throughout the Great White North.
The group is rapidly drawing attention for their subtle balance between catchy pop and gruff hard rock. Besides a Canadian conquest, the group will also be tearing up (sonically) New York, playing a batch of shows near the end of June.
Listen to their song “One by One” right here…
and to check out the Trews live, head North (or NE) right about…
June 22 – Syracuse, NY – Wescott Theatre
June 23 – Rochester, NY – Water Street Music Hall
June 24 – Watertown, NY – Watertown Fairgrounds w/ The Tragically Hip
June 25 – Bobcaygeon, ON – Bobcaygeon w/The Tragically Hip and Sam Roberts
Modern Mystery 