by Jane Lambert

VIDEO VOYAGEUR: 3 Q’s WITH REEYA BANERJEE

Get ready to hit the ground running with Reeya Banerjee’s brand new music video for her punchy new single “Runner.”

This visually dynamic video brings to life the hectic, high energy pace of Reeya’s NYC corporate commute days. All complete with high heels, crowded platforms and a barefoot dash through Grand Central Station.

Directed by Reeya herself and edited by Khalifa Cyrus, the video captures the raw, scrappy energy of city life and the relentless rhythm of chasing deadlines, trains, and moments of breathless motion. It’s a candid and kinetic snapshot of a uniquely New York experience, set to a soundtrack that’s as urgent and unrelenting as the story it tells.

Watch “Runner” now and feel the pulse of the city through Reeya’s eyes:

1. Tell us the story of this song. Why did you choose to visualize it this way?

“Runner” is a punky, breathless tribute to my NYC corporate commute era — all high heels, Metro-North mayhem, and motion without pause. I was constantly running: to the train, to the office, back to the platform, across the Mid-Hudson Bridge after work… lather rinse repeat five days a week.

This song captures that manic rhythm. I wanted to visualize it literally — because I really did run barefoot through Grand Central to catch my train. So we shot that. It felt right to put my actual memories on screen.

2. What was the inspiration behind this new video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?

This is my first traditional narrative music video — and it’s rooted in one of the most absurd and real parts of my 20s. The storyline recreates my daily commute: barrelling through the streets of midtown Manhattan, dodging crowds in Grand Central, racing across the platform in heels (or not), and finally collapsing into a train seat as the Hudson River goes by. Khalifa Cyrus brought the pacing to life by blending live footage, timelapses, and performance moments that channel the song’s urgency. It’s scrappy, sweaty, and deeply New York.

3. What was the process of making the video?

We shot on location in Manhattan and Brooklyn — no permits, just sneakers (and high heels!), friends, and phones. Guntas Singh and Jack Quigley helped film the Grand Central and street scenes while I directed and hoped no one would kick us out of the concourse. Khalifa Cyrus handled the edit, cutting between candid footage and the video’s climactic barefoot sprint. This was a deeply DIY process that mirrors the energy of the song: raw, real, and running on fumes.

Keep up with Reeya Banerjee on her Website

12.15.24

by Jane Lambert

Video Voyaguer: 3 Q’s with Sarah Pillow

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.

Hell’s Kitchen at Christmas Time

Sarah Pillow, vocals

Marc Wagnon, drums, percussion and vibraphone.

Eliane Amherd, guitar and vocals

Summer Camargo, trumpet

Coby Petricone-Berg, alto sax

Cole Palensky, tenor sax

Jonathan Price, bass

Holiday Shoppers:

Carol Scudder

Robert Arthur Altman

Justin Anderson Taylor

Thank you to these Hell’s Kitchen shopkeepers:

Garden Hardware, 10^th Avenue

Westside Animal Hospital, 10^th Avenue

Poseidon Bakery, 9^th Avenue

Sullivan Street Bakery, West 47^th Street

Thriftway Pharmacy, 10^th Avenue

Spoiled Brats, West 49^th Street

Fine and Dandy, West 49^th Street

Ismael Cruz, West 49^th Street Caretaker

Skyline Deli, 10^th Avenue

Find out more about Sarah Pillow on her Website

11.16.14

by Jane Lambert

Sit Kitty Sit Take Over NYC This Week; Tickets on Sale Now

Sit Kitty Sit are currently making their way through the East Coast on a lengthy tour which stops in New York this week. You can catch the group at the Rock Shop (11/20) and Pianos (11/19) respectively. The heavy hitting duo bring to life elements of drums meet piano, accompanied by singer Kat Downs flawless vocal work. Drummer Mike Thompson brings the music to a whole new level with his intricate playing. Sit Kitty Sit currently have a new video out for “Birmingham,” off the latest masterpiece, Everlasting Fire, out now. Check out their New York dates below and try to make it out if you can!

11/19 – Pianos – 7pm / 21+ / $8

11/20 – The Rock Shop – 8pm / 21+ / $8-$10
Tickets HERE

07.31.14

by viktorsha

Oklahoma’s Trio Psychotic Reaction Out and About in Brooklyn

At a time when it is challenging to seek out bands hailing from regions outside of the musical mecca of NYC, Oklahoma-based group Psychotic Reaction bring forward progressive and mind-numbing sounds. The band crosses the traditional barriers of garage rock and psychedelic tunes and reintroduces subcultural drones of Lou Reed and the Stooges. While their instruments aggregate a concoction of multi-layered guitar snarls, the group constructs a type of narcotic energy that makes the listeners believe and remember the power of rock and roll.

Find them on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/psychoticreactionband?ref=br_tf

10.08.13

by viktorsha

Space Travel with Cosmonauts

Time warps are possible and space travel is real. That is only if you got to see Saturday night’s performance of a California-based quarter, Cosmonauts. As one of the five openers for the Growlers’ Caravan of Stars tour, sponsored by Burger Records, the band unplugged the audience from their physical plane and inculcated Bowery Ballroom under a tide of distorted drone flood, and psychedelic haze. It is evident to note that with their cosmic-inspired name, and palpitating energy, the group heavily filters 90s psychedelic drug-rock pioneers, Spacemen 3. The band reconfigures repetition and utilizes sound monotony that bring the listener and the performer onto the same wavelength. Throughout their deliverance of convoluted layers of guitar and noise riffs, Cosmonauts step away from the logical and transcend into a new dimension of space rock.