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There is a particular distinction between making a record that references an earlier musical era and assembling the musicians who helped define its sound. On her latest single, “What Is Life.” New York singer-songwriter Nikki Buatti takes the latter approach, bringing together seasoned instrumentalists for a recording that places musicianship firmly at the forefront.
Among the contributors is Richie Cannata, the accomplished saxophonist whose work has been heard across decades of Billy Joel recordings. Trumpeter Mac Gollehon, whose credits include David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” and Duran Duran’s “Notorious,” also appears, alongside DJ Logic, whose career has bridged the worlds of jazz and hip-hop.
Their involvement gives the project a notable musical pedigree, but the recording is ultimately shaped by Nikki Buatti’s own artistic direction.
Produced alongside Brendan Keenan at Cove City Sound Studios, “What Is Life” incorporates guitar, bass, keyboards, brass, and percussion into an arrangement that reflects the collaborative traditions of classic studio recording. John Arbuckle handled mixing and mastering.
For Nikki Buatti, whose upbringing in Queens introduced her to the music of Motown and American jazz, these influences are more than stylistic references. They form part of a creative vocabulary developed over years of independent artistic exploration.
The single’s accompanying film introduces another dimension to that vision. Directed by Modern Day Auteur, the production borrows from Hollywood’s noir tradition, presenting a fictionalized world of scandal, suspicion, and pursuit. Its central figure, Miss Lonelyheart, is portrayed as a fugitive whose reputation precedes her.
The character also serves as the conceptual foundation for Nikki Buatti’s forthcoming debut album, Miss Lonelyheart, scheduled for 2027.
With “What Is Life,” Nikki Buatti establishes a connection between accomplished session musicianship, independent songwriting, and cinematic presentation, suggesting an ambitious creative direction for the larger project to come.
