Nikki Buatti: What Is Life
Nikki Buatti Examines the Human Condition Through Classic Soul on “What Is Life”
by Jack Rush
New York singer-songwriter Nikki Buatti has released “What Is Life,” an original soul composition accompanied by a black-and-white music video that draws upon the visual language of mid-century American cinema. Released October 16, the recording brings together an accomplished ensemble of musicians whose collective experience spans jazz, rock, funk, and popular music.
Recorded at Cove City Sound Studios, “What Is Life” reflects Nikki Buatti's longstanding appreciation for traditional musical arrangements and expressive vocal performance. The Queens native, whose formative influences include Motown, doo-wop, and jazz standards, approaches the composition with an emphasis on storytelling rather than contemporary commercial conventions.
The recording features saxophonist Richie Cannata, whose extensive career includes collaborations with Billy Joel, alongside trumpeter Mac Gollehon, recognized for contributions to David Bowie's “Let's Dance” and Duran Duran's “Notorious.” DJ Logic provides the rhythmic foundation, while Brendan Keenan contributes bass guitar and shares production responsibilities with Nikki Buatti.
Additional performances from keyboardists Andy Burton and Stephen Barber, guitarist Chris Foley, percussionist Annette Aguilar, and vocalist Kelly Wolfgramm further establish the recording's ensemble-driven character.
The song itself emerged from a period of personal disillusionment. Its central question is deliberately expansive, examining the contradictions of human experience and the difficulty of maintaining perspective when personal relationships deteriorate. Rather than offering definitive answers, Nikki Buatti uses the composition to acknowledge uncertainty as an unavoidable aspect of life.
The accompanying visual, directed by Modern Day Auteur, extends these ideas into a stylized narrative inspired by classic film noir. Through dramatic lighting, monochromatic cinematography, and imagery of pursuit and public scrutiny, Nikki Buatti assumes the identity of Miss Lonelyheart, a character whose significance extends beyond the individual release.
That same identity provides the title for Nikki Buatti's forthcoming debut album, Miss Lonelyheart, currently anticipated in 2027.
“What Is Life” ultimately presents an artist concerned with musical heritage, personal expression, and the enduring relevance of soul music as a vehicle for examining complicated human experiences.
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