“This Place” is the second full-length album by the Hudson Valley-based Singer-Songwriter Reeya Banerjee. Reeya, like many Singer-Songwriters takes a more grounded approach to writing and creates deeply personal songs with simple power pop-style backings to let the narrative of the songs take the spotlight.
The first question that came to my mind when I read the album’s title was “Ok, but which place is ‘This Place’?”. The answer became clear as I listened to the album. This album is like a whole movie where every song is a chapter that takes place in a specific city where Reeya lived, loved, or had a particular experience. Frankly, my mind was blown. It’s a great concept for an album, and it’s executed super well in my opinion. Every song feels distinct from the next but is still similar enough because they are tied together with Reeya’s signature style and tangible experiences.
The album is co-written and produced by longtime collaborator Luke Folger; the record was crafted entirely in-person at Lorien Sound Recording Studios in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. I’m only highlighting this because it’s a significant shift from Banerjee’s 2022 debut, The Way Up, which was shaped by remote pandemic-era collaboration. This hands-on, community-driven approach is immediately audible in the album’s sonic qualities.
Engineer James Rubino, who owns the Brooklyn studio, helped capture a sound that shifts seamlessly from tender retrospection to full-throttle power pop. Folger’s dynamic production style creates space for Banerjee’s commanding vocals while building arrangements that mirror the emotional geography of each song. It feels like a collection of sonic postcards from each location that retain their individual character while contributing to the larger narrative thread.
Reeya draws influence from The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, U2, and Fiona Apple. An obvious example are the guitar textures that echo The Edge’s atmospheric approach on tracks like the breakout hit ‘Upstate Rust,’ while other moments lean into the raw vulnerability that defined artists like Alanis Morissette.
Now, let’s dissect a few songs from this album that I think are worth highlighting. Starting with “Misery of Place,” it was actually released back in April as a single, and it marks what Banerjee describes as the album’s turning point. It’s the single discrete moment where childhood nostalgia gives way to adult grief. The guitar riff the song starts with has a weirdly dark tonality; it kind of reminds me of Siouxsie and the Banshees’ style riffs. The main attraction is still the narrative, and this one serves as the thesis statement for the entire record, exploring how the places we’re from never really leave us, even if we leave them.
The next song I wanna highlight is “For the First Time”. It takes a different approach with more of a slow burn indie pop style. The theme here is the fragile hope of new beginnings. Telling a coming-of-age story right after college, functioning simultaneously as a love song to new romance, a new home, and the person she was becoming during that transitional period.
“Runner” delivers a burst of energy that reframes the restlessness of moving through all these places as a survival mechanism. Because when standing still isn’t an option, then rapidly moving is the only course of action. I think this song adds a lot of cohesion to the record.
Of course, I have to mention “Upstate Rust” It’s the most popular single of the album, and it came out back in July. It quickly amassed over 226,000 views on YouTube for its music video. Inspired by U2’s sound, particularly echoing The Edge’s atmospheric guitar textures. Thematically, Reeya explores an idea that resonates with me very deeply. The idea that doing anything scared is just as brave as doing it without fear.
Overall, I believe that Reeya Banerjee succeeded in what she set out to do with “This Place”. It’s a beautiful introspective album. And listening to it will help you reflect on and map out all the places you’ve been and how they’ve shaped you into the person you are right now.
