Our Little Shirley Beans is all grown up and running her own TV show at NYC TV, New York's culture and education station.
Shirley Braha, 24, is the producer of New York Noise, an indie-rock weekly music show sponsored by The City of New York.

This type of music is usually a little more experimental than something you might hear on mainstream rock radio. Shirley's changing the face of indie-rock music and bringing it out into the open by airing music videos of underground bands along with interviews.

“Over the past three years, people have definitely become more aware of the show,” said Shirley in a recent interview. She interned at NYC TV four years ago while completing her B.A. from Smith College in Massachusetts. NYC TV's general manager Arick Wierson then offered her a job to produce the show and she's been working there since 2004. Her past internships at Matador Records and MTV helped secure her career.

A typical day for Shirley is non-existent. “Every day is different,” she said. She discovers bands, plans interviews, edits episodes, goes out on shoots with cameramen, and uses her unbelievable creativity for everything. “I take a band and think of a fun situation to put them in,” she said. “It's like bringing them down from a high pedestal and letting them interact in a more casual way.” She's videotaped bands in places like the Big Apple Circus and the zoo, and some interviews are on YouTube. “YouTube has definitely changed the music video world,” she said.

Named one of the 21 coolest girls in America by YM (“Your Magazine”) in 2001, Shirley was always cool and unique. “Just pursue what you love doing and don't feel like you have to do something because that's what people expect of you,” she said.
Shirley's been breathing music since she was 16 and created her own record label under the name Little Shirley Beans. “I've had a passion for indie-rock since I was 14 or 15 and it's great to work with bands that I used to look up to,” said Shirley. That includes people like Tommy Ramone from the Ramones, who Shirley interviewed over tea.

A DJ for eight years already, Shirley said that people invite her to guest-DJ their parties a lot. She was a radio DJ in college and dates her hobby to when she was a teenager surfing the web. “I remember I used to talk about music sometimes with [DJ] Alley Esses A"H, who I first contacted from his website,” said Shirley. “He was the nicest guy in the world.”

Despite her hectic schedule, Shirley keeps her family a priority and speaks to them daily. “I really appreciate my family because they supported me when I wanted to go to a great college and encouraged me to pursue my professional goals,” she said. “I love how close and important family is [in this community] and I think that's the most beautiful thing to have.” Knowing that her parents and grandparents are very proud of her eased her transition to her job.

A Yeshivah of Flatbush graduate, Shirley moved on to graduate from FIT with an Associate's Degree before choosing to attend Smith College instead of Cornell. “Going to Smith was definitely an important experience,” said Shirley. And a background in Jewish education kept her values strong.

Shirley was the head of the Jewish Student Association at FIT, and the social director of events for the Hillel at Smith College. She also explored her music talents at Smith as the events director for radio. While in college, Shirley attended conferences in Washington, D.C. organized by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). She currently maintains her language skills by occasionally attending Hebrew meetings so that she doesn't forget her Hebrew.

Shirley has the same dedication to her show. “I enjoy being hands-on throughout the entire creation,” she said, before running off to a concert shoot in Battery Park.

New York Noise airs on Saturday and Sunday nights at 10 pm on NYC TV Channel 25.

Written by: Yvonne Harari