Today, Nashville’s Katie Schecter releases her infectious new single and video, “Pay It No Mind.” The song serves as her personal mantra, reminding us all not to sweat the small stuff. “It’s not about ignoring all things unfavorable and living in a bubble of ignorance… It’s about saving your energy for when it really counts, for the stuff that really matters,” she shares. Stream / Watch the official video.
Schecter wrote the song in its entirety while sitting behind the drum kit. “That’s not my typical approach to writing, but I’d been listening to Bill Withers’ ‘Use Me Up’ on repeat just after he had passed. I was pretending I was James Gadson (falling short, obviously) and ended up landing on a groove that felt right. I sang aloud to the beat and put chords to it afterward.”
Recorded live to tape at New York City’s legendary Diamond Mine Studio, “Pay It No Mind” was produced by her husband and creative counterpart, Nick Bockrath, lead guitarist for the rock outfit Cage The Elephant.
Featuring her close friends—the rhythm section of dreams Nick Movshon and Homer Steinweiss, Phil Towns on organ, and Matthan Minster on background vocals—it’s easy to understand why the track gets stuck in your head after just one listen.
The video, directed by Casey Pierce at Tournament Studios in Nashville, was initially inspired by Jørgen Leth’s short film of Andy Warhol eating a cheeseburger. As the concept developed, the plot was lost, and the piece became a nod to Pop Art’s often literal interpretation of Western culture and the objects that surround us. “The various clutter in the video represents the small stuff,” explains Schecter. “I’m just trying to tune out the noise and keep it simple.” Pierce’s knack for strong color palettes, paired with Schecter’s cheeky performance, makes for a striking visual presentation. Today’s video was premiered by Flaunt.
This is just a taste of what’s to come. Schecter has a new full-length album slated for release in 2025—stay tuned.
ABOUT KATIE SCHECTER
Although she was raised in New York City, Katie Schecter feels as if she time-traveled here from a chicer, more sonically cool yesteryear of the future. Now based in Nashville, she effortlessly blends the half-cool, half-kitsch vibe of Music City that is neither new nor timeless; she herself embodies it all.
Schecter’s journey as a solo artist began with her self-titled EP in 2017, followed by her second full-length release, ‘Bad For Business,’ in 2020, which solidified her place as a boundary-pushing musician. Alongside her creative soulmate Nick Bockrath, Schecter collaborated with British producer and engineer Ben Baptie to fully realize her idealized sound. ‘Bad For Business’ features Amy Winehouse’s legendary rhythm section: Homer Steinweiss (Holy Hive, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings) and Nick Movshon (The Arcs, Menahan Street Band), lending the record its soulful core. In 2025, Schecter plans to release her third LP.
Over the years, Schecter has steadily built her musical career, earning acclaim from publications such as Vanity Fair, Vogue, Coveteur, Refinery29, and The New York Times. Her versatility extends beyond music to modeling campaigns for Madewell and Banana Republic, as well as serving as an ambassador for Orange Amplifiers. Schecter has also contributed her talents as a background vocalist for Cage The Elephant and Rayland Baxter.
Her impressive career highlights include opening for The Zombies at SXSW, playing the 2019 NFL Draft and Bonnaroo, and performing at a sold-out Nashville show opening for Beck while eight months pregnant. A photo of her during this performance was featured in Nashville’s Frist Art Museum for the summer-long exhibit, ‘Guitar Town.’ Now, the spotlight is solely on her and her musical creations.
