Nashville’s Katie Schecter drops her infectious new single and video, “Pay It No Mind,” a track that blends a sensational groove with a gracious whisper of the ’70s.
A personal mantra for Schecter, the song reminds us to not sweat the small stuff. “It’s not about ignoring all things unfavorable and living in a bubble of ignorance,” she shares, “it’s about saving your energy for when it really counts, for the stuff that really matters.”
In this track, Schecter effortlessly channels coolness, wrapped in that laid-back, soulful ’70s vibe. The song’s gentle yet powerful rhythm creates a vibe that feels both timeless and fresh, capturing the essence of classic soul while keeping it grounded in the present. A soft cascade of grit and pastel movements that can only be captured by tape— as it was recorded live to tape at the iconic Diamond Mine studio in New York City— truly makes the track an earworm.
Interestingly, Schecter wrote “Pay It No Mind” in an unconventional way—behind a drum kit. “That’s not my typical approach to writing,” she admits, “but I’d been listening to Bill Withers ‘Use Me’ on repeat just after he had passed, and I was pretending I was James Gadson (falling short obviously), and ended up landing on a groove that felt right and sang aloud to the beat. I put chords to it afterward.”
The accompanying 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 project evolved, the narrative faded, and the video became an homage to Pop Art’s often literal interpretations of Western culture. The cluttered surroundings in the video represent the small distractions we tend to fixate on, with Schecter cutting through the noise, embodying the track’s message of simplicity. Pierce’s bold use of color, combined with Schecter’s playful performance, creates a striking visual that perfectly complements the song’s vibe.
Katie Schecter is set to release a new full-length album due 2025.
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Cover photo: CJ Harvey
