Katie Schecter Released New Album, Empress

On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, Katie Schecter’s bold new album Empress—recorded live to tape while pregnant, produced by her husband Nick Bockrath of Cage The Elephant—delivers 11 soul-drenched songs celebrating motherhood, imperfection, and unbreakable human connection; stream it now or secure the vinyl before it’s gone.

Empress

Singer-songwriter Katie Schecter has released her deeply personal third full-length album Empress, an 11-song meditation on imperfection, motherhood, creativity, and the shared human experience. Recorded live to tape at New York City’s legendary Diamond Mine Studio while Schecter was pregnant with her daughter, the record embraces the warmth and vulnerability of analog recording and celebrates the beauty found in life’s rough edges.

Empress was produced by Schecter’s husband, Nick Bockrath, the guitarist of Cage The Elephant. The couple co-wrote several tracks together, and Bockrath’s intimate involvement gives the album a lived-in, collaborative feel. The sessions also brought together an all-star rhythm section of Nick Movshon and Homer Steinweiss (known for their work with The Arcs, Clairo, and Mark Ronson), alongside Russ Pahl on pedal steel, Leon Michels on piano, and Matt Combs on strings. The result is a rich, soulful sound that feels both timeless and urgently present.

At its core, Empress is a defiant celebration of things made slowly and honestly. Schecter positions the album as an antidote to fast fashion and fast culture—an argyle sweater at the bottom of the $5 bin, worn but pristinely crafted, waiting for those who know quality when they see it. The record wears its tape hiss and human breaths proudly, inviting listeners to lean in and discover the heart beneath the imperfections.

The Title Track: A Fierce Declaration

The album explodes open with its title track, a song that arrived fully formed in a single burst of inspiration. “Empress” channels motherhood, creativity, selflessness, and the unshakeable power of womanhood. It is both a love letter to Schecter’s daughter Only and a sharp rebuke to anyone who underestimates feminine strength. Shot on film by CJ Harvey, the accompanying visual presents Schecter at her most raw and exposed, matching the song’s fearless energy.

Key Tracks and Previously Released Singles

Among the standout moments are the previously released singles “Run River Run,” “Hide My Weapons,” and “Pay It No Mind.”

“Run River Run” surges forward with a resilient blend of rock, soul, and pop, rarely looking back. The brooding “Hide My Weapons,” co-written with Bockrath, explores the double-edged intimacy of long-term love—the way soulmates can heal or wound with the same precision. Meanwhile, the breezy “Pay It No Mind” serves as a laid-back reminder not to sweat the small stuff.

The album closes with “Hiding Place,” a swaying, bluesy lullaby that begins with the actual recording of Schecter’s daughter’s heartbeat heard for the first time in the doctor’s office—a moment she describes as the true beginning of her life. The song unfolds into a tender portrait of unconditional love and quiet strength, the sound of someone still standing after the storm has passed.

One Color, One Shared Humanity

Across its 11 tracks, Empress seeks unity in a polarized world. Schecter wanted the record to feel like a single hue—an unbroken emotional thread that reminds listeners of what binds us together: we all dream, love, fear, gain and lose control, arrive in unique bodies, and ultimately leave them. In an era of division, the album gently insists on our common ground simply for being alive on the same planet.

From Breakthrough EP to Headlining Stages

Schecter’s solo journey began with a self-titled EP in 2017 and continued with her acclaimed 2020 album Bad For Business. Recent milestones include a sold-out Nashville performance opening for Beck while eight months pregnant, a slot opening for The Zombies at SXSW, and vocal contributions to Cage The Elephant’s Grammy-nominated Neon Pill and their Grammy-winning Social Cues.

With Empress, Katie Schecter has delivered her most fearless and cohesive statement yet—an album that refuses to be rushed, polished to death, or forgotten. Stream or order the record on vinyl today and discover an artist weaving something built to last.

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