Katie Schmidt

The dawning of our new normal — a world of postponement, rescheduling and uncertainty — showed us just how sacred live shows can be. Whether they’re experienced in person or at home in front of a screen, the collective energy fostered between an artist and their audience is the driving essence of live music. While we may hav...

It’s often difficult to figure out an artist’s true identity at face value. Press interviews and social media offer a more transparent lens into the worlds of our favorite artists. Even so, the bigger — and more complicated — picture can often remain out of view. Because these intimate...

Demos are a great way for listeners to peer into the creative process of their favorite musicians. As an artist’s vision comes to fruition, demos serve as the solidified rough draft of a song. They can show us the painstaking mental labor that comes with writing new music. They...

The 1980s were the big bang of music videos—a cosmic explosion of creativity, technology and straight-up weirdness.  With the launch of MTV in 1981, some artists used the visual art form to sell sex, youth and anything eye-catching, while others used it to visually define themselves within the music business.  Read mo...

Among all the music that the ‘90s brought us, there’s one common denominator—kick-ass women vocalists. From the emergence of grunge to the golden age of hip-hop settling in its place, the ‘90s proved to be a decade where artists expressed the exasperations of womanhood with all of their might. As women lead sing...

Ever wonder where your favorite artist filmed that one music video? While the answer is probably some private set in Los Angeles, a handful of music videos were actually filmed in public locations. With the weather warming and in-person concerts still on hold, why not support your favorite artists by visiting the sets of their music videos...

Beyond the illusion of their masks, Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo (or, Daft Punk as you know them) permanently transformed the music industry. Their 1997 debut album, Homework, and 2001 follow-up album, Discovery, introduced the world to electronic music with an unprecedented voice...

Getting booked as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live is the perfect way for any artist to become a household name. But with the national spotlight comes the show’s strict standards for guests, leaving some outspoken artists to feel restrained. ...

It seems like every week some social media post goes viral for claiming an old episode of The Simpsons predicted the future. The trend started a couple of years ago when fans discovered the show nodded at a Trump presidency all the way back in 2000...

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is intended to be a relaxing, non-competitive game, yet players are discovering some hidden tricks and resources that can make island getaway life all the more efficient and enjoyable. While the game is set in real time and the only skill really needed is luck, some players become a bit frustrated waiting for their long-awaited DIY recipe to wash ashore or to catch a

As the longest-running animated television show in history, The Simpsons has been around for the rise and fall of grunge, the emergence of pop punk and countless other shifts in the music world. Throughout the past 31 years, The Simpsons has landed some of music’s most successful artists as guest stars. Whil...

From low-rise jeans to flashy Myspace themes, the 2000s was an era defined by flamboyancy. While the majority of those embarrassing trends naturally faded with time, one product of the '00s has overstayed its welcome. The infamous brand Kidz Bop has been churning out family-friendly compilation albums since 2001 sung by kids, for kids...

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a friendly, relaxing video game that’s been all the rage since its initial release on the Nintendo Switch in March. From the adorable animal villagers to a quiet island getaway, a simulated life in Animal Crossing: New Horizons makes for the perfect virtual escape from 2020. ...