“Outsiders” Star Jason Schmidt Talks Life Lessons From Sodapop Curtis, and Songwriting

What’s up next for your music?

I’m really excited! When I started releasing music, I was pretty young. Now, there’s more planning and preparation that goes into it. I think when you listen to my first EPs, the styles are pretty varied, and I didn’t exactly know what I wanted a ‘Jason Schmidt’ song to be. I’ve been writing for a long time, and I feel like we’ve really narrowed what I want my music to sound like and the story I want to tell. I’m very excited for people to hear that final sound. “7 Stars” is a taste of it, and I think the next stuff I’m doing really hits the pocket. So I’m very excited about that!

Finally, you recently headlined a show at Elsewhere in Brooklyn. What is the biggest difference between performing on a Broadway stage versus a concert stage?

Broadway is arguably easier, in some ways. It’s scripted. For the most part, I know exactly what I’m going to do. You can practice it, and you can really rehearse it.

With music, I never plan out what I’m gonna say about the songs, or where I’m gonna take breaks. When I see a concert, I think it’s less fun when I can tell they’ve planned everything out. You’re there to see the person, and I don’t care if they flub or stumble over their words. I want to hear the artists’ raw and unfiltered thoughts. I try to do that for myself, where I’m interacting with the crowd, and I’m essentially improvising.

When I get off stage from my own shows, I feel like I poured all my energy into this last hour and a half. I think that’s my goal with my music shows; I want to feel like I get off stage and have nothing left.

Thank you, Jason, for sharing great insight into the world of The Outsiders and songwriting! Keep up with Jason on Instagram and TikTok, and check out his new single, “7 Stars,” on all streaming services!