Christian Joy’s visionary songs

Have you ever seen one of Karen O’s outfits and thought to yourself “who MADE that?”. Today you’re going to meet her. Christian Joy is a fashion designer and lifelong collaborator of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman. Her DIY style has become iconic over two decades, gracing album covers, video clips and wild stage shows.

For this untrained punk from Iowa, meeting Karen O right before Yeah Yeah Yeahs broke it big, changed the trajectory of her life. In between that epic friendship she’s made costumes for Childish Gambino, Maggie Rogers, and Alabama Shakes. She’s collaborated with fashion brands and held major exhibitions.

For her Take 5 I gave her the theme “visionary songs”, and we trekked back to her childhood in Iowa, formative years in street fashion in New York City, and to the many stages where her creativity has made a gig, an iconic event.

Edith Massey - Punks, Get Off the Grass

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Date With the Night

The Big Bopper - Chantilly Lace

Rammellzee and K-Rob - Beat Bop

David Bowie - Be My Wife