The Art of Dressing the Stage with Jozzan

Young N’ Loud Magazine Exclusive

Fashion meets rebellion, and fabric becomes rhythm when music steps into the spotlight. Behind the unforgettable image of every rock star, there’s a creator shaping not only how artists look but how they feel when they perform. Young N’ Loud Magazine sat down with Jozzan, the visionary designer crafting bold, exclusive stage costumes for musicians who live and breathe authenticity. This is a conversation about passion, artistry, and the fearless intersection of music and style.

SECTION 1 — THE BEGINNING OF THE VISION

Young N’ Loud: Every artist has an origin story. How did your journey into designing for musicians begin?
Jozzan: My initial idea was not to create clothing for musicians; it was a way for me to wear my art while also paying tribute to my favorite bands. When my costumes started spreading across social media, a few artists reached out to me about stage outfits.

Young N’ Loud: Was there a particular moment or client that made you realize your work was meant for the stage?
Jozzan: It was when I was asked to create a stage outfit for Alissa White-Gluz that the idea of designing clothing for musicians first came to me.

Young N’ Loud: When you think about your creative identity, what influences shaped your early designs fashion, music, culture, or rebellion?
Jozzan: It all started when I dressed up as Alissa White-Gluz for Halloween 2019. I sewed and hand-painted a costume inspired by one of her stage outfits. Creating that costume was so much fun that I wanted to make another one. That’s when it struck me a costume with hand-painted album covers and lyrics would be a perfect way to pay tribute to a band. So I decided to create a costume inspired by my absolute favorite band, Meshuggah.

Young N’ Loud: Rock and stagewear often challenge conventions. Did you always feel drawn to the idea of creating something untamed, something meant to perform?
Jozzan: Yes. Before I started creating clothing for artists, I used my costumes myself as a way to “perform” and showcase my art. I wore them to festivals, concerts, and shared photos on social media.

Young N’ Loud: How does music influence the way you design, both emotionally and visually?
Jozzan: Music has inspired many of my creations. I often get a feeling from a specific song, music video, or an entire band, and then I want to paint and create a piece that captures that feeling. I like weaving the band’s history into what I make small details from lyrics, album covers, or things that only fans might recognize.

SECTION 2 — THE ART BEHIND THE OUTFIT

Young N’ Loud: When a musician approaches you for a custom piece, where does the creative process start, the music, the personality, or the story they want to tell?
Jozzan: The process starts by listening to the artist, both to their music and what they want to express. I always sketch out the ideas before painting on the garment, so that both the artist and I can see where it’s heading and make changes if needed. That way, I feel confident that both of us will be completely satisfied with the final result.

Young N’ Loud: Many of your designs become part of an artist’s identity. How do you balance your artistic vision with theirs?
Jozzan: Collaboration is key. I want the artist to see themselves reflected in the piece while still keeping my signature touch. It’s like writing a song together you each bring your rhythm, and the harmony happens somewhere in the middle.

Young N’ Loud: Do you see your creations as fashion, art, or performance tools or perhaps all three?
Jozzan: I’d say they are both art and performance tools. I put a lot of thought into how the imagery, symbols, and lyrics will appear from different poses and angles on stage. It also has to work practically and be flattering on the body. The garment should enhance the artist, both visually and in their stage performance. So even though it’s art, it’s also a tool something that amplifies the music, the feeling, and the artist’s expression.

Young N’ Loud: Every costume tells a story. Is there one particular piece you’ve created that felt especially meaningful or transformative, for you or the artist?
Jozzan: A costume that means a lot to me is my Meshuggah suit, which I created between 2020 and 2022. It’s a hand-painted full-body suit featuring every album cover and lyrics from my favorite band. I’ve been a huge fan for many years and have really immersed myself in their music, lyrics, and history. This costume became a way for me to channel all my fascination and love for the band.

Young N’ Loud: How much of your design philosophy revolves around emotion versus visual impact?
Jozzan: The visual impact is very important to me. I put an incredible amount of time and thought into the visual expression. The garment should not only reflect the band and their music but also be flattering on the body. I actually spend most of my time designing and planning before I start with the physical creation.

SECTION 3 — BEHIND THE SCENES OF ROCK STYLE

Young N’ Loud: Working with musicians must come with creative challenges. What’s the most unexpected or bold request you’ve ever received?
Jozzan: I once had a request for a costume that incorporated real metal pieces into the design. It was bold, heavy, and not exactly stage-friendly but that’s the fun part of this job, finding balance between artistic madness and practicality.

Young N’ Loud: Stage costumes need to be functional, expressive, and durable. How do you merge art and practicality?
Jozzan: After trying out many different materials, I found that the most durable option for tight bodysuits is Lycra or Spandex. The challenge was the paint. I couldn’t find one that was opaque enough and could withstand movement, sweat, and washing. So I had to take matters into my own hands and create one myself. I spent an entire summer experimenting until I came up with a formula that works. That’s how I work. In general I don’t compromise between expression and functionality.

Young N’ Loud: Do you find yourself designing differently for rock artists versus other genres?
Jozzan: Absolutely. Rock artists often want something raw, symbolic, and emotional. Other genres might focus more on sleekness or movement. But at the core, it’s always about storytelling.

Young N’ Loud: What role does rebellion play in your work? Is it a statement, a method, or simply part of the music itself?
Jozzan: Rebellion is both my method and my message. It’s about refusing to create something ordinary. Every piece should challenge what “fashion” means on stage.

Young N’ Loud: When creating icons, how do you ensure that the design remains timeless rather than just trendy?
Jozzan: I don’t create my costumes to follow trends. The most important thing for me is to express my love for music through clothing. I often choose bodysuits because they give me the most surface to paint on — almost like a canvas that moves with the artist on stage.

SECTION 4 — THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MUSIC AND FASHION

Young N’ Loud: Music and fashion have always been connected: one gives rhythm, the other gives image. How do you see that relationship evolving today?
Jozzan: I believe that the relationship between music and fashion is very individual. For some artists, it’s an extension of their creativity and identity, while for others it’s more of a secondary aspect.

Young N’ Loud: Do you believe that what artists wear can amplify their performance, not just visually but emotionally?
Jozzan: I definitely do.

Young N’ Loud: What does “visual identity” mean to you in the music industry?
Jozzan: I’ve never listened to a band for their visual identity; the music has always been most important to me. But when a band has a well-thought-out visual expression, it absolutely enhances the experience.

Young N’ Loud: How do you capture the essence of a band or performer through fabric, texture, and detail?
Jozzan: It’s about emotion. I listen, observe, and translate. Every fold, line, or brushstroke becomes part of the artist’s story.

Young N’ Loud: When fans see an artist in one of your designs, what do you hope they feel or understand beyond the look itself?
Jozzan: I hope my creations catch people’s attention and make them want to take a closer look. The most rewarding part is when fans spot all the little details, album covers, and lyrics that I’ve thoughtfully placed.

SECTION 5 — LEGACY, IMPACT, AND THE FUTURE OF STAGE DESIGN

Young N’ Loud: How do you define originality in an age where visual trends change so quickly?
Jozzan: I don’t follow trends. For me, it’s about creating pieces that pay tribute to the bands. The challenge is to capture their history and bring it together in a way that feels both flattering and beautiful on the body. It’s so much fun, but also very time-consuming.

Young N’ Loud: What do you hope your legacy will be within both the fashion and music worlds?
Jozzan: I hope that my work feels timeless, because each piece tells its own story. When I paint album covers and lyrics onto the costumes, it becomes a way of capturing a band’s journey in fabric and paint instead of words and music. I want my costumes to live on as more than just stage outfits as artworks and stories that continue to inspire.

Young N’ Loud: If you could collaborate with any musician, past or present, who would it be and what would you design for them?
Jozzan: Creating a suit for Alissa White-Gluz was the ultimate collaboration for me. Her stage outfits inspired me to start making my own costumes, so having the honor to create a piece for her truly felt like coming full circle. Another exciting project would be to design something for Skynd, centered around true crime and serial killers. I’d also love to make something for Tatiana Shmayluk from Jinjer. I’ve actually started sketching a top inspired by their song “Wallflower.”

Young N’ Loud: What advice would you give to young designers dreaming of merging art and music?
Jozzan: Keep on trying and never give up. Wear your creations to big events, festivals, and concerts, and share your work on social media. Create pieces that you’d want to wear yourself  that’s when it feels genuine.

Young N’ Loud: Finally, what does “style that sounds” mean to you?
Jozzan: When fashion and music are so intertwined that one instantly evokes the other.

Closing Note
Every thread, every cut, every spark of design is a note in the symphony of stage performance. Through the hands of designers like Jozzan, music gains form not just in sound, but in movement, texture, and presence.

At Young N’ Loud Magazine, we celebrate those who make the invisible visible, the creators who help musicians wear their truth, one masterpiece at a time.

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