In the vibrant music scene of Denver, Colorado - Kid Astronaut (Jon Shockness) stands out not only for his innovative sound but also for his distinctive personal style. As a musician who seamlessly blends genres and defies convention, Kid Astronaut’s approach to fashion is just as dynamic and inspirational. After our latest shoot in Lowry, we explored how Jon expresses himself through his unique style, merging music and fashion into a captivating narrative. Read on to delve into Kid Astronaut's world and uncover the essence of his personal style that sets him apart in both the music and fashion realms.

Photos styled + produced by Kayte Demont for WCKD Collective.

Fashion styling by Kid Astronaut + WCKD Collective.

How would you describe your personal fashion style, and how has it evolved over the years since you started your musical career?

I’d describe my style as futuristic punk mixed with street culture. The punk in my style - although I’ll frequently rock band tees and paint my nails comes from just dressing how I want and doing my own thing vs borrowing from a certain style. I’ll say I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable in my masculinity to be able to wear whatever feels authentic to me. 

In what ways does your fashion sense influence your music and overall creative process? Do you find that what you wear can affect your mood or inspiration when creating new songs?

I think the statement “look good, feel good” applies on so many levels. Comfort is style and style is comfort for me so I definitely consider my style and how Kid Astronaut is dressed vs how me just walking around as Jon is dressed vs how I want to portray myself during my DJ sets (As Neon Wolf). It’s less of a costume and more of a way to really dive into an idea visually and spiritually. 

Can you share an example of an outfit or style that played a significant role in one of your performances or music videos? How did it enhance the experience for you and your audience?

I wear some pants that I painted my own designs on. They feature the words “777” which speaks to divine alignment and following your intuition, the five hearts you’d see in popular video games to represent how many lives your character has - I’m a huge gamer so I wanted to reference that and the words “Angel Energy” amongst other things. I think styling myself, with the paints I painted specifically not only gives me a unique look but also can speak to who I am under the interior. 

How do you balance comfort and style in your daily life and performances? Are there specific fashion pieces that you consider essential for both practical and aesthetic reasons?

My style from stage to offstage is slowly becoming more integrated. I definitely consider more chains or rings onstage but I think it’s for me just exploring, like I said, different aspects of myself at certain times. But as far as any piece being “essential” I seek to remember - if I forgot to possibly bring a necklace I wanted to wear or something it’s rough - but I’d rather not forget I make the clothes, not the other way around. 

Fashion trends come and go. How do you stay true to your unique style while also evolving and experimenting with new looks? What advice would you give to other artists looking to find their own fashion identity?

My advice is to never follow trends - you'll say a lot more when you're being authentic to your own vision. You might even inspire and set some trends! That's the goal for my artistry at least - act intuitively and chart my own course!

Want more Kid Astronaut? Give him a follow on Spotify! We’ve literally embedded it above for you so there’s no excuse not to. LOVE YA, MEAN IT!