If you like your Christmas drag with a nerdy edge, look no further… Joi Ryder is hanging the holly with The Outhaus as they prepare their premiere family showcase in Brooklyn this week! [Cover photo: AJ Jordan]
Thotyssey: Joi, hello! So these are strange times to say the least, but the holidays are coming nonetheless. Are you usually a fan of the holiday season, or is it not your thing?
Joi Ryder: You know, I’m not really a holiday person past Halloween. But this year, I’m feeling a little nostalgic about the holidays–and with how scary the world is right now, I just wanna be corny and use it to cherish all the friends and chosen family I love,
Are you planning any Christmas looks… and will you be Mariah Carey-ing at all?
Haha! Well, I’ve worked in retail / customer service since high school so I’m Mariah’d out for life. Bah humbug? But I’ve been tumbling around some stupid little ideas for a fun Christmas look.
There’s nothing wrong with a little humbuggery!
So how long have you been a drag performer now?
I started doing really bad bedroom drag back in high school, but only since I turned 21 about a year and a half ago have I been going out in drag. I literally chose to go to college here in NYC because I was anxiously counting down the days until I could be part of the Brooklyn scene!
Where are you from originally, and what were some early interests and pursuits that may have ultimately put you on the drag path?
I’m originally from a small town upstate near Syracuse. I’m a huge nerd about things like cartoons, horror movies, video games, and all that jazz. Drag brings a lot of joy to me when I get to pull influences and references from the things I geek out about, and find other people with similar tastes. Like, the absolute best compliment I can get is when someone says I remind them of a specific cartoon or video game character. My little autistic heart pitter patters whenever I get that!
Do you have a favorite character that you’ve paid drag tribute to?
I try not to do exact recreations too often, because I really want to find my own specific footing with who Joi is. But I really, really, really put my own spin on some of the OG Cartoon Network villains like Him from Powerpuff Girls, monsters from Courage the Cowardly Dog, or like Ice King from Adventure Time. I love a villain that’s a little creepy, but also just silly and absurd.
I can’t help but think of the recent Kesha song when I see / hear it.
Haha! My name is actually taken from Ana de Armas’ character in Blade Runner and Winona Ryder, but I get that a lot.
What are your performances like, in general?
I love, love, love corny pop music and nostalgic hits. Me and my friends have a label we like to give–“real music”–to songs from like 2012-2018 that hit the sweet spot of earwormy, but still cheesy and fun. Right now, the artists that are calling my name to be performed are, like, Panic at the Disco, Paramore, Neon Trees and some other 2010s one hit wonders.
What are your favorite, and least favorite, things about drag so far?
I absolutely love the community I’m a part of and the friends I’ve made, and I’ll always be really passionate and interested in makeup… but a diva gets socially burnt out fast. But obviously, I can’t blame drag for that.
It’s hard being popular! You’re drag family The Outhaus, which includes Dragula’s Jay Kay, Miss Woman the Woman and Mx. Ology, is about to make its societal debut in Brooklyn. What can you tell us about how you all came together?
It really feels like a cute little full circle moment, to be honest! Miss Woman was one of my first friends in drag, Mx. Ology and I met at Jay’s Dragula viewing party, and I’ve been a fan of Jay since before I was 21! We all just get along soo easily, and have similar senses of humor. Like, I couldn’t imagine anybody else to be in a Haus with.
“A House in Brooklyn” at C’mon Everybody will be the show where we can first see you all onstage together (with DJ Talia Fortune)–Wednesday, November 20! What can the kids expect?
Hijinks and tomfoolery, mostly. Maybe a little sentimentality… but shenanigans come first. We all have a lot of fun together, so we wanna share that with everyone that comes out to celebrate with us.
What else is coming up for you?
If you’re a game show nerd at all, keep your eyes on my feed come the New Year; I’ve got some plans I’m gonna be putting into action pretty soon.
Intriguing! Okay lastly: what’s your favorite item in your drag bag?
Oh, easily… my Sunset Cosmetics foundations. I literally do not own a flesh toned foundation, and I’m so picky about face paints–and that stuff is magical.
Thanks, JoI!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Joi Ryder’s upcoming appearances, and follow them on Instagram.
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