Biography
Who is Karen O?
Early life and education
Born Karen Lee Orzolek in Busan, United States, she was raised in Englewood, New Jersey. She attended the Dwight-Englewood School during her youth. A friend introduced her to music and took her to a concert by the band Jonathan Fire*Eater, which sparked her initial interest in performing.
She briefly enrolled at Oberlin College in Ohio. She did not find the experience enjoyable and eventually moved to New York. There, she attended the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University to further her education.
Rise with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Karen O formed the indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs in early 2000 alongside guitarist Nick Zinner. Drummer Brian Chase joined the group later that September to complete the trio. The band gained significant attention during the garage rock and post-punk revivals of the 2000s in the New York music scene.
The band signed with Interscope Records to distribute their 2003 debut studio album, Fever to Tell. This record sold over one million copies worldwide by the end of that decade. They have since released four additional studio albums, including Mosquito in 2013, Show Your Bones in 2006, and It's Blitz! In 2009. Every album they have produced has entered the US Billboard 200 chart and the UK Albums Chart.
Solo projects and soundtrack work
Beyond her work with the band, she has contributed music to many films. She co-wrote and performed on the soundtrack for the 2009 film Where the Wild Things Are, working with Carter Burwell. She also provided the song The Moon Song for the 2013 movie Her, which earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song and a Grammy nomination.
She released her first solo album, titled Crush Songs, on September 9, 2014, via Cult Records. This release was supported by a live album, Live from Crush Palace, recorded at the Masonic Lodge in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. In 2019, she collaborated with musician and producer Danger Mouse to release the album Lux Prima. The two had originally discussed working together in 2007 but did not finalize the project until 2016.
Personal life
She is married to Barnaby Clay. The couple previously directed the music video for the song Hologram World by the group Tiny Masters of Today under the name Kids with Canes. During her career, she has been recognized for her fashion, which she often attributes to a long-standing partnership with costume designer Christian Joy. She has received many award nominations throughout her career, including eight Grammy Awards and a Golden Globe Award.
Birthday and age
Karen O was born on November 22, 1978, which makes Karen 47 years old today. That birthday falls under the Sagittarius sign. Karen shares the date with 54 other famous people.
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