CREATIVES: Chandra Oppenheim with Dusty Visions

Dusty Visions of Threading the Needle interviews Post Punk legend Chandra Oppenheim and bandmates live in studio.

Chanda Oppenheim is a musician and performer originally from New York City. At a young age, she was heavily exposed to the New York art world thanks to her father, Dennis Oppenheim, work as a sculptor, photographer and performance artist. This led to her diving into the burgeoning punk and no-wave scene in Manhattan’s lower east side.

At the young age of 12, she began collaborating and writing songs with members of post-punk band Model Citizens, which then led to the release of her first record: the Transportation EP. On its 4 songs, Chandra wonderfully captures the spirit of punk but with an adolescents’ experience over minimalist post- disco rhythms.

Chandra’s EP was well received and after promoting and touring with her band, she decided to continue to pursue academic endeavors never quite returning to music. However, over the last 5-7 years, she has embraced her past and the music she made, forming a new band, releasing new recordings, and playing shows once again.