While actor Joe Keery is best known for being Steve Harrington, the beloved babysitter from the hit Netflix show Stranger Things, this star has also seen success in the music industry through his unique, memorable alternative/indie rock sound under his musical alias of Djo. Djo currently has three albums released, the most recent being The Crux which was released in April of 2025.
1.“Lonesome Is a State of Mind”
This album opener sets the tone for Djo’s layered, pop-alternative album. The song starts with quiet synths and light guitar, providing a small preview into the memorable guitar sound heard throughout the album. The concept of this song—saying “lonesome is a state of mind—” introduces some themes shaping the album, such as embracing and overcoming changes in life and relationships.
2. “Potion”
Following the more pop tracks of “Basic Being Basic” and “Link,” the intricate guitar and melodic vocals on “Potion” brings a new, relaxed vibe to the album. With help from his producer, Adam Thein, Keery played and developed all of the instrumentation in this song including the electric guitar, acoustic guitar, drums, mellotron and more. The syncopation changes from verse to chorus, building an especially unique and impressive sound.
3. “Charlie’s Garden”
With its bright psychedelic influences, “Charlie’s Garden” will bring you back in time, mirroring the sound of The Beatles in the 1960s. While nodding to a vintage sound, Keery references his time acting in Stranger Things alongside his co-stars, specifically his friend Charlie Heaton (Jonathon Byers in Stranger Things). This song is in fact based off of a real place: the connecting backyards of Keery and Heaton when they were working on the show. Keery notes the special bonds and experiences he made working on the show, repeating “one more day, in Charlie’s Garden.” This song symbolizes a big part of his life, and is an incredible listen.
4. “Back On You”
Keery goes above and beyond in this track dedicated to his family, where he in fact featured his sisters in the song as background singers. Lyrics in the song such as “I’ve known my sisters for a lifetime, I count my lucky stars that I have them,” symbolize the deep love and appreciation he has for his sisters and furthermore, his family. While the song begins with the Brooklyn Youth Chorus singing and includes quite sentimental lyrics, it is contrasted with an upbeat, light-hearted song that is easy to sing along to.
5. “Crux”
As the album’s title track, “Crux” encapsulates the sound and message of this album perfectly. The repeated lyric of “get back to your heart” emphasizes Keery’s message of the importance of love and family, and coming back to them when you need support. The soft piano intro slowly crescendos to a large sound, mixing modern and classic rock-sounding instrumentation. “Crux” is near-perfect for a final track—summarizing what the album means to Keery and the message he is conveying to the listener.
This album as a whole conveys a resonate, powerful message in how relationships and experiences in life can end up changing us for the better. Overall, The Crux stands tall as an exciting, one of a kind listen. Djo’s vibrant fanbase, distinctive voice, and cohesive discography make him a breakout modern music artist worth checking out.
