Joe Keery: The Journey of Actor and Musician Djo

Joseph David Keery, professionally known in the music industry as Djo, is an accomplished American actor and musician who has achieved international prominence through a dual-track career. Best known for his breakout role as Steve Harrington in the Netflix series Stranger Things (2016–2025), Keery has successfully leveraged his television stardom into significant film roles, including Free Guy and Spree, and a critically acclaimed tenure in the fifth season of Fargo.Simultaneously, Keery has established a formidable musical identity. Initially a founding member of the psychedelic rock band Post Animal, he transitioned to a solo career under the moniker Djo to maintain a distinction between his acting persona and his musical output. This solo venture reached a commercial zenith in 2024 when his track "End of Beginning" became a viral sleeper hit, achieving multi-platinum status and a top-ten position on the Billboard Hot 100. As of 2025, Keery has rejoined Post Animal while continuing to tour and release solo material, marking him as a rare contemporary artist with sustained success across both major entertainment mediums.Early Life and Educational FoundationBorn in April 1992 in Newburyport, Massachusetts, Joseph David Keery was the second of five children. His early interest in the performing arts was fostered at Maudslay State Park through the "Theater in the Open" camp. His formal pursuit of acting began in high school and continued at The Theatre School at DePaul University in Chicago, where he graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Acting.Acting Career: Evolution and Major WorksKeery’s acting career transitioned from commercial work for brands like KFC and Domino's to becoming a staple of global popular culture.Breakthrough: Stranger ThingsRole: Steve Harrington.Trajectory: Originally auditioning for the role of Jonathan, Keery was cast as Steve in late 2015. Initially a recurring character in Season 1, he was promoted to a series regular for Seasons 2 through 5 due to critical and audience acclaim.Recognition: Shared a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2017.Film and Television ExpansionKeery has strategically diversified his portfolio with a mix of independent satires and high-budget studio productions:Genre Satires: Starred as Kurt Kunkle in the 2020 film Spree, a social media-focused satire.Commercial Success: Played game developer Walter "Keys" McKey in the 2021 box-office hit Free Guy.Critical Television: Portrayed Gator Tillman in the fifth season of the FX crime drama Fargo (2023–2024), earning an Astra TV Award nomination.Documentary and Voice Work: Voiced John Greenwood in the PBS mini-series The American Revolution (2025) and appeared as himself in the documentary One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 (2026).Upcoming and Recent ProjectsYearTitleRoleNotes2024 | Pavements | Stephen Malkmus / Himself | Biopic2024 | Marmalade | Baron Lamram | Film2026 | Cold Storage | Travis "Teacake" Meacham | Sci-fi actionMusical Career: The Djo PersonaKeery’s musical journey is characterized by a commitment to the psychedelic rock and synth-pop genres, often produced and released with a high degree of creative independence.Band Affiliation: Post AnimalBetween 2014 and 2018, Keery was a core member of the Chicago-based band Post Animal, contributing guitar, drums, and vocals. He officially departed in 2018 to ensure the band's identity remained independent of his Stranger Things fame, though he rejoined the group in 2025 for the album Iron.Solo Career as DjoUnder the pseudonym Djo, Keery has released three distinct studio albums through the label AWAL:Twenty Twenty (2019): A debut noted by NME for its warped psychedelia, drawing comparisons to Tame Impala.Decide (2022): This album served as the catalyst for his greatest musical success. The track "End of Beginning" became a global viral hit in 2024.The Crux (2025): Preceded by singles "Basic Being Basic" and "Delete Ya," this album's art direction received a Grammy nomination for Best Album Cover.The Crux Deluxe (2025): A surprise companion album featuring 12 new tracks written during the original Crux sessions.Commercial Achievements and CertificationsKeery's musical success reached peak levels with the single "End of Beginning":Billboard Hot 100: Peaked at #6.Global Performance: Reached #1 in the UK and on the Billboard Global 200.Certifications: 5× Platinum (USA), 7× Platinum (Australia), and 3× Platinum (UK).Professional RecognitionSelected Awards and NominationsScreen Actors Guild Awards: Winner, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (Stranger Things, 2017).Grammy Awards: Nominee, Best Album Cover (The Crux, 2026).Billboard Music Awards: Nominee, Top Rock Song ("End of Beginning", 2024).Brit Awards: Nominee, Best International Song ("End of Beginning", 2025).Personal Life and Industry ImpactKeery maintains a residence in the West Village of New York City, having moved from Los Angeles in 2023. His personal life has included publicized relationships with actresses Maika Monroe (2017–2023) and Chase Sui Wonders (2023–2024).His impact on the industry is defined by his ability to maintain a serious musical career that is respected independently of his acting celebrity. This is evidenced by his upcoming 2026 tour supporting Tame Impala and his songwriting collaboration with Charli XCX for the Wuthering Heights soundtrack (2026).Headlining ToursBack on You World Tour (2025): Promoted The Crux with Post Animal as the supporting act.South America & Mexico Tour (2026).Summer North American Tour (2026).