More than just a TikTok trend: A listener’s guide to Djo

DeLanie Mooney

Music Journalist

Most people know the band from their viral TikTok hits “End of Beginning,” “Chateau” and “Fool.” But what most listeners don’t know is that the band’s music varies from stories of love, friendship, change and identity. More than just a TikTok trend, Djo created music that moves every listener.  

From acting to musical front man, Joe Keery has made a name for himself. The “Stranger Things” star first debuted with his band, Djo, in 2019 with their album “Twenty Twenty,” as lead singer, multi-instrumentalist and writer. While the album has no central theme, its psychedelic, indie tone explores identity and self-discovery.  

Before releasing the full album, “Roddy,” “Chateau (Feel Alright)” and “Mortal Projections” were released as singles earlier that same year.  

Recommended songs from this album: “Personal Lies,” “Chateau,” “Roddy,” “Mortal Projections” and “Flash Mountain.”

In 2020, the band released “Keep Your Head Up,” an upbeat, funky, psych-pop track. The song covers tones of self-love, shared humanity and an overall message of rising above.  

The band’s most well-known album, “DECIDE,” was released in 2022. It has themes of navigating adulthood and balancing anxiety and identity. The album has a retro-futuristic feel, blending keyboards with guitars, creating a balanced feeling of humanity and technological change. 

Before the album was released, the band released “Change,” “Gloom” and “Figure You Out” as singles. They also released two EPs: “Half Life,” which featured “Half Life,” “Figure You Out,” “Gloom,” “Change,” and “End of Beginning” which featured “End of Beginning” and “Chateau (Feel Alright).” Most of the songs released on the second EP, “End of Beginning,” are not featured in “DECIDE,” but in the band’s 2025 album, “The Crux” and gained popularity with the 2025 album.

Recommended songs from this album: “Half Life,” “Fool,” “On and On,” “End of Beginning,” “I Want Your Video,” “Change,” “Go For It” and “Figure You Out.”

Before dropping their next album, the band released “D-SIDES” in 2023. This single includes “Uglyfisherman” and “Listen,” two instrumental tracks.  

In 2025, the band released a few singles leading up to their album, “The Crux.” Before the album dropped, Djo covered HAIM’s, “Gasoline” with triple j. The cover plays into the mellow groove more than the original, with a more colorful sound coming from the guitar.  

In April 2025, Djo released “The Crux.” This album covers love, friendship and standing in the crossroads of life. The album as a whole has a bright feeling, with colorful sounds that often contradict the emotional lyrics.  

Like mentioned earlier, before releasing the full album, the band released some of the songs like “Deleta Ya” and “Basic Being Basic” on their 2022 EP, “End of Beginning.” They, along with other’s such as “Potion” and “Charlie’s Garden” were released as singles prior to the album’s release. 

Recommended songs from this album: “Lonesome Is A State of Mind,” “Basic Being Basic,” “Link,” “Potion,” “Delete Ya,” “Charlie’s Garden” and “Gap Tooth Smile.”

In September 2025, the band released three singles: “Carry The Name,” “It’s Over” and “Awake.” The singles cover heartbreak and loneliness in different ways using reminiscence, mellow tones and gloomy vocals.  

A few days later, the band released “The Crux Deluxe,” adding 12 new tracks to previous “The Crux” track list. Djo uses these additional songs to build onto the new album, making it a more cohesive release. The songs cover a variety of emotions. From conveying tones of loneliness to a feeling of belonging, the diversity in the release brings it full circle.  

Recommended songs from this album (not including songs on “The Crux”): “T. Rex Is Loud,” “Mr. Mountainback,” “Carry The Name,” “Purgatory Silverstar,” “Who You Are,” “Grime Of The World,” “Try Me,” “They Don’t Know What’s Right” and “Awake.”

The band has been featured on the Austin City Limits artist list the past few years, with this year being the exception. They were not included on this years’ artist list but opened for select Tame Impala tour shows before Dominic Fike took over. The band is currently not on tour and has not confirmed to be working on new music, but lead singer, Joe Keery, has expressed a want to continue releasing.