Djo, the musical project of actor and producer Joe Keery, known for his role as Steve Harrington on Netflix's Stranger Things, is gearing up for the release of his highly anticipated new album, THE CRUX. Set to be released on April 4, 2025, through AWAL Recordings, the album follows up Djo's successful 2022 album, DECIDE, which featured the hit single, 'End of Beginning.'
With this announcement, Djo has also released the first single, 'Basic Being Basic.' This track features engaging Oberheim OB-X8 synths and showcases Djo's falsetto. Its lyrics provide a commentary on contemporary culture, where Keery remarks, "It’s kind of a shot fired to anyone who’s trying to be of the moment." The single will debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on January 28, 2025, where he will also serve as a guest.
Djo's upcoming world tour, aptly named the Back On You Tour, is set to kick off on April 4, 2025, with two shows at Revolution Hall in Portland, Oregon. This tour will feature support from the indie rock band Post Animal, with whom Keery played before embarking on his solo career. Fans can expect the tour to include performances across North America, the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, with significant festival appearances lined up at iconic events such as Coachella and Hurricane Festival.
Tickets for the tour will go on sale starting January 31, 2025, at 9 AM local time, with pre-sale opportunities beginning on January 28 for fans eager to secure their spots. Keery noted the tour's charitable angle, as $1 from each North American ticket sold will be directed to support recovery efforts for families and communities affected by the recent wildfires through the PLUS1 LA Fires Fund.
THE CRUX was co-produced by Keery and his longtime collaborator Adam Thein and marks a stylistic shift from his earlier work. Unlike his previous albums, primarily recorded at home, THE CRUX showcases lush instrumentation influenced by late 60s and 70s pop music. Thematically, it delves deep, reflecting loss, yearning, self-resilience, and community bonds formed during periods of struggle.
Keery shared how personal experiences shaped the album, stating, "It’s been sort of snowballing and been pretty crazy." Written during travels across the globe, the album was recorded at the historic Electric Lady Studios, enhancing its sonic depth. Each song serves as not only personal narratives but also collective stories, underscored by contributions from friends and family, which lend the music warm energy.
Significantly, Djo's previous single, 'End of Beginning,' achieved remarkable success, reaching #1 on the Global Spotify chart before becoming the #6 most streamed song worldwide, with 1.5 billion streams and over 60 billion views on TikTok. The track's widespread popularity also translated to rankings on official charts across 41 countries and earned him his first BRIT Award nomination for International Song of the Year.
Commenting on his music’s evolution, Keery explained, "What begins as a meditation on the dissolution of a relationship winds its way back to self-resilience." The cover art, created by Neil Krug, visualizes the album's narrative as it depicts various characters at crossroads, each tied to the central theme of transience.
Fans of Djo can expect performances to reflect the collaborative spirit of his new material, with rich, cinematic qualities poised to engage. The upcoming tour not only highlights Djo's musical growth but also serves as his welcome return to the stage following the tremendous success generated by his previous projects.
Overall, Djo's upcoming album THE CRUX and the subsequent Back On You Tour are set to redefine his artistic identity, shifting away from merely being recognized as an actor to cementing his place as a formidable musician. With anticipation building, Djo looks to leave fans eagerly awaiting both the album and the live experience.