ARTIST TO WATCH: DJO

Back in 2016, if someone told me that "Stranger Things" star Joe Keery would be an indie-pop sensation with multiple hit albums and nearly 26 million monthly listeners on Spotify, I wouldn’t have believed it. But in 2025, Keery’s band DJO is redefining the music scene by masterfully synergizing genres, creating a new sound that feels nostalgic yet refreshing. 

The alternative indie band first began releasing music back in 2019 with their first album Twenty Twenty, instantly gaining traction with fan favorites like “Chateau (Feel Alright)”. The DJO fanbase only continued to grow from there. The band’s next album was Decide, released in 2022, including one of their most recognizable songs “End of Beginnings”, which was recently nominated for Song of the Year at the 2025 Brit Awards. 

The band kicked off their Back on You World Tour in February of this year, coinciding with the release of their latest album, The Crux, in April. The album quickly became a hit, with standout tracks like "Basic Being Basic" and "Delete Ya" circulating on popular social media platforms including TikTok and Instagram. 

The album puts DJO’s musical brilliance on full display, as they skillfully blend a range of popular genres while still maintaining a cohesive unique sound. Tracks like "Charlie’s Garden", "Golden Line", and "Potions" echo the nostalgic rock vibes of the 1960s and ’70s, drawing clear inspiration from bands like The Beatles. Meanwhile, songs like “Delete Ya” take influence from the catchy synth-pop tunes of the ‘80s. 

On September 12, the band surprised listeners by releasing The Crux Deluxe — an expanded edition of their latest album featuring 12 new tracks — and it did not disappoint. Much like the original, The Crux Deluxe continues to explore the melding of genres. The track "Awake", with its melodic grunge sound, pays clear homage to iconic ’90s bands like Nirvana. At the end of September, DJO kicked off their Another Bite Tour, an extension of the Back on You World Tour — and fans were already buzzing with excitement before it even started.