Djo

Joseph David Keery, professionally known as Djo in his music career, was born on April 24, 1992, in Newburyport, Massachusetts. He developed an early interest in performing arts, attending Theater in the Open and later pursuing acting in high school. Keery further honed his craft at The Theatre School at DePaul University, graduating in 2014 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting. Before achieving widespread fame, he gained experience through numerous auditions, appearing in commercials for brands like KFC, Domino’s, and amiibo, and taking on roles in television series such as “Empire” and “Chicago Fire,” as well as the independent film “Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party” in 2015.

Keery’s career saw a significant turning point in late 2015 when he was cast in the Netflix science-fiction series “Stranger Things” as Steve Harrington. Initially auditioning for a different role, his portrayal of Steve led to him being promoted from a recurring character to a series regular for the second season, which premiered in 2017. The show’s global success propelled him into the public eye. Concurrently with his acting, Keery cultivated his music career. He was a guitarist and drummer for the Chicago-based psychedelic rock band Post Animal, contributing to their debut album in 2015 and their sophomore album, “When I Think Of You In A Castle,” in 2018. By 2019, he transitioned from being a touring member of Post Animal to focus on his solo work, releasing music under the moniker Djo.

As Djo, Keery launched his solo career with singles “Roddy” and “Chateau (Feel Alright)” in 2019, followed by his debut album “Twenty Twenty” in the same year. His second album, “Decide,” released in 2022, featured the track “End of Beginning,” which became a viral sensation on platforms like TikTok in 2024, leading to its release as a single and achieving significant chart success globally. He continued to balance acting and music, starring in films like “Free Guy” (2021) and the fifth season of “Fargo” (2023–2024). In 2025, Djo released his third album, “The Crux,” and Keery also rejoined Post Animal, with the band releasing the album “IRON” in July 2025, demonstrating his continued commitment to both his musical and acting endeavors.