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· Conor Welsch
Photo credit: CJ Harvey
Djo didn’t arrive with bombast or hype. He drifted in - subtly, curiously - on a wave of warped synths and falsetto vocals. What began as a sidestep from Joe Keery’s fame as an actor has since evolved into a confident, sonically rich body of work. Over just a few short years, Djo has released two full-length albums (Twenty Twenty and DECIDE) and a series of singles leading into his third, The Crux, arriving next week. Together, they map a creative arc of growing clarity and emotional weight.
Djo’s debut album arrived like a signal from another time. Twenty Twenty is steeped in analog textures, lo-fi warbles, and vintage filters. It’s psych-pop viewed through a VHS haze - nostalgic without being pastiche.
Standout tracks like “Roddy,” “Chateau (Feel Alright),” and “Just Along for the Ride” showcase Keery’s knack for melody and atmosphere. The vocals are processed into a smeared falsetto, lending the album a detached, dreamlike quality. Lyrically, Twenty Twenty orbits around identity and disconnection - sounding like someone trying to observe their own life from the outside.
Why it holds up: As a debut, it’s focused and fearless. It doesn’t try to prove anything. Instead, it immerses.
Collector notes: First pressings that were limited to 2000 copies are increasingly sought after for their minimalist sleeve design and warm mastering.
Where Twenty Twenty drifted, DECIDE locks in. It’s punchier, sharper, and rhythmically daring. This album feels like Djo waking up, testing the limits of his own sound, and beginning to move through the static.
The singles “Half Life,” “Gloom,” and “On the Fence” add momentum without sacrificing tone. The production is clean but retains Djo’s characteristic weirdness - vocoder lines, tape delay smears, synths that sound like melted neon.
There’s more lyrical specificity here, too. “End of Beginning” is a standout not just for its sonic arc but for how openly it wrestles with change, nostalgia, and letting go. It’s become a slow-burn fan favorite for a reason.
Why it matters: DECIDE marked Djo as not just an interesting voice, but a serious one - an artist with a point of view, not just a palette.
Collector notes: RSD 2024 came with a limited edition Deluxe version of DECIDE, with two additional instrumental tracks, "Uglyfisherman" and "Listen". Exclusive features in this RSD Black Friday Deluxe Edition include holographic packaging, picture disc vinyl and additional surprises to explore inside, as well as Djo’s viral hit "End of Beginning", exclusive to this release.
Though the full record isn’t out yet, the singles from The Crux suggest a deeper, more grounded evolution. “End of Beginning,” “Figure You Out,” and “On and On” carry a warmth not fully present in the previous albums. The lo-fi aesthetic is still there, but now it serves the emotion rather than obscuring it.
What’s striking so far is the emotional clarity. These songs still play in the Djo sandbox - synths, pitch-shifted vocals, playful arrangements - but they’re more vulnerable, more direct. It feels like the persona is starting to thin, allowing something more personal to come through.
Why it’s promising: If DECIDE was a breakthrough, The Crux may be the synthesis - a point of convergence between concept and confession.
Collector notes: Early preorders hint at multiple color variants and heavy attention to visual detail. Packaging will likely continue Djo’s trend of merging modern psychedelia with collectible presentation.
Twenty Twenty is the dream.
DECIDE is the mirror.
The Crux - if the lead-up holds - is the reveal.
Across just a few years, Djo has constructed a world that feels both familiar and alien, ironic and sincere. His discography reflects a tension between distance and connection, image and identity - delivered through songwriting that rewards close listening and vinyl that deserves space on any modern shelf.
Djo isn’t just evolving - he’s coalescing. And we’re all about to hear what that sounds like when it lands.