Atwood Journal’s writers unpack Djo’s daring and introspective third album ‘The Crux,’ exploring its sonic playfulness, lyrical vulnerability, and emotional evolution as Joe Keery steps additional into himself, navigating solitude, id, and the seek for reality by music.
Featured listed here are Atwood writers Anu Sarode, Ashley Littlefield, Claire Meyer, Dimitra Gurduiala, Miranda Urbanczyk, and Olivia Martinez!
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To begin, what’s your relationship with Djo’s music?
Miranda Urbanczyk: Discovering new music is a pastime of mine, which ends up in nice treasure. There are such a lot of musicians which might be ready to be discovered. Earlier than Djo was introduced as Joe Keery’s musical mission, I had seen the identify on my Spotify suggestions. I by no means clicked on his music, and genuinely couldn’t let you know why. It’s simple to go by new artists once you’re within the midst of studying the songs of a number of musicians. As soon as I discovered that Joe Keery was Djo, I instantly acknowledged the artist’s identify and dove proper into his discography. Ever since that second in 2022, he has been on my common rotation of music.
Anu Sarode: Informal! To let you know the reality, I don’t know an excessive amount of about Djo himself past that he’s an actor in Stranger Issues and that I’ve heard his tune “Finish of Starting” rather a lot on the web (which I really like). You’ll be able to see in his dwell performances his love for the music, and I’ve loads of respect for that.
Olivia Martinez: I first encountered Djo’s music on Spotify when his tune, “Chateau (Really feel Alright)” was placed on my Uncover Weekly playlist again in 2019. I saved the tune and included it in a number of of my very own playlists all through the next yr or so. Ultimately, I noticed an image of him and made the affiliation together with his character, Steve, from Stranger Issues, realizing that he was truly the actor, Joe Keery. Rewatching the Stranger Issues, I noticed that Steve is definitely my favourite character. I’m glad that his expertise as each an actor and a musician is being acknowledged on such a big scale proper now!
Ashley Littlefield: Djo is taken into account a brand new artist I found earlier this yr. It was cool to see that he had a efficiency at Coachella on the Mojave stage. Joe Keery, an actor and musician greatest recognized for his position in Stranger Issues, has sparked my curiosity about his work. As soon as I started listening, I observed a uniqueness that stood out in his third album, The Crux. Djo opened up my common palate for listening, and it’s refreshing to listen to new music from such a multi-facted performing artist.
Dimitra Gurduiala: It’s fairly humorous, truly. I’ve at all times recognized who he was due to TikTok, with out ever watching Stranger Issues (it’s on my watchlist, although). “Finish of Starting” was actually in every single place, I appeared for him on Spotify, after which I used to be pleasantly shocked. Not solely as a result of I noticed Djo’s fairly good certainly, but additionally as a result of it appears that evidently a while in the past I had saved his 2019 single “Mortal Projections,” with out having any thought about who he was or was about to turn into. Glad I had the prospect to re-discover him!
Claire Meyer: I might additionally take into account myself a reasonably informal listener with regard to Djo. Like many others have stated, I first discovered about Joe Keery from Stranger Issues, and would say I most likely know him from his appearing greater than his music. However his sound/model of music may be very, similar to what I usually hearken to, so I’ve been slowly (and possibly unconsciously) absorbing it over the previous yr or two – just about since “The Finish of Starting” blew up on TikTok. I grew to become a extra acutely aware listener main as much as this album, together with his singles popping up in my Launch Radar on Spotify.
What are your preliminary impressions and reactions to The Crux?
Miranda Urbanczyk: Initially, I used to be totally in shock and disbelief upon my first hear of The Crux. This album was nothing I anticipated it to be, in the very best method. Whereas I knew it will be nice regardless, Keery stepped into a brand new sound that I completely adored.
Anu Sarode: Oh man, nice stuff. There’s a lot taking place on this document. He takes his voice to loads of totally different locations and there’s a very heat, kinda 70s undertone to every little thing. I had a stunning time listening. It jogged my memory of being a young person.
Olivia Martinez: I’m actually glad anytime an indie musician places out music that feels enjoyable. Fashionable artists usually take themselves too severely as a way to seem “genuine,” however I believe that The Crux illuminates Djo’s authenticity by the use of vibrancy and sonic range versus monotony. That is positively extra charming to my ears.
Ashley Littlefield: The album unfolds as a story, starting with the sensation of being caught in a selected mindset introduced on by solitude and uncertainty. Because the document progresses, it regularly builds on hope and transformation, whether or not by relationships or private ambitions. The music evolves in direction of a extra profound internal reality and self-acceptance by the journey it undertakes to succeed in its vacation spot, marked by progress.
Dimitra Gurduiala: Liked it. I anticipated one thing gentle and enjoyable, so I used to be amazed at how profound it turned out to be. It made me ponder about loneliness, my expectations for the longer term and far, way more. It additionally made me dance although, rather a lot certainly! Though it was launched in April, to me it feels very very similar to a summer time album.
Claire Meyer: I used to be additionally shocked at how enjoyable and free it felt. It’s a type of albums the place for those who don’t actually hearken to the lyrics you’d assume each tune is glad. It’s positively a giant tonal and thematic shift from his earlier releases. Dimitra stated it feels extra summer time than spring, however I believe it suits the transitional interval of late spring/early summer time fairly nicely; there’s a breeziness to it that looks like early summer time, however there’s nonetheless a little bit of storminess inside that reminds us not every little thing is so sunny.
How does this album examine to Djo’s first two albums, DECIDE and Twenty Twenty – what are probably the most hanging similarities or variations?
Miranda Urbanczyk: The Crux opens the door to vulnerability with its delicate, passionate, and highly effective lyrics. Keery is not certain to alter-egos as he totally embraces and expresses what weighs on his coronary heart. His albums previous to this current launch, DECIDE and Twenty Twenty targeted on fame and different navigation Keery confronted. Keery takes a special method with The Crux whereas concurrently staying true to himself.
Olivia Martinez: With every album that Djo releases, he appears to additional embrace his expertise for writing catchy hooks. I respect that many songs from The Crux are enjoyable to sing together with and have been getting caught in my head, with out shedding any of Djo’s inherent inventive integrity. When given management of the aux, that is an album I can confidently play within the automobile, no matter who I’m driving with. Every observe has an instantaneous hook, which is a price cherished by most music listeners.
Ashley Littlefield: Crux has a softer tone all through the document. Resolve options extra 80s-inspired drum pads and synths, with textured vocals including a futuristic contact to the album. Twenty Twenty has a smoother cadence and groove to his debut. Crux and Twenty Twenty are related in sound, however with Djo’s newest, advanced and emotionally resonant timeless staple.
Dimitra Gurduiala: It certain is coherent to Djo’s inventive id. Like Miranda talked about, The Crux appears to be extra targeted on the susceptible aspect of the artist, even when musically it might be outlined as extra enjoyable than DECIDE. Twenty Twenty can also be fairly nice, though you may positively discover (each lyrically and musically) that Djo’s matured quite a bit. I’d say that his preliminary works really feel extra experimental and numerous than The Crux, however it lastly appears he has a greater view of who he’s and who he desires to be.
Claire Meyer: You’ll be able to inform that with every album launched, (D)Jo(e) is rising extra snug as a solo artist. I like how Miranda put it, that together with his different releases Djo targeted on fame and navigating it. However it looks like on this album, the main focus has shifted extra inward. I nonetheless assume that how he’s navigating fame is being explored, however it looks like he’s extra interested by exploring himself and his relationships, and by proxy, how fame has affected them. To me, this album feels much less synth-heavy than his earlier releases had been. It feels extra exploratory in sound and thematically.
Djo teased The Crux with “Fundamental Being Fundamental,” “Delete Ya,” and “Potion.” Are these singles trustworthy representations of the album?
Miranda Urbanczyk: Whereas all three singles are great, “Potion” was the one one which felt actually representational of the album. First impressions are vital, and on this case mislead me. “Fundamental Being Fundamental” was the primary tune I heard from the LP, which led me to imagine The Crux would come with extra upbeat anthems. Nonetheless, I truly choose softer songs similar to “Potion” and instantly fell in love with the album upon first hear. On this method, though my first impressions led me astray, it felt much more rewarding listening to an surprising sound.
Anu Sarode: Effectively, what I appreciated most about this album on first hear was what number of totally different vibes and tones he’s in a position to hit and nonetheless have the tracks sequenced so the songs circulate properly into one another. So I believe they’re about as faithfully consultant as they might be for an album with such vary.
Olivia Martinez: I believe these songs had been excellent representations of the album. Each “Fundamental Being Fundamental” and “Delete Ya” look like apparent upbeat singles, whereas “Potion” offers a style of the extra bare-bones acoustic tracks. They concurrently sparked anticipation and expectation for The Crux, which is strictly what good singles ought to do. As soon as the remainder of the album was launched, my expectations had been met with a cohesive general vibe and likewise exceeded by intelligent and thrilling moments I by no means would have predicted.
Ashley Littlefield: Completely! “Fundamental Being Fundamental” is a enjoyable, satirical commentary on the present language used to make the mundane humorous, whereas welcoming it into conversations to make clear it in a optimistic method by damaging feedback in hindsight. “Delete Ya” is a reflective, nostalgic tune that yearns to show again time and rethink previous selections. “Potion” is a softer perception, that includes shiny acoustic guitar that provides hope and a candy give up to the straightforward moments we endure all through life.
Dimitra Gurduiala: Sure, I’d say so particularly for “Delete Ya,” though I believe probably the most consultant tune of the album is “Lonesome Is a State of Thoughts.” It’s additionally true that this one is the opening observe, although, so I don’t complain an excessive amount of about it not being a single. Other than this, “Potion” is gorgeous and “Fundamental Being Fundamental” is kind of upbeat and manages to catch the listener’s consideration, that are excellent components for a single observe. They characterize the assorted souls that type the album, the nostalgia and hope that include it.
Claire Meyer: I believe the singles chosen gave an excellent sneak peak of what to anticipate from the album as an entire. They every hit on a special tone through the album. “Fundamental Being Fundamental” and (kind of) “Delete Ya” hit on the extra upbeat, catchy, enjoyable aspect of The Crux, whereas “Potion” touches on the softer, extra introspective aspect of issues. I agree with what everybody else stated about every single having a candy sense of nostalgia in it.
The phrase “crux” refers to crucial level at challenge. Why do you assume Keery might need settled on this identify for this album?
Miranda Urbanczyk: The Crux acts as a seek for the reality, a need for true connection. Whether or not Keery is being trustworthy with himself, or navigating by life- the reality adjustments an individual. When actuality adjustments in a break up second, what to be true acts as the inspiration of life. Juggling all of those feelings directly concurrently connects with the which means of “crux,” offering a representational title for such a fancy album.
Anu Sarode: Maybe he felt that the problems he wrote about for this album had been of explicit consequence in his life. There’s loads of reflection on self and people round him.
Olivia Martinez: The lyrics of the album appear to deal with life adjustments and private progress, two themes which might be normally united by one central crux. After I hear from begin to end, the tune “Egg” stands out as a sonic turning level each single time. Particularly, there’s a second on the finish of the prechorus when the beat drops out and is changed by solitary eighth notes performed by an digital keyboard. This second feels not solely important, however like a climactic arc of the album as an entire. Listening again, I discovered that the lyric throughout this second is “Don’t you want you possibly can be anyone else?” Possibly that is completely misguided, however that easy query may doubtlessly be a kind of thematic crux, or “important level requiring decision resolving of an end result,” of the document.
Ashley Littlefield: Crux jogs my memory of the burden people carry and the emotional influence of how we select to hold the moments we now have forward. The identify is an easy illustration of how others also can relate to the which means of following an internal compass. The adjustments in tonality all through the album can shift the listener’s perspective on the lengthy highway forward.
Dimitra Gurduiala: Being susceptible just isn’t simple, in any respect. It requires power, braveness, however most of all – it requires love. There are various people who find themselves afraid to do something due to their fears, which is comprehensible and completely regular. We’re afraid to get our coronary heart damaged, to expertise loss, to develop. All of those fears are carried like a heavy weight on the guts, equally to a crux. Everyone carries their very own crux, what actually issues is the way you resolve to cope with it, to dwell as a substitute of surviving with concern. That is precisely what I get from listening to The Crux.
Claire Meyer: All through the album, Djo is exploring himself and the way he pertains to the world round him – his associates, his household, and so on. He bares all, leaving himself susceptible for the listener to really study him. In some ways, it looks like Keery is making an attempt to determine the crux of his private struggles. At different occasions, it looks like he views fame because the crux that triggered him to really feel disconnected from the remainder of the world. There may be additionally an acceptance close to the tip of the document that makes it really feel like embracing his vulnerability was the crux of this complete train. I actually like what Olivia stated about viewing “Egg” because the crux to The Crux, it offers a novel perception that I’m keen to think about the following time I hear by!
Keery has stated he was grappling with the transience of his different job and being untethered and away from family and friends whereas scripting this document. How do you’re feeling these themes manifest on these songs?
Miranda Urbanczyk: Feelings and experiences are a musician’s gas when songwriting. It solely is smart that Keery channeled these emotions of loneliness and battle when creating this album. It’s seen in his uncooked lyricism, placing his coronary heart on showcase for all to dissect.
Anu Sarode: Within the ultimate observe of the identical identify, he repeats many occasions, “Get again to your coronary heart.” Which type of makes excellent sense for a man lacking his family members.
Olivia Martinez: “Fly” appears to encapsulate this assertion very nicely. Keery sings, “I adopted each winding highway, and the trail it took me to. Now I don’t look again in anger, do you?” twice all through the observe. It have to be tough as an actor and musical artist to have to decide on between your craft and your relationships. On this tune, he expresses the need of getting made the choice to “fly,” but additionally implies a small trace of regretful doubt each time he sings, “do you?”
Ashley Littlefield: Songs like “Lonesome Is A State of Thoughts,” and “Fly” maintain a heartfelt craving to be some place else aside from the place he predominantly stood within the current second or the place he noticed himself most days, being bodily unavailable to family and friends, but removed from being emotionally tethered and stored from the guts he has to share with these away from him.
Dimitra Gurduiala: You’ll be able to positively really feel Keery’s struggles by the entire album, particularly with “Lonesome Is A State Of Thoughts” and “Egg,” the place he wonders concerning the idea of id, concern and being perceived from the surface. This one’s a private favorite, and likewise probably the most highly effective tune on the document for me.
Claire Meyer: To me, it looks like there’s some dissonance between the themes and the tone of the music. On tracks like “Lonesome is a State of Thoughts,” whereas Keery is lamenting about feeling so alone, I’m making an attempt onerous to not dance. The juxtaposition between the lyrics and the instrumentation make the document really feel a bit untethered to actuality to me, reflecting how Keery felt about himself throughout this time. The goofiness and lightheartedness of tracks like “Fundamental Being Fundamental” and “Delete Ya” additionally play into that whereas nonetheless making an attempt to get on the crux of his relationships with these round him.
Which tune(s) stand out for you on the album, and why?
Miranda Urbanczyk: “Fly” instantly struck a chord with its bittersweet storytelling of therapeutic. A course of that Keery selected to clarify as “flying away,” an try and rise above the harm within the midst of reflection on the previous. “Falling again to her // Could possibly be simple to do” “However I have to fly // Fly away from her.” As a substitute of wallowing in resentment, Keery used his lyrics to encourage listeners to take the excessive highway and “fly away.”
Anu Sarode: I just like the final tune of the album, “Crux.” It’s a really efficient nearer, and has an actual sense of hope.
Olivia Martinez: As a fan of The Beatles, I used to be immediately obsessive about “Charlie’s Backyard,” which is clearly impressed, a minimum of partly, by that basic McCartney fashion. I want extra music gave the impression of this! I really like the telephonic bit, inserted between the primary refrain and second verse. The playful change in tempo hooked me instantly, as nicely. Lyrically, I respect the reference to “Charlie’s Backyard” and “Delete Ya,” during which Keery at one level sings “staff up with Charlie, take these children for a experience.” I imagine each of those moments seek advice from his friendship with Charlie Heaton from Stranger Issues, which is a candy and amusing element.
Ashley Littlefield: “Lonesome Is A State of Thoughts” lyrically, for me, visually units a scene of solitude by the road, “I’ve shot this image earlier than.” It’s about discovering readability by quiet moments, even when it could appear we’re alone, however in actuality, it’s a frame of mind. One other standalone observe that carries a ravishing acoustic ballad is “Potion.”
Dimitra Gurduiala: As I discussed earlier than, “Egg”‘s one in all my favorites. I might additionally add “Hyperlink” (particularly for the ultimate half!) and the lovey-dovey “Potion,” I’m a sucker for love songs.
Claire Meyer: “Lonesome is a State of Thoughts” additionally actually caught out for me. It was an effective way to dive proper into the album and provides us a fast rundown on the place Keery was mentally when he began creating this document. “Charlie’s Backyard” additionally jogged my memory of The Beatles, however possibly as a result of I considered “Octopus’s Backyard,” and “Golden Line” additionally felt very Paul McCartney a la Abbey Street to me, it had a weight to it whereas nonetheless conserving a little bit of brevity. “Fly” additionally stood out to me for the turmoil Djo goes by within the lyrics.
Do you might have any favourite lyrics up to now? Which strains stand out?
Miranda Urbanczyk: “Delete Ya” is filled with visualizations and analogies that really seize the dominating emotions of dependence inside the observe. Lyrics together with, “I’m locked, she’s the important thing” and “I’m a ship that’s sinking guess who’s the ocean” act as a intelligent method to embed feelings thoughtfully all through the tune.
Anu Sarode: I’m unsure if this can be a stretch, however there’s a line in Egg: “Again to the egg, it’s crimson and gold” which very a lot caught my ear as a Wings extremely fan — this line reads like a reference to 2 superior albums Paul McCartney put out with the band within the late 70s: Again to the Egg and Venus and Mars. I did hear some Beatlesy moments, like on Charlie’s Backyard.
Olivia Martinez: That is petty, however I like when he disses Vera Bradley in “Fundamental Being Fundamental.” There is no such thing as a deeper cause for this aside from the truth that I actually hate Vera Bradley.
Ashley Littlefield: “I take a stroll in Hollywood” in “Delete Ya.” I’ve an infatuation with metropolis streets in Los Angeles, particularly the fondest of recollections in Hollywood. There have been loads of days after I’ve mirrored on what it means to develop, however with out realizing the place you’ve been by the method of progress, you must expertise transferring by the feelings tied to particular locations.
Dimitra Gurduiala: “My future’s not what I believed / I believe I believed it improper” from “Lonesome Is A State Of Thoughts” hit fairly near residence. We dwell in unsure and horrifying occasions, stuffed with expectations so low that generally any little mistake appears prefer it may result in a disaster – particularly for those who’re fairly melodramatic like me. What’s the way in which out of this terrible feeling? Tacky as it could sound, sure, for me it’s love. And that’s why one in all my favorite lyrics from The Crux can also be “Life can deliver you down / The world will be so merciless / However I nonetheless belief in love,” from “Golden Line.”
Claire Meyer: “Falling again to her / Could possibly be simple to do / However I have to fly / Fly away from her” and “I’m packin’ up my issues once more / When will the motion finish? / This chapter is thru” actually caught my consideration whereas listening. Each strains are from “Fly,” the place Djo grapples with wanting to maneuver on whereas nonetheless wanting again at previous relationships. They each spotlight the expansion he was going by on the time, and the change mandatory to maneuver ahead.
The place do you’re feeling The Crux sits within the pantheon of Djo’s discography?
Miranda Urbanczyk: If I needed to rank his three albums, The Crux would are available second place. Twenty Twenty will without end really feel iconic to me, it was Keery’s first LP below Djo, and likewise the explanation I fell in love together with his music. DECIDE has some hits, and consists of my favourite Djo tune, “Change.” Nonetheless, I discover myself gravitating in direction of Twenty Twenty or The Crux most frequently.
Anu Sarode: It’s positively up there with the highest. Djo did one thing particular with this album.
Olivia Martinez: I get the sense that Djo didn’t essentially count on his music to be so profitable on prime of the already main success of his appearing profession. The Crux looks like an admission that he has outgrown his days as a small indie artist and want to take the chance of his virality to place some actually assured, enjoyable, and wacky music into the world. I hope he continues this surge of boldness together with his future releases!
Ashley Littlefield: The Crux, as a brand new listener, is a reflective work that permits listeners to resonate and deal with the uncertainty introduced of their lives, shifting their mindset. The album options added curiosity with melodic components, a lyrically narrative method, and a poetic composition that authentically explores the trail to internal reality.
Dimitra Gurduiala: I’d place it on the highest, for certain. It’s introspective, it’s assured, it’s younger and but mature. For now, probably the most full document amongst his.
Claire Meyer: I might additionally place The Crux on the prime of the Djo pantheon. I believe it exhibits progress from each Djo and Joe. It feels very true to Keery as an individual, whereas nonetheless remaining Djo as a musical act. It’s contemporary whereas remaining harking back to the place Djo got here from sonically and his prior releases.
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Watch: “Delete Ya” – Djo
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