Unless you have been living under a rock, you are bound to have witnessed millions of people discussing the Stranger Things finale both online and in person. The stellar cast worked tirelessly for a year to deliver an exceptional final season of the beloved 80s themed, sci fi blockbuster. The influential cast is jam packed of loveable personalities and musical talent.
Among the cast members is Joe Keery, better known as Djo, his musical alter ego. Djo is Keery’s first solo musical endeavour, prior to Stranger Things he played in a band called Post Animal. Once the success of Stranger Things skyrocketed, Keery rapidly noted that he could no longer perform the same intimate shows with his Post Animal band mates that he once knew, without fans screaming about Steve Harrington in a darkly lit room. Since his Post Animal days, Keery quietly worked on his solo projects and mastering his musical artistry and has since released four albums over his musical career, including a deluxe version of his record ‘The Crux’.
His very first solo project was released in 2019 named, ‘Twenty Twenty’ and despite not reaching mainstream chart success, Djo had amounted a cult like online following, some fans even not drawing the connection that the same Steve Harrington that struts around in a sailor’s costume is the musically talented artist that we have all grown to love.
Keery’s music faced never before seen levels in popularity during early 2024. The artist’s album ‘Decide’ seemingly became an overnight hit however there is one track that held the torch. ‘End Of Beginning’ was heard everywhere, and this specific victory lap started with a Tiktok virality that no one could have predicted.
The song surged in 2024, hitting number 11 on the US Billboard hot 100 and number 4 on the UK charts. The songs popularity is no surprise as it discusses themes that many individuals relate to. Typically interpreted as a song about revisiting a formative time and place from your past, it is riddled with nostalgia and fond memories. Kerry himself stated that he wrote the track about leaving Chicago for Los Angeles once he landed his Stranger Things role.
Due to the success and sheer demand of the recent release of the final season of Stranger Things, many fans have reignited their love for Djo as an artist and are reminded of truly how spell-bounding his musical abilities are. As of January 5, 2026, ‘End Of Beginning’ is now number one globally, knocking down Taylor Swift’s, ‘The Fate Of Ophelia’. Almost two years on the song is still only growing in popularity now amounting close to two billion streams on Spotify alone. All this time later fans are still rediscovering and streaming this song, it is no doubt bound to be a nostalgic classic in years to come.
It goes without saying that Keery’s otherworldly success as an artist will continue to progress in years to come, and rightfully so! His musical talent has gone unnoticed for far too long.
