Here’s how ‘Stranger Things’ star Joe Keery got the stage name ‘Djo’, and how he is ‘stuck with it’

Although Joe Keery is best known for his role as Steve Harrington in ‘Stranger Things’, the 33-year-old has also been releasing chart-topping singles since 2019. For his musical identity, Joe Keery goes by the stage name ‘Djo’. Recently, the actor-musician revealed how he landed with that name.

How Joe Keery landed with the name Djo

Joe Kerry revealed the story behind his name Djo at BBC’s ‘Graham Norton Show’. Graham Norton asked Kerry why his stage name is spelt a little different even if the pronunciation is same as ‘Joe’. To which Joe Keery explained, music was a side passion for passion or a hobby. He used to write and record music at his place while he was shooting for ‘Stranger Things’. Joe Keery said, “I was always doing music just as a hobby. I played in bands and stuff and when I was shooting the second season of ‘Stranger Things’... had a little studio at my Airbnb and was writing and recording music.”




When it finally came to uploading music to a distribution platform, At the very last moment, he went with Djo. “And then when it came time to upload this music on this distribution site, I didn't really think about what to call it and last minute I said, “Djo, it’s kind of my name.”

Now Joe Kerry puts it like he’s “stuck” with it, “It’s like Djokovic or Django or something and so I just… and now I'm stuck with it.”

On the show, Joe Keery was joined by TV duo Ant and Dec, ‘The Crown’ actress Claire Foy and singer-rapper Tinie Tempah.

Djo’s musical milestones

Before his solo-music career, Djo was a guitarist/vocalist for the band Post Animal. He started his solo career in 2019. Djo achieved major milestones with his 2022 album Decide, featuring the 2024 viral hit ‘End of Beginning.’ The song hit No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200, Spotify's Global Chart, and the UK Official Singles Chart, marking his first major chart-topping success and Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hit.