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Photo: Neil Krug

Though best known for portraying Steve Harrington in Netflix's Stranger Things, Joe Keery has long been an interdisciplinary powerhouse and began making music as a teenager. Under the moniker Djo, Keery started to release music in 2019 and took the world by storm in 2024 with his hit track "End of Beginning." This year, he's again proving that he's more than just an actor with his latest offering, "Basic Being Basic." Building off his previous work's experimental and atmospheric tones, "Basic Being Basic" feels like a conscious nod to pop culture's love of irony, combining an infectious rhythm with a cheeky, tongue-in-cheek commentary on modern life in the digital age.

Its infectious, upbeat groove instantly captures the audience's attention, opening with a sound reminiscent of arcade aliens being annihilated in Space Invaders. Driven by crisp, punchy synths and a rhythm perfect for the dancefloor, its funky soundscape balances its playful energy with moments of introspection, making the track feel fresh and relatable as Keery masterfully plays with the concept of being "basic."

"It's kind of a shot fired to anyone who's trying to be of the moment," Keery said about the track in a press release. "I think you're scared of being basic," he sings. "That's ironic because it's reading like you're even more basic / It's not funny, it's so funny." The takedown continues as he highlights his target audience's "understated nothingness" and addiction to social media relationships rather than something real and tangible.

The accompanying music video starts with Keery in front of the camera, followed by a crowd eating lunch in an outdoor space. The video is shown in reverse, with groups of people walking backward and putting food from their mouths untouched back onto their plates. But once the visual hits the two-minute mark, everything returns to normal, fast-forwarding to the end.

The new single will feature on his upcoming third album, The Crux, out April 4. Unlike Keery's previous albums, recorded in his bedroom and focused around synths, the new project is said to spotlight lush guitars and instrumentation reminiscent of late '60s and '70s pop. It's an album full of loss, yearning but also of wit, and gratitude. However, "Basic Being Basic" is the first glimpse into Keery's new world. It expresses everything The Crux sets out to do, celebrate, and recognize the importance of self-resilience and nurturing your community. Ahead of the album's release, Keery is headed down under to perform at Laneway Festival across Australia from February 6-16 before embarking on a North American and European tour.

Watch the "Basic Being Basic" lyric video below: