Djo continues his journey with The Crux Deluxe
Joe Keery, widely known as Djo, has dropped a surprise 12-track companion album, The Crux Deluxe, now out via AWAL Recordings. The release follows his critically acclaimed third album, The Crux, which dominated airwaves and surpassed 2.7 billion streams.
Rolling Stone called The Crux “the arrival of a fully formed artist,” while Billboard praised its creative ambition. NPR highlighted Keery’s sharp lyricism, cementing his position as one of alt-pop’s most compelling voices.
The new project expands on the themes of The Crux, moving from heartbreak toward resilience. Conceptually, Keery reimagines the Crux Hotel at night, an extension of the original’s transient setting. Unlike his earlier synth-driven work, both The Crux and The Crux Deluxe lean into lush guitars and late 60s to 70s-inspired instrumentation.
Djo teased fans by dropping three singles in the lead-up: “Carry The Name,” “It’s Over,” and “Awake.” The full album, co-produced with Adam Thein, carries the same 12-track length as The Crux and includes standout titles like “T. Rex Is Loud,” “Mr. Mountebank,” and “Thich Nhat Hanh.”
This release caps off a milestone year for Keery, who performed at Glastonbury, Coachella, and Lollapalooza, and will soon return to acting in the final season of Netflix’s Stranger Things, premiering November 26.

