Djo Gets Vunerable on New Single “Delete Ya”

The LA based band, Djo led by frontman Joe Keery mostly known for his acting chops (Stranger Things, Fargo) has dropped their second single, “Delete Ya,” from their forthcoming album The Crux, set to release on April 4th.

Building on the success of the first single, “Basic Being Basic,” “Delete Ya” breaches another level of vulnerability, giving a voice to intrusive thoughts. As therapeutic a drive down the PCH is on a sunny day, this track speaks to the almost desperate feeling of wanting to eternal sunshine a former paramour from your mind after things have gone awry. But what sets this song apart from others is the lyric “Wind it back and never be with ya/Then I’d be happy just to meet ya.”

So often we’re so attached to the idea of someone that when the situation or relationship becomes fraught we’re convinced we’ve misappropriated them. They were meant for another part of our life. If only we were impervious to feelings or “stayed strong,” then we would’ve found them in the right compartment of our life and this pain would have never happened.

While this isn’t their first album, with Djo, Keery continues to explore the inner workings of his and our collective psyche. To be gifted at more than one thing in this life is essentially winning the Darwinist lottery but we simply can’t blame Joe when all of his projects seem to fit his sensibilities so organically.

“Delete Ya” ends abruptly like most of the circumstances described in the song do. Every element of what you had become so familiar with vanishes and you’re left alone with your thoughts. Horrible! But I can’t wait for the album. 

“Delete Ya” is out now.

Words by Ilana Rubin for Staged Haze