Djo (Joe Keery) is talented at turning heartache into something addictive. This is true for his latest single, “Delete Ya.” Released via AWAL, this soft rock anthem inspired by the melodic grooves of the 1980s is the second single from his upcoming third studio album, “The Crux.”
From the opening shimmering synths, “Delete Ya” takes listeners to a hazy, retro dreamscape in which heartbreak lingers like an unanswered text. With his co-writer Adam Thein, Djo builds a narrative that is as relatable as the fallout from a relationship with someone who had all the cards. But “Delete Ya” is about the self-doubt that sinks in after losing someone, the what-ifs and should-haves that reverberate long after the final goodbye.
Djo’s definite falsetto glides around a hypnotic groove, pairing wistful melodies with a propulsive rhythm that propels the song forward, even as its lyrics linger. Dripping in nostalgia, the production could have fit on a long-lost cassette tape, dug up decades later to still be painfully applicable.
There’s a duality to “Delete Ya” that makes it both melancholic and danceable, intimate and anthemic. This kind of song lingers in your mind just like the memories of the person about whom it’s written. As Djo prepares for the full release of “The Crux,” “Delete Ya” is an excellent reminder of why Djo’s music is personal, absorbing, and infectious. If this single is anything to go by, “The Crux” would be a profoundly introspective, expansive journey worth taking.
Connect with Djo on Instagram – @djotime
