Joe Keery Rises to the Top of Spotify Charts

Steve Harrington might be the real mastermind here, or at least that’s one way to look at this surprising turn of events. Joe Keery, known for his role in “Stranger Things,” recently knocked Taylor Swift off her Spotify throne.

Keery, who creates music under the name DJO, has seen his popularity skyrocket, likely due to fans tuning in for the series finale of the beloved show.

His track “End of Beginning,” part of his 2022 album “Decide,” has now taken the number one spot, surpassing Swift’s song “The Fate of Ophelia,” released in 2025.

Interestingly, Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” had enjoyed a lengthy reign, staying at the top of the charts for 78 days.

In a fun twist, Keery and Swift once had a friendly encounter at Electric Lady Studios in NYC. He fondly recalled how she complimented him on “End of Beginning.” “I just happened to be there the day she was there, and she’s really nice. I mean, I’ve met her a few times,” he shared. “Before anything happened with this song, she said, ‘Hey, I really love that song of yours, ‘End Of Beginning.'” I was like, ‘What? You’ve heard that song? How did you even come across it?'”

He continued, “But she’s genuinely a music lover, always on the lookout for new tunes. I suppose it wasn’t too surprising that she found it. She just really gets into new music.” Keery seems to have a lot of respect for Swift, which is nice to hear.

During an earlier appearance, he recounted a chaotic day at a recording studio where he unexpectedly found himself amidst a crowd waiting for Swift. “I was there with John, just minding my own business, and then I walked out to see a thousand people standing there. They looked a bit puzzled, like, ‘Who’s this guy?'”

“And as I was walking down the block, someone pointed and said, ‘Oh, that’s it. That man,'” he chuckled.

When asked about the prospect of collaborating with Swift, Keery offered a humble response: “Maybe it could lead to something interesting. I guess that experience might create something in the universe, but who knows?”

It’s worth noting that Keery has been making music long before “Stranger Things” took off. He’s been part of the psychedelic rock band Post Animal for about a decade and has released three solo albums as well.