Single Review: Djo's "Basic Being Basic" Is Anything But

In an age of curated highlight reels and spending 10% or more of your day on social media, Djo reminds listeners to step back and embrace life's idiosyncrasies. The singer, songwriter, actor, and instrumentalist, also known as Joe Keery, released the explosive lead single "Basic Being Basic" for his third album, The Crux, on Friday, January 24, via AWAL. Djo's complicated thoughts surrounding fame and social media are well documented, with songs like "On and On" and "Half Life" off his 2022 album DECIDE exploring the insincere nature of these platforms. "Basic Being Basic" is a classic Djo eargasm, with layered production and crunchy Oberheim OB-X8 synths courtesy of musical partner Adam Thein.

“It’s kind of a shot fired to anyone who's trying to be of the moment,” shares Djo in a press release. Talk box-esque elements and sassy spoken word breakdowns disguise this jab at the social-media-obsessed as a groovy dance anthem. Lyrics like "Get food / barely eat" and "Take a picture of your plate" directly call out people who prioritize content over community and dare them to question if letting their phone eat first is a necessary evil.

The defiant, "I want simple pleasures / friends who have my back / everyone has secrets but not everyone can fool a man like that" rejects the notion that one must make sacrifices and subject themselves to trickery to find contentment.

The final chorus incorporates audio of Djo and his team laughing and chatting in the studio. Infusing the imperfect elements of real life into what could have been an artificially polished song is an example of him walking the walk.

Along with the single release, Djo revealed The Crux's album cover artwork and release date of April 4. The cast of kooky characters perhaps examines the concept of sonder: the feeling when one realizes that everyone has an equally complex life where others play the secondary role. Through "Basic Being Basic," he ponders what it means to leave behind the main character one has crafted through their digital presence and connect with their true passions. Djo is set to debut "Basic Being Basic" live on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on January 28.

Tracklist:

1: “Lonesome Is A State of Mind”
2: “Basic Being Basic”
3: “Link”
4: “Potion”
5: “Delete Ya”
6: “Egg”
7: “Fly”
8: “Charlie’s Garden”
9: “Gap Tooth Smile”
10: “Golden Line”
11: “Back On You”
12: “Crux”

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