Seeing it taped next to his pedalboard while performing grounded him.
I was playing, looking down, and seeing this little picture.
Ive never allowed myself to be comfortable like that.
It was a way to be like, Oh, I feel a little bit more at home.
I was pretty insecure about it, he says over a plate of raw oysters.
You want people to listen to the music and have an open mind.
The pseudonym pronounced Joe is Keerys way of distancing himself from the show.
Get to know more about Keery’s musical influences including his favorite Beatle below.
On Covering The Backstreet Boys & Co-Star Maya Hawkes Music
Whats your go-to karaoke song?
If Im feeling bold Kiss From A Rose[by Seal].
Thats if I feel like Ive done my vocal warmups.
Everybody!I would love to cover that song as a dirty, kinda fuzzy, nasty version.
Who are your musical idols?
Jeff Lynne from ELO [The Electric Light Orchestra] is a massive hero of mine.
Todd Terje released an album calledIts Album Time, and its a big influence.
Id say those two guys [and] Paul McCartney.
Just The Beatles in general.
I love all their music.
Whats the weirdest thing youve written a song about?
Ive written some weird-ass songs.
Flash Mountain was a weird song.
That was me being influenced by King Gizzard, Metallica, and White Reaper.
That songs a fun, goofy song.
Theres a lot of cheekiness in my music.
What comes first when making music, the melody or the words?
Its probably, 99% of the time, melody.
But Id say always the melody.
Maya Hawke, who plays Robin onStranger Things,is also releasing an album.
Did you ever exchange albums for feedback?
We actually switched links recently.
She sent me her link and I did the same.
So Im gonna listen to it on the plane ride home.
To be honest, we keep that sort of separate.
Our influences are pretty different.
On How His Sister Inspired His Favorite Lyric OnDecide
The album feels lyrically vulnerable.
What song was the most difficult to write?
Maybe End of Beginning.
Its a song about saying goodbye to young adulthood.
A mixed bag of emotions.
Thats a really powerful, potent one for me.
What song are you most proud of?
Go For Itis my favorite onDecide.
Whats a lyric you love the most onDecide?
Thats a shoutout to her.
I had just booked the role onStranger Thingsand was really nervous.
I had a really nice memory of talking to her right before leaving.
OnSchool Of Rocks Impact&His No.
1 Fan
I read in an interview that your love for musicwas inspired by your parents musical influences.
Yeah, they have really good musical tastes.
Neither of them are musicians, but both are very supportive and music lovers.
I saw that and was like, I wanna do that, I can do that.
The thing that I really love about it is the recording process.
That gives me so much joy.
Thats really when it started getting more serious and more about the songs rather than just jamming.
Have your parents listened to the album yet?
My dad has listened to it more than anyone.
My parents are amazing.
They were watching the Hulu stream [of my Lollapalooza performance].
My dad was checking it out, texting me.
Some of your co-stars likeJoseph Quinnand Gaten Matarazzo have performed onStranger Things.
Has there ever been a conversation about you performing?
Oh, thats above my pay grade.
Would you want to do that?
We dont really have any say.
I mean, obviously the Duffers are super receptive to ideas, but theyre the brainchild behind that.
We just perform what they want, pretty much, because theyre the geniuses.
Would you want a role in the future where you get to perform?
Maybe your ownSchool Of Rock?
Theres something to be said about art that brings joy.
I do that sometimes.
And thats what that movie is all about.
Thats why I lovePaul McCartneyso much.
He seems like a very happy person who enjoys his life.
Thats really what I would like to be, what I aspire to.
It seems to me like every time hes performing, he loves it.
Hes the perfect combination of art and commerce.
But then its also for the masses.
Its for everybody to enjoy, and that is such a hard line to ride.
This interview was edited and condensed for clarity.
This article was originally published onSep.
