Vance Joy
Biography
James Gabriel Keogh (born 1 December 1987), known professionally as Vance Joy, is an Australian singer, songwriter, and musician. He adopted the stage name 'Vance Joy' from a character in the novel "Bliss" by Peter Carey, to better separate his personal and professional life. Before his music career, Joy was a promising Australian rules football player for the Coburg Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He eventually chose to pursue music over football, having graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws.
Musical Career
Vance Joy's career began in the open-mic scene in Melbourne. He gained significant attention with his debut EP, "God Loves You When You're Dancing," released in March 2013. The EP featured the breakout single "Riptide," which became a massive international hit. The song was voted number 1 on the 2013 Triple J Hottest 100, achieved multi-platinum status in several countries, and holds the record for the longest-charting song in ARIA Charts' history. The success of "Riptide" led to a five-album deal with Atlantic Records in 2013.
Studio Albums
Joy's debut studio album, "Dream Your Life Away," was released in September 2014 and debuted at number 1 in Australia. The album featured "Riptide" along with other successful singles like "Mess Is Mine" and "Georgia". It has sold over 2 million copies worldwide. At the 2015 ARIA Music Awards, he won Best Male Artist. In 2015, he was the opening act for Taylor Swift's 1989 World Tour.
His second album, "Nation of Two," was released in February 2018 and also debuted at number 1 in Australia. The album, which explores the dynamics of a relationship, won Best Adult Contemporary Album at the ARIA Music Awards of 2018. Singles from this album include "Lay It on Me," "Like Gold," and "We're Going Home".
In June 2022, Vance Joy released his third studio album, "In Our Own Sweet Time". The album features singles such as "Missing Piece" and "Clarity". "Missing Piece" won the ARIA Award for Best Video in 2021.
Collaborations and Recent Work
Throughout his career, Vance Joy has collaborated with other artists. In 2021, he released the single "You" with Benny Blanco and Marshmello. In 2023, he collaborated with Noah Cyrus on the single "Everybody Needs Someone". He continues to tour globally, performing at major festivals and headlining shows.