Vance Joy

James Gabriel Keogh, known professionally as Vance Joy, is an Australian singer, songwriter, musician, and former Australian rules footballer. He adopted his stage name from a character's grandfather in Peter Carey's book Bliss. Joy is best known for his 2013 hit single "Riptide," which achieved widespread commercial success and helped launch his music career internationally.

Joy was born on 1 December 1987 to a father who worked in the computer trade and a mother who was a high-school English teacher. His paternal grandparents immigrated to Australia from Ireland. He attended St. Patrick's Primary School in Murrumbeena and graduated from St Kevin's College in Toorak in 2005. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from Monash University. Prior to focusing on music, Joy played Australian rules football as a key defender for the Coburg Football Club in the Victorian Football League during 2008 and 2009, winning the best first year player award in 2008.

In January 2013, Joy released his debut single, "From Afar," followed by his debut EP, God Loves You When You're Dancing, in March 2013. The EP contained "Riptide," a song inspired by a motel he visited on childhood family holidays. "Riptide" peaked at number 6 on the ARIA Singles Chart, was voted number 1 on the 2013 Triple J Hottest 100, and became the longest-charting song in ARIA Charts history. After signing a five-album deal with Atlantic Records in 2013, Joy released his debut studio album, Dream Your Life Away, in September 2014. The album featured singles such as "Mess Is Mine," "First Time," "Georgia," "Fire and the Flood," and "Straight into Your Arms."

Between 2014 and 2016, Joy expanded his international profile through notable tour appearances and television performances. He served as the support act for Taylor Swift's 1989 World Tour across North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia. He also performed on Today as Elvis Duran's Artist of the Month, sang a duet on the season 14 finale of American Idol, and released the single "Great Summer" for the Paper Towns soundtrack. His achievements during this period included winning the Grand Prize at the 2014 International Songwriting Competition for "Riptide" and winning Best Male Artist at the ARIA Music Awards of 2015.

Joy released his second studio album, Nation of Two, in February 2018. It debuted at number 1 in Australia, was certified gold, and won Best Adult Contemporary Album at the ARIA Music Awards of 2018. Prominent singles from the album included "Lay It on Me," "Like Gold," "We're Going Home," "Saturday Sun," "Call If You Need Me," and "I'm With You." In November 2018, he released Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, recorded in Colorado during his Nation of Two World Tour. He also opened for P!nk's Beautiful Trauma World Tour in 2019.

Joy continued releasing new music in subsequent years, including the 2021 single "You" with Benny Blanco and Marshmello, and "Missing Piece," which won the ARIA Award for Best Video. He released his third studio album, In Our Own Sweet Time, in June 2022, followed by a 2023 collaboration with Noah Cyrus titled "Everybody Needs Someone." In his personal life, Joy married Selen Us in June 2023, and they welcomed a daughter, Gigi, in early 2024.