Vance Joy is an Australian singer-songwriter. He signed a five-album deal with Atlantic Records in 2013 and released his debut EP, God Loves You When You're Dancing, that same year. His song "Riptide" became a worldwide hit and was certified double platinum in Australia.
Vance Joy's debut studio album, Dream Your Life Away, was released in 2014 and peaked at number five on the ARIA Albums Chart. The album included the singles "Mess Is Mine", "First Time", "Georgia", and "Fire and the Flood".
In 2016, Vance Joy released his second studio album, Nation of Two. The album peaked at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart and was preceded by the lead single, "Lay It on Me".
Vance Joy was born in Melbourne, Australia, to an Australian mother and Zimbabwean father. He grew up in the suburb of Kew and attended Xavier College. He graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media & Communications.
Vance Joy's musical influences growing up included Paul Kelly, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, and John Mellencamp. He began playing guitar at the age of 12 and started writing his own songs at 15. He cites Kelly as his biggest influence as a songwriter.
Vance Joy released his debut EP God Loves You When You're Dancing in March 2013. The EP peaked at number two on the iTunes charts in Australia and number one on the ARIA Australian Artists Singles chart. The lead single from the EP, "Riptide", was voted number one on the Triple J Hottest 100 poll for 2013.
Vance Joy's debut studio album Dream Your Life Away was released in September 2014. The album peaked at number five on the ARIA Albums Chart and was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). It also debuted at number two in New Zealand and was certified gold by the Recorded Music NZ (RMNZ). The album's first three singles, "Mess Is Mine", "Riptide", and "First Time", all peaked within the top 20 of the ARIA Singles Chart.
Vance Joy toured extensively in support of Dream Your Life Away, performing at festivals such as Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and Firefly Music Festival. He also undertook his own headlining tours of Australia, North America, Europe, and Asia.
In March 2016, Vance Joy announced that he was working on his second studio album. The album's lead single, "Lay It on Me", was released in June 2016. The album, titled Nation of Two, was released in February 2018. It peaked at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart and was certified platinum by the ARIA.
Vance Joy has won several awards, including an APRA Award for Song of the Year for "Riptide" and an ARIA Music Award for Best Male Artist. He has been nominated for Grammy Awards, Brit Awards, and MTV Video Music Awards.
Vance Joy's music has been used in a number of television shows and movies, including Grey's Anatomy, Suits, So You Think You Can Dance, and The Fault in Our Stars. His song "Riptide" was used in a trailer for the 2014 film The Giver.
In May 2018, Vance Joy announced that he had signed a worldwide publishing deal with BMG Rights Management. Vance Joy is also an ambassador for Oxfam Australia. He has also supported War Child Australia and National Youth Mental Health Foundation Headspace.
