Biography
Who is Vance Joy?
Early life and real name
James Gabriel Keogh was born in Melbourne, Australia, on December 1, 1987. His father worked in the computer trade, while his mother taught high school English. His paternal grandparents immigrated to Australia from Ireland. He grew up attending St Patrick's Primary School in Murrumbeena.
Later, he attended St Kevin's College in Toorak, where he served as school captain and graduated in 2005. He then pursued higher education at Monash University, eventually graduating from the Monash University Faculty of Law with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws.
Football career
Before focusing on his music career, Vance played Australian rules football as a key defender. During the 2008 and 2009 seasons, he played for the Coburg Football Club in the Victorian Football League. He earned the best first year player award in 2008 for his efforts on the team.
Reflecting on his time in sports, he noted that he reached his potential as a football player after playing a step below the professional level. Although he had opportunities with a couple of teams, his heart was not completely in it, leading him to transition into writing songs.
Musical beginnings and Riptide
Vance adopted his stage name after reading books by Peter Carey, specifically noting a character named Harry Joy and his grandfather Vance Joy. In January 2013, he released his debut single From Afar. Shortly after, he released his debut extended play titled God Loves You When You're Dancing in March 2013.
His career expanded significantly with the release of the hit song Riptide, which was inspired by a motel he visited during family holidays on the coast of Australia. The track achieved big commercial success, peaking at number six on the ARIA Singles Chart and earning multiple platinum certifications. It also became the longest-charting song in ARIA Charts history.
Albums and tours
In 2014, Vance released his debut studio album, Dream Your Life Away, which was supported by singles like Mess Is Mine, First Time, and Georgia. He followed this by supporting Taylor Swift on the 1989 World Tour across North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia. At the 2015 ARIA Music Awards, he won Best Male Artist.
His second studio album, Nation of Two, arrived in February 2018 and debuted at number one in Australia. He later released his third studio album, In Our Own Sweet Time, in June 2022. Throughout his career, he has started on numerous headlining tours, including the Nation of Two World Tour and the Long Way Home Tour.
Personal life and family
In November 2022, Vance announced his engagement to his Turkish partner, Selen Us, at GQ's Men of the Year Awards. The couple married in June 2023. They lived in Barcelona while she studied, and Us gave birth to their daughter, Gigi, in early 2024. He stated that his song Missing Piece was inspired by his wife.
Birthday and age
Vance Joy was born on December 1, 1987, which makes Vance 38 years old today. That birthday falls under the Sagittarius sign. Vance shares the date with 50 other famous people.
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