Twenty One Pilots Biography
Twenty One Pilots (stylized in all lowercase or as twenty øne piløts) is an American musical duo from Columbus, Ohio. Initially a band, the group was formed in 2009 by lead vocalist Tyler Joseph along with Nick Thomas and Chris Salih, who both left in 2011. Since their departure, the lineup has consisted of Joseph and drummer Josh Dun. The duo is best known for their singles "Stressed Out," "Ride," and "Heathens." The group received a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards for "Stressed Out." The band independently released two albums, Twenty One Pilots (2009) and Regional at Best (2011), before being signed by the record label Fueled by Ramen in 2012. Their label debut, Vessel, was released in 2013 and became the second album in history on which every track received at least a gold certification, making Twenty One Pilots the first band in the history of music to see every song on two albums earn gold or platinum awards.
The duo achieved breakthrough success with their fourth album, Blurryface (2015), which produced the successful singles "Stressed Out" and "Ride," and became the first album on which every track received at least a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. The release of the single "Heathens" also made the group the first alternative artist in history to have two concurrent top-five singles in the Billboard Hot 100 and the third rock act in history to have two singles simultaneously chart in the top five of the Billboard Hot 100, joining the Beatles and Elvis Presley.
Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun grew up in Christian households and both still identify as Christians. Their music is imbued with Christian themes, exploring struggles, redemption, and hope, but also fused with themes of personal turmoil, insecurity, and introspection. Their faith influences their work, making their work relatable and inspirational to Christian audiences. This influence can be seen in songs like "Taxi Cab," which some listeners interpret as an allegory for spiritual salvation. The imagery of a journey towards the light with figures representing a higher power resonates with Christian themes of faith and redemption. Other songs, such as "Car Radio," with its exploration of isolation and searching for a signal, can be interpreted in many ways, including a metaphor for seeking a connection with something greater than ourselves. Joseph's songwriting is characterized by psychodramatic lyrics, describing his process as dramatic and a means to express thoughts he couldn't articulate in normal conversation. He finds inspiration primarily in chord progression and song structure, with lyrics often following. Dun's energetic drumming provides a rhythmic backdrop as Joseph shifts between expressive verses and melodic rap styles.
The duo has released seven studio albums in total, with the latest Clancy, on May 24, 2024. They have also garnered ten No. 1 songs on the Alternative Songs chart, making them the artist with the fourth-most number-one songs on the chart, just below Linkin Park.
Studio albums
Twenty One Pilots (2009)
Regional at Best (2011)
Vessel (2013)
Blurryface (2015)
Trench (2018)
Scaled and Icy (2021)
Clancy (2024) Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.