What began as a nostalgic sci-fi phenomenon rooted in small-town Indiana has quietly evolved into an unexpected launchpad for musical expression. Beyond the bikes and monsters that defined Stranger Things, several members of its cast have carved out parallel careers in music.
These projects are not novelty detours tied to television fame, but fully realized artistic ventures shaped by distinct genres, influences and personal voices. From synth-driven psychedelia and raw punk catharsis to intimate folk songwriting and emerging hip-hop narratives, the musical paths of the cast reveal a generation of performers unwilling to stay within a single creative lane.
Joe Keery — Djo
Joe Keery of Djo in 2025 (Source: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Coachella)
- Character: Steve Harrington
- Music Project: Djo
- Sound: Synth-pop, psychedelia, alternative pop
Long before streaming charts and sold-out venues entered the picture, Joe Keery was already sketching a musical identity far removed from Hawkins High. Under the moniker Djo, the actor behind Steve Harrington has built a project rooted in synth-pop, psychedelia and alternative pop, where analog textures and layered melodies take center stage.
Rather than leaning on celebrity appeal, Djo’s music feels deliberately crafted—retro-minded yet emotionally current. The project reached a wider audience with End of Beginning, a track that quietly gained momentum before exploding across global platforms, proving that Keery’s musical instincts could stand on their own.
His album The Crux, recorded in legendary studios like Electric Lady, deepens that vision: introspective lyrics, warped synths and guitars that shimmer rather than shout. It’s a body of work that reflects artistic restlessness more than reinvention—music not as a side project, but as a parallel career with its own voice.
Jamie Campbell Bower
Jamie Campbell Bower (Source: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Netflix)
- Character: Vecna / Henry Creel
- Music Project: Counterfeit, solo
- Sound: Punk rock, post-hardcore
Jamie Campbell Bower’s relationship with music predates his chilling turn as Vecna. As the frontman of Counterfeit, Bower channeled raw intensity into a sound shaped by punk rock and post-hardcore, favoring distortion, urgency and emotional confrontation over polish. The band’s music felt deliberately abrasive—less about hooks, more about release.
After Counterfeit disbanded, Bower continued exploring music as a solo artist, shifting toward a more stripped-back but still emotionally charged approach. The rage softened, but the honesty remained.
Where Counterfeit thrived on chaos and volume, his solo work leans into vulnerability, revealing an artist more interested in expression than reinvention. It’s a reminder that behind one of Stranger Things’ most terrifying characters is a musician drawn to confrontation, introspection and creative risk.
Finn Wolfhard
Finn Wolfhard (Source: Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
- Character: Mike Wheeler
- Music Project: Solo, The Aubreys (formerly Calpurnia)
- Sound: Indie rock, garage, ’90s nostalgia
For Finn Wolfhard, music has never been an afterthought. His early work with Calpurnia placed him firmly in the indie rock landscape, drawing from garage influences and a distinctly ’90s sensibility. Even then, the project felt earnest rather than performative—teenage restlessness translated into jangly guitars and understated hooks.
That spirit carried over into The Aubreys, a more intimate collaboration that leaned into lo-fi textures and melodic restraint. In 2025, Wolfhard took another step forward with Happy Birthday, his debut solo album.
The record blends indie rock and garage tones with reflective songwriting, capturing the unease and clarity of early adulthood. It’s less about nostalgia as aesthetic and more about memory as emotional weight—songs that sound lived-in rather than carefully curated.
Maya Hawke
Maya Hawke (Source: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Netflix)
- Character: Robin Buckley
- Music Project: Solo
- Sound: Folk pop, intimate indie
Maya Hawke’s musical output feels closer to a diary than a performance. As a solo artist, she gravitates toward folk pop and intimate indie arrangements, favoring acoustic guitars, understated production and lyrics that unfold slowly. Her albums—Blush, Moss and Chaos Angel—trace a steady evolution rather than abrupt stylistic shifts.
What defines Hawke’s sound is restraint. Her vocals rarely push for dominance; instead, they invite closeness. The songs explore relationships, self-doubt and emotional dissonance with a literary touch, reflecting her background in storytelling. Rather than chasing trends, Hawke’s music exists in its own quiet lane—personal, reflective and intentionally unflashy.
Charlie Heaton
Charlie Heaton (Source: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Netflix)
- Character: Jonathan Byers
- Music Project: Comanechi
- Sound: Noise rock, post-punk
Before cameras and red carpets, Charlie Heaton found creative refuge in underground music. As a member of Comanechi, he embraced noise rock and post-punk, genres built on tension, distortion and controlled chaos. The band’s sound is confrontational by design—angular guitars, relentless rhythms and little concern for accessibility.
Comanechi’s music mirrors the emotional rawness often found in Heaton’s screen performances. It’s not music meant to soothe; it’s meant to unsettle. While the project remains firmly rooted in the underground, it underscores an essential part of Heaton’s artistic identity: a pull toward darker textures and uncompromising expression.
Caleb McLaughlin
Caleb McLaughlin (Source: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Netflix)
- Character: Lucas Sinclair
- Music Project: Independent releases
- Sound: Urban, rap, hip-hop
Caleb McLaughlin’s musical path is still unfolding, but its direction is clear. Through independent releases, he has begun exploring hip-hop, rap and spoken word, using rhythm and lyricism as tools for personal expression. His work leans less toward commercial polish and more toward narrative—stories shaped by identity, growth and self-reflection.
Unlike some of his castmates, McLaughlin approaches music as a space for experimentation rather than definition. The tracks released so far suggest an artist testing boundaries, finding cadence and sharpening perspective. It’s early, but the foundation points toward a voice that values authenticity over immediacy.
