Vance Joy Biography: Wife, Age, Net Worth, Height, Songs, Albums, Riptide, Real Name

James Gabriel Keogh, professionally known as Vance Joy, is an Australian indie-folk singer-songwriter and musician whose ukulele-driven hit Riptide catapulted him to global stardom in 2013, topping Triple J’s Hottest 100 and amassing billions of streams.

Drawing from influences like Paul Kelly and Bob Dylan, he crafts intimate tales of love and introspection across albums like Dream Your Life Away and Nation of Two, earning ARIA Awards and a five-album deal with Atlantic Records.

Once an aspiring Australian rules footballer, Joy’s pivot to music has defined his warm, relatable sound, blending heartfelt lyrics with anthemic hooks that resonate from Melbourne open mics to international festivals.

Profile

• Full Name: James Gabriel Keogh
• Stage Name: Vance Joy
• Born: 1 December 1987
• Age: 37 years old
• Birthplace: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
• Nationality: Australian
• Occupation: Singer-Songwriter, Musician
• Height: 1.93m
• Parents: Mr. Keogh and Mrs. Keogh
• Siblings: 1
• Spouse: Selen Us (m. 2023)
• Children: Gigi
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $30 million

Early Life and Education

James Gabriel Keogh, known as Vance Joy, was born on December 1, 1987, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, to Mr. Keogh, a computer trader and a high school English teacher Mrs. Keogh.

He has one sister, though her name is unknown to the public.

As a teen, Joy captained his school’s Australian rules football team at St Kevin’s College, Toorak, where he graduated in 2005 before pursuing higher education.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from Monash University, blending creative pursuits with a practical path he later set aside for music.

Of Irish ethnicity, he follows Catholicism.

Career

Vance Joy, traded his football boots for a ukulele in his late twenties, after stints with the Coburg Tigers in the Victorian Football League and a brief indie band phase reminiscent of Bloc Party.

While wrapping up his law degree, he dove into Melbourne’s open-mic circuit around 2008, channeling overheard snippets and personal musings into raw demos.

His debut single From Afar dropped in January 2013 via Liberation Music, but it was the follow-up EP God Loves You When You’re Dancing in March that sparked attention, with Riptide—a quirky love letter scribbled in 2012—slow-burning into a phenomenon that snagged the top spot on Triple J’s Hottest 100 without an album backing it.

That viral wave led to a pivotal 2013 signing with Atlantic Records for five albums, propelling Joy stateside and cementing his folk-pop niche.

His 2014 debut Dream Your Life Away soared with tracks like Mess Is Mine and Fire and the Flood, selling over two million copies and nabbing ARIA’s Best Male Artist nod in 2015, plus wins for Most Performed Australian Work Overseas.

Follow-ups like Nation of Two (2018), inspired by budding romance, debuted at number one Down Under and claimed Best Adult Contemporary Album at the ARIAs, while collabs such as You with Benny Blanco and Marshmello in 2021 broadened his electronic edges.

Joy’s tours, from club hops to stadium support for Mumford & Sons, honed his live charisma, blending vulnerability with crowd-pleasing energy.

Vance Joy’s catalog weaves everyday heartaches into enduring anthems, with In Our Own Sweet Time (2022) delivering gems like Missing Piece—a double-platinum ode to long-distance longing that soundtracked Grey’s Anatomy—and Clarity, both fueling festival sets from Coachella to Splendour in the Grass.

His 2025 North American jaunt, kicking off in Halifax and weaving through Harvest Rock in Adelaide, pairs with teases of fresh tracks, while billions in Riptide streams underscore his quiet revolution in indie accessibility.

Through it all, Joy champions songwriting’s spark, mentoring emerging voices and etching a blueprint for turning introspection into universal connection.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @vancejoy
• Facebook Handle: Vance Joy
• Twitter Handle: @vancejoy

Personal Life

Vance Joy, announced his engagement to Spanish art director Selen Us at GQ’s Men of the Year Awards in November 2022, sealing their bond with a June 2023 wedding in Istanbul that blended cultural warmth and intimate joy.

The pair welcomed daughter Gigi in early 2024.

Discography

• Dream Your Life Away (2014)
• Nation of Two (2018)
• In Our Own Sweet Time (2022)

Net Worth

Vance Joy has an estimated net worth of $30 million.

His fortune swells from explosive streaming royalties—especially Riptide’s billions—plus album sales exceeding five million units, packed arenas on world tours, and savvy endorsements that mirror his approachable vibe.