Twenty One Pilots is an American musical duo from Columbus, Ohio, formed in 2009. The band was originally founded by Tyler Joseph alongside Nick Thomas and Chris Salih, who departed in 2011, leaving Joseph and drummer Josh Dun as the core members.
Their music is known for blending multiple genres, including alternative rock, electropop, hip-hop, and pop, resulting in a distinctive and hard-to-classify sound. This genre fusion has contributed significantly to their broad global appeal.
The band independently released their first two albums, Twenty One Pilots (2009) and Regional at Best (2011), before signing with Fueled by Ramen in 2012. Their label debut, Vessel (2013), became notable as every track on the album achieved gold certification.
They achieved worldwide breakthrough with Blurryface (2015), featuring hit singles “Stressed Out” and “Ride.” “Stressed Out” earned them a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, solidifying their international success.
Subsequent albums, including Trench (2018), Scaled and Icy (2021), Clancy (2024), and Breach (2025), demonstrate their continued artistic evolution and conceptual storytelling approach. Their music often forms interconnected narratives, enhancing their artistic identity.
Throughout their career, they have achieved multiple number-one songs on the Alternative Airplay chart, placing them among the most successful acts in the genre.
Today, Twenty One Pilots is regarded as one of the most influential contemporary alternative acts, known for innovation, strong visual identity, and a deep connection with their audience.
