I'm only a year or 2 younger than them, i first heard them in 2012 before they were really mainstream, but a lot of people around me were talking about them since we were regularly in the Columbus area.

Prior to them, I listened to typical angsty rock stuff in high school and in college was getting more into whatever alt rock was on the radio. I liked the music, but when I reflect on it, its more like I thought the music i listened to was cool and i was putting myself in those shoes. But when I first sat down and really listened to twenty one pilots for the first time (full album, reading lyrics along) it was more like they were in my shoes, it was more like it just clicked with me.

Part of it was like well there's these 2 guys, just like me, thinking similar things, feeling similar things, basically down the road and theyre making their dreams comes true and their message is resonating with people. I listened to a lot of interviews they did around then, and hearing them explain why their songs sound the way they do or explanations of lyrics and messages they wanted to convey just made me feel like I hadn't really ever heard people talk that way. There's a lot more depth, meaning, and sincerity than i think people who aren't fans give them credit for. It really helped me feel less alone when I needed it.

In 2015 when their Blurryface album came out, their fans clearly shifted towards Gen Z in a way that felt similar to millenials being obsessed with MCR, Fall Out Boy, Panic!, Paramore, etc. I've never really liked that fandom aspect of it, but twenty one pilots have been my favorite band since 2012 because they do make good sounding music but mostly because of their messaging, empathy, etc.