Review: Nick Tevelis Photos: Jason Rosewarne
True Optimism Album Launch
Featuring Montana Sharp and Justin Yap
Venue: Kew Court House, Melbourne
Date: Saturday, 17 October 2026
There’s something special about watching an artist grow and mature, both musically and personally, and Joshua Batten’s sold-out True Optimism album launch was a perfect example of just how far this talented Melbourne musician has come.
What struck me most about the evening was that Joshua didn’t simply put on an album launch, he created an event. Rather than just running through a collection of songs from his new album, he delivered a carefully thought-out performance that ebbed and flowed beautifully throughout the night. The pacing was superb, moving effortlessly between intimate, emotional moments and uplifting, energetic performances. Everything seemed to have its place, giving the evening a genuine sense of purpose and cohesion.
The evening was split into two sets, with the first featuring Joshua alongside the incredibly talented Montana Sharp. Opening with a cover of Joss Stone’s “The High Road”, Montana immediately impressed with her powerful, sultry and soulful vocals. There’s an intriguing quality to her music, blending elements of alternative rock with a distinctly soulful edge. At times, I was reminded of Amy Winehouse, while other moments carried atmospheric echoes of Pink Floyd.
Songs such as “Feminine Rage”, “State of Nature” and “Sit, Feel, Heal” demonstrated both her vocal range and ability to convey genuine emotion. She’s an artist I’ll certainly be exploring further.
Joshua and Montana complemented each other beautifully, with their chemistry particularly evident on “True Optimism”, the title track from Joshua’s new album and one of the evening’s early highlights.
What followed was a particularly clever and poignant moment in the evening. Joshua revisited his early years with a performance of “At the End of the Day”, a song he wrote when he was just 17 years old and which has become something of a signature song for him. Its placement in the setlist was inspired. Coming immediately after the title track of his latest album, it provided a wonderful opportunity to reflect on just how far he has travelled as a songwriter, musician and person. Here we had a song written by a teenager still finding his voice, sitting alongside the work of a far more mature, confident and accomplished artist. It was a lovely reminder of where Joshua’s musical journey began and, perhaps more importantly, provided the perfect perspective from which to appreciate where he finds himself today. Sometimes the best way to appreciate how far an artist has come is to revisit where it all started.
Following a short intermission, Joshua returned with his full band, featuring Jeremy Li on drums, Terry McLeod on bass and Allan Venn on keyboards, with Montana providing additional vocals and special guest guitarist Justin Yap joining later in the set.
Opening with “Coming to Our Senses”, it was immediately apparent that we were in for something special. The band was exceptionally tight, with each musician contributing to a rich, polished sound without ever overshadowing the songs themselves.
But what really elevated the evening was Joshua’s willingness to open himself up to the audience.
Rather than simply introducing each song by name, Joshua took the time to explain the stories behind much of his music. He spoke candidly about the thoughts, emotions, experiences and personal circumstances that inspired the songs, offering a fascinating insight into both the creative process and the person behind the music. There was a genuine vulnerability and honesty to these introductions, and they added an entirely new dimension to the performances that followed.
It felt less like attending a conventional concert and more like being invited into Joshua’s world, sharing in the experiences, struggles and personal reflections that shaped the music. It takes a certain amount of courage for an artist to expose himself in that way, and I thought it was one of the most impressive and endearing aspects of the entire evening.
Before launching into “Out of the Ordinary”, Joshua spoke about the importance of embracing individuality, taking chances and being comfortable with not fitting in. It was a fitting introduction to a song that perhaps best encapsulates his development as an artist. Joshua has clearly embraced this philosophy himself, and the confidence and maturity in both his songwriting and stage presence were evident throughout the night.
“Diamond in the Coal” and the older “Oh, Britannia” followed, before one of the evening’s most memorable moments arrived with “Melody”.
For me, this was Joshua at his absolute best. An incredibly personal and emotional performance that saw him lay his soul bare, reflecting on his relationship with music and just how deeply it is woven into his identity. Having heard Joshua explain the meaning behind the song beforehand made the performance all the more powerful. There was a genuine vulnerability that made it particularly moving. It’s these moments of honesty and connection that elevate a good live performance into something truly memorable.
The arrival of Justin Yap added another dimension to proceedings. His slide guitar work on the upbeat “Breaking the Cycle” was terrific, while Montana’s backing vocals continued to complement Joshua’s voice perfectly.
“Keep Our Love Alive” maintained the momentum before another personal highlight, “Spring Fever”, had the crowd enthusiastically singing along. Justin’s guitar solo was outstanding, adding another layer to an already excellent song.
“Open Box” was an absolute blast. Bursting with positivity and infectious energy, it featured a brilliant guitar duel between Joshua and Justin that was a joy to watch. Two talented guitarists clearly enjoying themselves and feeding off each other’s energy.
The evening concluded with a rousing encore of “Soulshine”, the Warren Haynes classic, sending everyone home on a high.
One of the most pleasing aspects of the evening was the atmosphere. The sold-out audience represented a wonderful mix of ages and backgrounds, yet there was a genuine communal feeling throughout the venue. Everyone seemed completely invested in the performances, creating the sort of connection between artists and audience that makes live music so rewarding.
What impressed me most was just how much Joshua has evolved. There’s a greater sense of maturity, confidence and emotional depth to his music, but importantly, he’s retained the sincerity and enthusiasm that make him such an engaging performer.
He’s surrounded himself with some excellent musicians, and Montana Sharp and Justin Yap proved to be inspired additions to an already impressive band.
This was so much more than an opportunity to showcase a new album. It was a celebration of Joshua’s musical journey, an insight into the person behind the songs, and a reminder of just how powerful live music can be when an artist is prepared to let the audience in.
https://www.joshuabatten.com.au/
