Josh is a POC & Queer singer/songwriter, actor, musician, writer, producer and cabaret artist. They were a top 50 Australian Idol contestant and has worked with many Australian Talent such as Nancye Hayes, Peter Cousens, Marina Prior, Paulini & Jessica Mauboy as well as rubbing shoulders with the likes of Shoshana Bean, Natalie Weiss & super star Katy Perry (the name dropping is foul, we get it). Over the past 9 years they have lead the way with cabaret, touring with their critically acclaimed shows “Teenage Dreams”, “My Prerogative” and their brand defining return season show “Like Mariah”. They were also apart of Electric Moon’s 15th Anniversary “Hedwig & The Angry Inch” concert and “In The Warm Room: Songs of Kate Bush”. Their staple involvement as festival host for Brisbane Festival’s Arcadia and in Brisbane’s phenom, Oscar Production Company’s “boy&girl”, are career badges stapled into their brand of being one of the city’s best! Josh is the director of their production company JDProCo which works to elevate artists that are BIPOC, POC, Queer & Female especially and have been able to employ over 40 QLD creatives over various projects in the past 4 years. Since 2021, they have been able to provide 70 QLD Artists with a gig and have created the wildly successful events “Broadway In The Dock”, "So Millennial" & “Home for Christmas” Their main goal in life is to work constantly enough to buy Starbucks Gingerbread frappucinos at any time of the day! Josh just bought one yesterday… Josh’s acting credits include LEGALLY BLONDE (Emmett), LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (Audrey II), SPELLING BEE (Mitch Mahoney), HAIR (Hud) & SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD (Man 1).

1. Describe what you do in 100 words?

My approach to what I do is very multi-faceted, from being a performer (singer, actor) to a musician, to a creator and a producer. My work in very recent years is mostly myself having an idea, problem solving how to make that happen, inviting artists to join me in its creation and making all the moving parts into a project that gets shown in front of people (an audience). I contribute a lot to the concert/cabaret genre of the performing arts with what we create but it always comes down to the performer and how they wish to express themselves as an artist.

2. What’s your first memory of engaging with the arts?

I was raised in church - so the worship team at the time was my earliest foray into engaging with the arts. I was also heavily involved in school choir, bands & music class that I never once got bored of - if rehearsal was cancelled that day, I would genuinely be so sad!

3. What motivates you to create?

My main motivation, and discuss this with me if you may not like this approach - but I am very driven by the notion that I just don't want "this" to end. I am 100%, irrevocably in love with being artistic and creative. My purpose and duty to create work, inspire work and most of all, be fulfilled by what I do, never leaves me, even when I'm exhausted and burnt out at times. I am very privileged to captain a ship that has a crew of people that put their hand up when the call comes to "create a project" again. So besides my personal drive (which is obscenely high), I am also driven by the creatives I have surrounded myself with that also want to do this.

4. Can you describe your ideal working environment?

My ideal environment always starts with mutual respect in the air. Each artist that walks in the room is silently leaving their external ego at the door and to come in as an equal. Collaboration always brings the best feeling of fulfilment for me and I want each artist to contribute their thoughts and ideas and also acknowledge great decisions and choices on all levels of the process e.g. Music choices, vocal choices, directive choices - validate it! I'll also take my iced vanilla latte on oat milk, thanks!

5. How do you manage work-life balance as an artist?

What is that?! LOL - I still navigate what work-life balance means to an independent creative that is a freelancer. I don't think there is a formula to be great at it but we know that one can't exist without the other (e.g. Taking time to rest is also lost time for a deadline). So instead of demanding an expectation that I will be great at the balance, I try to assess myself a couple of times a week and see how I'm going and if the avalanche of work is manageable or not. Your body, even if you have a high capacity threshold, will tell you if its had enough - I think a better tool in your belt to sharpen is knowing what self-awareness means to you and how to practice using that tool more often in your life.

6. How do you seek to improve and develop your practice?

Right now, I'm still in "Phase One" of JDProCo (my production company) which is to create new relationships with artists and deepen the relationships with artists I already work with. "Phase Two" is to build bigger shows that employ more people that want to serve the creative vision of each project with their talents. In turn we want to keep on building our audiences to be bigger each year. "Phase Three", which I don't speak about often, is to become a venue owner. What that looks like physically, I have written in my Notes App with many iterations of this dream and how to achieve it. But I've decided that manifesting and speaking about it more will hopefully help that process as well.

7. What time of day do you find yourself most creative and why?

IT ALWAYS HAPPENS BEFORE I'M TRYING TO GO TO BED, AAAAHHHH!!! Or whichever time I'm not drowsy or overly exhausted - I treasure and take rest very seriously nowadays. If I have no energy, I have no creative valve to open. Simple as that.

8. Do you think art is important to society and why?

Simple answer as an artist, YES. It always has been and whilst we navigate an age where art is driven by metrics, it is important that we keep on creating art even when the numbers are against us. Art always reflects the times and is a commentary on our social, political and cultural landscapes and is a great catalyst for discussion and internal reflection. Sometimes a work SHOULD trigger us in a contextual way if it opens a valve to think beyond how we've always known something to be. Art and people are complicated, there's beauty in that.

9. Who is an artist that inspires you and why?

Beyoncé - I've witnessed this woman who is a beautiful singer, a great collaborator, a seasoned, polished performer who is also a creative visionary. She is known for her work ethic as she knows everything that happens on her stage. From every lighting cue, to sound cue, to arrangement decision and mark that needs to be hit in staging! That is someone that inspires me in my own little realm of creativity as I have become that person too. I know every harmony, note & arrangement decision in our shows. Beyoncé has shown us that if you want to be a great leader, the standard starts with you - and I don't take that lightly!

10. What are you working on right now, if anything?

We are in full rehearsal mode for our company's festive concert, "Home for Christmas" by Josh Daveta & The Sequins playing at The Old Museum December 15 & 16! With a 7-Piece Band & 8 singers including our special guest, Angela Fabian - we have created a joyful multi-genre show that covers all holiday music in its many forms! We hope as many people as possible join us for this 2-Night extravaganza of feel good music - it truly does feel like you are coming, home, for Christmas.

If you are or know of an artist that might like to feature in our Spotlight: 10 Questions series please send us an email to hello@thatproductioncompany.com.au.

THAT Production Company respectfully acknowledges the Original Custodians of the Land on which we live and create. We acknowledge all First Nations people and pay respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Always was. Always will be.

Spotlight: 10 Questions with Josh Daveta