Joshua J released his first album, "1998," exactly six years after his grandmother passed away. The project reflected on his experiences growing up in foster care and served as a tribute to his mother. Receiving high praise from outlets such as Pitchfork, Earmilk, Complex UK, Wonderland, Vice, and Julie Adenuga's radio show on Beats1. Shortly after this, he started touring as a support act for established artists like Boyz II Men, Anderson .Paak, Saba, and Col3trane and his single 'Lock My Door' was picked up by Dr. Dre on his 'Beats of the Week' Apple Music playlist. After releasing a series of self-produced singles and developing himself musically throughout the pandemic, Joshua released a new project called 'Better Times' in the spring of 2021. Translating the positive changes that occurred in his life after '1998' was released, you could hear a Joshua J that had grown into himself more and was able to release the grief he felt for his mother and grandmother. From guitar-focused neo-soul production to elements of afrobeat’s upbeat sonic tapestries, there’s something both raw and vivid about his sonic palette. Each track serves as a snapshot of a time and place in the artist’s life, exploring themes of lovelorn tales, grief and identity. It’s ultimately the honouring of his heritage and the storytelling that prevails throughout, wherein Joshua’s emotive vocals ground the music as something compulsively danceable and impossible to not turn all the way up.