Friday June 16, 2006 SGN.org |
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Volume 34 Issue 24 |
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Saturday, Nov 21, 2009
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the Music Lounge by Albert Rodriguez - SGN A & E Writer |
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| Here today, star tomorrow: Joshua Radin recorded his first album in a bedroom, loves hanging out with best friend Zach Braff and appears prime to hit music's jackpot | |
| In an industry flooded with new names and faces, one of the strongest star potentials in the music world is Joshua Radin. The LA-based artist's dreamy folk-pop tunes could easily pass for Simon and Garfunkel B-sides. Comparisons to the legendary duo are becoming frequent for the young singer-songwriter, in addition to similarities to Elliott Smith, Nick Drake and James Taylor. After scoring instant popularity on iTunes with an album recorded in his apartment, Radin became the object of a fierce bidding war between major record labels. The result is We Were Here, a whopping debut that hit store shelves this week.
It was a beautiful, warm afternoon when I caught up with Radin on Capitol Hill, home to some of Seattle's busiest nightclubs and coffee shops, and home to our newspaper's offices. After Radin lit a cigarette in Chop Suey's desolate back bar, which would soon fill to capacity for an after-work concert with Radin slated as the second act on a three-person bill, I suggested we go for a walk. Outside the club, with the sun beating down and happy hour crowds gathering at nearby bars, Radin and I began talking about music and his first ever trip to the Jet City. The combination of me being thirsty and Radin sensing that the tape recorder in my man-purse was likely not grasping every word of our conversation sent us into Purr Cocktail Lounge, where I scored a cold bottle of Amstel Light and Radin a comfortable couch to light another cigarette. He was quite attractive in person. Olive colored skin, inescapable eyes, genuine smile, fit body. And he was very down to earth, possessing a calm personality and confident-yet-not-cocky presence. Here's what Joshua Radin had to say when he stepped into "The Music Lounge". Albert Rodriguez: You probably have a solid year of touring ahead of you, which is exciting. At the same time, you have to leave things behind like the girlfriend. Joshua Radin: She's a musician as well. She's just starting out too. We're trying to work it so we can both get big enough to tour together. We actually just co-wrote a song together that's going to be on the soundtrack of Zach's (Braff) new movie that comes out soon. Rodriguez: Is it a foreign language film? Radin: Yes, it's a movie called Open Hearts (Radin thinks it's Danish, but can't recall). It's European and he adapted the script, and he's going to star and direct. It got pushed because the cast he wanted wasn't exactly available right now and because "Scrubs" has a hiatus with a certain window where he can make a movie. Rodriguez: There are strong hints of Simon and Garfunkel on your CD. Radin: I get that a lot. Rodriguez: Who else have you been compared to? Radin: Elliott Smith, Nick Drake and a lot of those mellow, lyrically based singer-songwriters. Cat Stevens, James Taylor, and artists from that 70s singer-songwriter era. Rodriguez: A great era. Radin: All my favorite music (touches the heart-side of his chest) and what my parents played for me growing up. It sort of seeped into my brain and its what I've always loved. Rodriguez: Are you ready for whatever happens? Radin: (laughs) Whatever? Rodriguez: Bigness. If it happens, are you ready for it? Radin: I don't know, to be honest. I think of those people who would sacrifice ten years on the road in a band and crash on couches. Certain friends of mine have had that mentality and still do. They have this huge desire to be heard by the entire world and be famous. And I really like anonymity. If the record does take off and it happens, it's not going to be the worst thing in the world. Obviously, I wouldn't be doing this. I'm not going to lie. I probably would move out of LA, somewhere much more remote and build a studio and just kind of hang out and tour when I have to promote a new record. I'm a homebody and very private. Watching Zach become famous in Los Angeles, it's tough. It's not a bad life, by any means. But no anonymity at all. Walking down the street, people are bothering you at dinner and lunch. That's the trade-off for the salaries you get for doing something you love. To be honest, that's why I was writing screenplays. Rodriguez: You have the potential to be the next John Mayer, Jason Mraz, or Jack Johnson. Whether you want that or not, the potential is there. Radin: I like all their music. I have very eclectic taste in music. I read interviews on artists all the time, and I've always despised when artists rip on other artists. I think it's pretty ballsy to get out there and let yourself be critiqued. Rodriguez: You don't think artists are also some of the best critics? Radin: You get a little too biased when you get involved, kind of like a magician. Another magician knows the tricks. I'm usually more amazed by the things I can't do than things I can come close to doing or do. I don't get star-struck by actors or musicians, but if LeBron James walked by I'd be like, "whew!" (whips his head sideways to show a star-struck moment) because it's something I can never, ever do. I watch him play and I'm like, "wow!". Rodriguez: There's no artist you'd be star-struck by? Radin: Maybe Bob Dylan (laughs heartily). And John Lennon's dead, so. Rodriguez: What about Paul Simon? Radin: I've seen him in person, walking down the street in New York. It was cool. But I never go up and talk to people. If I admire their work, I wouldn't just run up and say "hey!". I like to respect other people's privacy the way I like mine respected. I like the sighting more than talking to them because sometimes you get let down. If they're a jerk you're like, "Ugh, now how am I going to listen to their music?" When I found out Cat Stevens was anti-Semitic, I was like, "Is this going to effect the way I now listen to his music?". Or, I love Dostoyevsky and then found out he was anti-Semitic. Rodriguez: We live in an image-driven society in which people don't brush individual beliefs and lifestyles aside so easily. Radin: If someone buys your record, they're kind of buying a piece of you. I understand people don't want to find out I'm a jerk if they like my music. Rodriguez: Zach (Braff) has a really big Gay following. Radin: I think it's from doing The Broken Hearts Club. (Incidentally, Braff calls Radin on his cell phone during our chitchat) Rodriguez: And "Scrubs" has a lot of homoerotic scenes and storylines. Radin: (laughs) Gay chicken?! That came from Bill Lawrence, the creator. He used to play that game all the time. Rodriguez: I have a lot of respect for artists like Fiona Apple, who choose to be creative and not barter their talent to sell thousands and thousands of albums. Radin: That's why I was really nervous about signing with a major label. I was doing alright on my own, living comfortably and licensing my own music. People were starting to really embrace it in the film and TV community, the cinematic quality and soundtrack quality. And I was happy. So when the labels started calling and got into this huge bidding war I told my manager, "This is okay, but I made my record in my own bedroom exactly how I wanted it to sound, the way I had envisioned it. If they want to change a thing, a note or anything, then we're not doing it". Luckily, they (Sony-BMG Records) said, "We want to put this album out right away, as is". I just felt really lucky. So I said, "Okay, as long as we're doing it on my terms". Rodriguez: Did you have independent labels also bidding for you to sign with them? Radin: I don't know. They would always talk to my manager. I was literally skiing with Zach in Aspen, on vacation for a week. I'm riding a chairlift and got a call saying that every major label is in a bidding war for my album. Rodriguez: Then it happened. Radin: It's kind of a weird story. I did the record myself, put it on iTunes and it made the top 25 albums (list) and the labels said, "We want it, we want it, we want it!". I'd never done any touring or anything. I literally played like 40 shows in the last two years, between New York and LA. Rodriguez: You've never played the West Coast, aside from LA? This is a brand new experience for you? Radin: Brand new. I really couldn't have asked for anything more. I don't know how it could get much better. Rodriguez: Your album has yet to be released, so it's bound to get better. Radin: (laughs) I guess so. Rodriguez: We'd better get you back to the club. You're going on stage soon. Thanks for the afternoon walk and talk, and we look forward to seeing you rise. Radin: (smiles widely, gorgeously) It's been a pleasure. |
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