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the Music Lounge by Albert Rodriguez - SGN A & E Writer

Get closer to Joshua Radin: Star-bound artist once saw the Jackson 5 in concert, dislikes Arizona and is running low on boxer briefs
Joshua Radin was once a total unknown. But that was so three months ago. These days, he's on the verge of bigness with an impressive debut album, We Were Here, which just received a four-star review in Rolling Stone magazine. Add to that a new music video directed by Zach Braff (Garden State, TV's "Scrubs"), a summer-long national tour, two track contributions to The Last Kiss film soundtrack, and a growing fan base that has quickly found him as irresistible as fellow pop singer-songwriters Jack Johnson, John Mayer and Jason Mraz. Talented, smart, gifted and easy on the pupils, Radin is sure to reach major stardom in the coming years, if not months. Compared heavily to Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor and Elliott Smith, the Cleveland-bred artist returns to Seattle on Sunday for a performance at Neumo's (see "Where It's At" for details). Radin has a serious and not so serious side to him, and both sides take turns answering questions for the Seattle Gay News about life, love and the pursuit of a great party. He may be short on underwear, but definitely not on talent or a sense of humor. Sit back, relax, grab an iced beverage of choice and get better acquainted with tomorrow's brightest star. Here's what Joshua Radin revealed when he checked into "The Music Lounge". Albert Rodriguez: How does it feel to have your album, We Were Here, out on record store shelves now? Joshua Radin: Walking into Tower Records in New York City on June 13th (the release date of We Were Here) was one of the most surreal experiences of my life. I just could not get over the fact that this huge store had featured my record. I mean, I started this whole music thing less than three years ago and all of a sudden, my debut record is in listening stations in thousands of record stores, accompanied by posters of my face. It's insane. It's bananas. Rodriguez: Any breaking news to report (new music videos, film cameos, etc.)? Radin: My first music video is done and should be coming out shortly. It's for my song "Closer" and it was directed by Zach Braff. I'm really proud of it. Well actually, I'm proud of Zach's work on it. I just stood there and lip-synched like Ashlee Simpson. Rodriguez: Did you enjoy your last trip to Seattle? Anything specific you remember about it? Radin: My last trip to Seattle was way too short. I drove in, had a slice of pizza, sound-checked, did an interview with you, played the show at Chop Suey and ran off stage to get a cab to the airport. Hopefully this time I'll be able to walk around a bit more because it's such a stunningly beautiful town. Rodriguez: Matt Rubano, of Taking Back Sunday, recently told us that he accumulates a lot of sweaty, dirty clothes while on tour. As a result, we're replenishing his inventory of fresh socks. You running low on anything? Radin: I've been homeless now for five months. My bed's in a storage unit in LA. I have been crashing with my girlfriend for a week or so at a time when I have a break from the road so all I have is a suitcase of clothes and gear and my guitar. I have lost so many single socks and most of all, I can't keep track of my underwear - black, Calvin boxer-briefs. So if you want to buy me some, I'll take 'em. Rodriguez: Give us five essentials, old or new, we should include in our record collection. Radin: Totally stereotypical, but classic, like a great pair of old Levi's: Van Morrison's Astral Weeks, Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited, The Stones' Let it Bleed, The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds, and let's go with one that isn't a twenty year-old classic - Elliott Smith's Either/Or. Rodriguez: Tell us about your experience touring various parts of the country that you've never been to before? Radin: So far the only place I've been that I hadn't been to before is Arizona. And I have to say, jeez, what a shithole. Maybe I'm seeing the wrong spots, but man, my least favorite state. It's like 100 degrees, and 100 MPH winds blowing hot dirt in your face at all times. Rodriguez: Do you have a favorite song you enjoy playing live? Radin: I honestly don't have a favorite song I play live. Maybe..."The Reflex". Oh, wait, that's Duran Duran. Sometimes I mix the two of us up. Rodriguez: Rhett Miller told us he gets bold-yet-friendly letters from Gay men on MySpace. You received any? Radin: No, I haven't received weird messages on MySpace from Gay men. Wow, just writing it out and admitting it to the Seattle Gay News makes me feel so unattractive and quite the slouch. I guess the only group of people who find me attractive are people who have vaginas. Rodriguez: What does the rest of 2006 look like for you? Radin: The rest of 2006 looks bright. Real fucking bright. Haha. Rodriguez: If you were hosting a summer barbecue, what would be on the agenda? Radin: A summer BBQ at my non-existent house would be lots of Bob Marley on the record player, buckets and buckets of beer and my tens of fans. No friends. No family. Just the 28 people who know my music and all of them would be asking for autographs and pictures constantly. Rodriguez: You're living the dream so many people would love to have. What advice would you give to anyone wanting to launch a music career? Radin: Hmmm, I was told by many people that all you need to write a good song is three chords and the truth. It's the truth that's the difficult part. Sometimes it's so hard to be honest about what we're feeling because we're afraid that the people we're being honest about will be offended. Once I rid myself of that fear, I started writing stuff I'm now proud of. Also, it doesn't hurt to buy the CEO of Sony a Ferrari, which is what I did. Rodriguez: What's currently spinning in your iPOD? Radin: Hmmm, well, lots of stuff. But mainly Polka and Alan Jackson these days. Both are so inspiring, so real, so honest. Polka. So hot right now. Polka. Rodriguez: The first concert you ever went to was... Radin: My first concert was New Edition. Yep. Me and my mom in the front row. I think I was about 6 years old. Second concert was the Jackson 5 "Victory Tour". Yep. Me and my mom. I wore the sequined glove to school the next day but I was trumped by Chris Fox who wore the "Beat It" red zipper jacket. Fucker. Rodriguez: Do you feel like you're becoming a better live performer, since you've been touring more frequently? Radin: Yes, I do. Rodriguez: For those who haven't seen you in concert yet and are curious to check you out, describe your live show. Radin: It's like Stonehenge. But smaller.