Joshua Radin

Biography

Joshua Radin (born June 14, 1974) is an American singer-songwriter. He has recorded ten studio albums, and his songs have been used in a number of films and TV series. His most successful album, Simple Times×Simple Times30 September 2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1One of Those Days3:012I'd Rather Be With You2:423Sky3:254Friend Like You2:205Brand New Day3:146They Bring Me to You3:597Vegetable Car3:028Free of Me2:369You Got Growin' Up to Do2:5210We Are Okay2:4211No Envy, No Fear3:22, was released in 2008.

Beginnings

Joshua Radin was born and raised in Shaker Heights, Ohio, United States, to a Jewish family of Polish, German, Austrian, and Russian background. He studied drawing and painting at Northwestern University, following his college years with stints as an art teacher, screenwriter, and art gallery employee.
Radin turned to music when he moved to New York City, his father bought him a guitar, and he taught himself to play and write music.
In 2004, American actor Zach Braff, a friend of Radin since their days at Northwestern, introduced Radin's first composition, "Winter", to Scrubs show creator Bill Lawrence, who ultimately used several of Radin's songs in various scenes of the television series.

Musical career

According to Radin his musical career started in 2004, and he had learned to play the guitar only two years before that. His first song, "Winter", appeared on his debut album We Were Here×We Were Here13 June 2006 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Sundrenched World4:302Star Mile4:043Everything'll Be Alright (Will's Lullaby)2:444These Photographs3:275Closer2:556Today3:307Winter3:258Someone Else's Life3:339Amy's Song3:4110What If You4:3611Only You2:28. Since that time, Radin has been touring the United States, as well as much of the United Kingdom and Europe. Over the course of his career, Radin has shared stages with artists such as Sheryl Crow, Tori Amos, Imogen Heap, Meiko, Missy Higgins, Maria Taylor, Gary Jules, Amber Rubarth, Schuyler Fisk, The Script and many more. In addition to his American following, Radin has enjoyed success with his 2008 release, Simple Times in the United Kingdom. His song "I'd Rather Be With You" reached No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart and number two on the US Top Digital Chart.

We Were Here (2006)

Radin has said that much of the album was inspired by a bad break-up. It was released exclusively to iTunes for a month, before attracting attention from major labels. Released on Columbia Records in May 2006, We Were Here presented the first batch of songs Radin ever wrote. The album drew critical acclaim and received a four-star review from Rolling Stone, who praised it for Radin's "whispery, silver-bell voice" and its themes, calling them "poignant and refreshingly frank." The record hit number one on the iTunes Folk Album Chart and included a number of well known musicians, including Ryan Adams who played guitar on the song "Lovely Tonight". Zach Braff hand-picked one of the tracks to be featured on the soundtrack for The Last Kiss.
Radin played the song "Today" from the album, along with five other songs, for Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi at their August 16, 2008, wedding.

Simple Times (2008)

Radin's second album, Simple Times×Simple Times30 September 2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1One of Those Days3:012I'd Rather Be With You2:423Sky3:254Friend Like You2:205Brand New Day3:146They Bring Me to You3:597Vegetable Car3:028Free of Me2:369You Got Growin' Up to Do2:5210We Are Okay2:4211No Envy, No Fear3:22 went straight to No. 1 on the iTunes overall chart upon its release. Radin enlisted highly regarded producer Rob Schnapf (Elliott Smith, Beck). The two spent seven weeks recording at L.A.'s legendary Sunset Sound Studio working with a cast of musicians that included guitarist Greg Leisz, bassist Johnny Flaugher, keyboardist Jason Borger, drummer Victor Indrizzo and percussionist Lenny Castro. Among the album's many highlights are "You Got Growin' Up To Do", featuring guest vocalist Patty Griffin, lead single "I'd Rather Be with You" and "Brand New Day×Brand New Day8 June 2010 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Brand New Day (radio edit)3:142Only You (Yazoo cover) (live)2:423No Envy No Fear (live)3:30". Tracks from the album were featured on TV shows such as Bones, Scrubs, House, Grey's Anatomy, One Tree Hill, Life Unexpected, 90210, Brothers and Sisters, American Idol and Australian hit series Packed to the Rafters among others. Radin's "Simple Times" was released on Mom + Pop Music.

The Rock and The Tide (2010)

Radin's third studio album, The Rock and The Tide×The Rock and the Tide12 October 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Road to Ride On3:032Streetlight3:293Here We Go4:004We Are Only Getting Better4:025The Rock and the Tide4:036You Got What I Need3:057Nowhere to Go4:188Think I'll Go Inside4:179The Ones With the Light3:2610You're Not as Young2:5711One Leap3:2112Wanted2:5313Brand New Day (reprise)3:14 was released on October 12, 2010, on Mom + Pop Music, his second release with the label. The album reached number five on the iTunes albums chart upon its release. The Rock and The Tide was produced by Martin Terefe (Cat Stevens, Ron Sexmith). A later EP released in 2011 used 6 of the album's tacks recorded in an acoustic session.

Underwater (2012)

On September 4, 2012, Radin released his fourth studio album, Underwater×Underwater29 July 2012 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Tomorrow Is Gonna Be Better2:492Anywhere Your Love Goes2:593Let It Go2:454Five and Dime3:055Here’s Where We Begin2:546Underwater4:447Everything3:038Lost at Home2:269One More2:4410The Greenest Grass3:4511The Willow3:2712Any Day Now3:3313So Long Sunshine3:4014Running Out of Time3:3515Where You Belong3:0316She’s So Right2:50. The album was Radin's third release with Mom + Pop Music.
Radin wrote songs with Janet Devlin in the Autumn of 2012 for her debut album.

Wax Wings (2013)

Joshua Radin's fifth studio album Wax Wings×Wax Wings7 May 2013 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Beautiful Day3:322When We’re Together3:003Cross That Line3:024Back to Where I’m From2:565Lovely Tonight3:456Your Rainy Days3:077With Me3:138Like They Used To3:179In Her Eyes3:0910Stay2:4111My My Love3:47 was released May 7, 2013. Wax Wings, a self-released album, has eleven tracks. Included on the album is the song "Lovely Tonight", which had been previously released on iTunes as a single. The tracks "In Her Eyes×In Her Eyes9 October 2012 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1In Her Eyes3:15" and "Stay" were produced by Matt Noveskey.

Onward and Sideways (2015)

Joshua Radin's released a sixth studio album on January 6, 2015. The album consisted of 13 tracks, one of which was a re-release of the Wax Wings×Wax Wings7 May 2013 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Beautiful Day3:322When We’re Together3:003Cross That Line3:024Back to Where I’m From2:565Lovely Tonight3:456Your Rainy Days3:077With Me3:138Like They Used To3:179In Her Eyes3:0910Stay2:4111My My Love3:47 track "Beautiful Day" recorded with Sheryl Crow.

The Fall (2017)

Radin released a self-produced album titled The Fall×The Fall27 January 2017 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Diamonds3:352High and Low2:543Falling4:114Enough for You3:265Higher3:176Song for You3:007Waiting3:108Keep the Darkness Away3:369When I'm With You2:5110Still Spinning3:0911Falling (acoustic)3:4912Diamonds (acoustic)3:1813Still Spinning (acoustic)2:5814High and Low (acoustic)2:47 on January 27, 2017, through Cadence Music.

Here, Right Now (2019)

Radin's eighth studio album, Here, Right Now×Here, Right Now4 October 2019 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Here, Right Now3:032You Got Me Thinking4:003Only a Wave (Better Days)3:584Going With You2:555Don't Let It Hurt You3:546She Smiled Sweetly2:427I Won't Back Down3:068Your Light3:019What Would You Do (Refugee Song)3:51, was released on October 4, 2019, through Nettwerk Music Group. It was his first album with Nettwerk. Here, Right Now features a cover of Tom Petty's I Won't Back Down.

The Ghost and The Wall (2021)

Joshua Radin's ninth full-length album, The Ghost and The Wall×The Ghost and the Wall23 July 2021 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Goodbye3:442Fewer Ghosts3:483Better Life3:194Make It Easy3:455Hey You3:276I’ll Be Your Friend3:437You’re My Home3:218Not Today2:559Till the Morning3:5610Next to Me3:08, was released on July 23, 2021. Radin wrote The Ghost and The Wall at his home in Los Angeles in 2020, in isolation during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The album was produced remotely via email and text messages with Jonathan Wilson, who also played several instruments on the album. The two musicians have never met in person.

ONE DAY, HOME (2025)

Radin's tenth studio album, ONE DAY, HOME, was self-released on February 14, 2025.

Personal life

Joshua Radin attended Northwestern University, where he met and became friends with Zach Braff.
Radin also wrote the song "In Her Eyes×In Her Eyes9 October 2012 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1In Her Eyes3:15" in celebration of his own sister's wedding.
In addition to his love of music, Radin is an avid traveler.

Philanthropy

Radin has been involved with Little Kids Rock, a national nonprofit that provides music education to schools without music programs. Radin visited schools in six cities during his 2011 tour in support of The Rock and the Tide to give guitar lessons on the song "Brand New Day×Brand New Day8 June 2010 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Brand New Day (radio edit)3:142Only You (Yazoo cover) (live)2:423No Envy No Fear (live)3:30", and brought some of the students on stage at his concerts to perform the song with him. He did so again in 2015 for his song "Beautiful Day".
Radin also supports the North Shore Animal League as a celebrity ambassador, donating 100% of the proceeds from his single, "Here, Right Now×Here, Right Now4 October 2019 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Here, Right Now3:032You Got Me Thinking4:003Only a Wave (Better Days)3:584Going With You2:555Don't Let It Hurt You3:546She Smiled Sweetly2:427I Won't Back Down3:068Your Light3:019What Would You Do (Refugee Song)3:51", to the New York-based animal rescue organization.

Television and movies

Radin's songs have been used on television series such as Designated Survivor, Scrubs, Grey's Anatomy, Brothers and Sisters, American Idol, Cougar Town, One Tree Hill, House, Shameless, among others. Radin also made a cameo appearance in Cougar Town's 4th-season finale. As of September 2010, he had amassed more than 75 film and television placements of his songs.

EPs

First Between 3rd and 4th (2004)
Live Session (iTunes Exclusive EP) (2006)
Unclear Sky (iTunes Exclusive EP) (2008)
Simple Times – Bonus Material (Demos) EP (2009)
Songs Under a Streetlight EP (2010)
The Rock and the Tide (Acoustic Session) EP (2011)
Covers, Vol. 1 EP (2020)
though the world will tell me so, vol. 1 (2023)
though the world will tell me so, vol. 2 (2023)

Singles

Others

2016: "Belong" (with Måns Zelmerlöw)

Compilation appearances

His Way, Our Way (Frank Sinatra tribute album)