Though he enjoyed singing during his childhood in Cleveland, OH, Joshua Radin never intended to be a professional musician. Instead, he studied drawing and painting at Northwestern University, following his college years with stints as an art teacher, screenwriter, and art gallery employee. Eventually, he took a stab at songwriting and played one of his early compositions, "Winter," for his friend Zach Braff. The burgeoning actor/director took an immediate liking to the song, and "Winter" soon found its way onto Braff' TV show, Scrubs, in early 2004. After fans began to request more of his music, Radin decided to pursue a songwriting career and signed with Columbia Records, who issued his debut album We Were Here in 2006.

Radin relocated to Los Angeles and aligned himself with the Hotel Cafe, a unique Hollywood venue specializing in performances by singer/songwriters. He soon found himself playing national tour dates with a number of Hotel Cafe regulars, including Ingrid Michaelson, Sara Bareilles, and Meiko. Meanwhile, he issued a pair of digital EPs (via iTunes) while readying the release of his sophomore album, Simple Times, which arrived in late 2008. ~ Marisa Brown & Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide