Joshua Radin has opened up about the recording of his new album Underwater, which saw him defy doctors' advice.
The acclaimed musician suffered a punctured eardrum as a child and was told that he would experience unimaginable pain if he ever immersed himself in water. But last year, while looking for inspiration for new material, he took the plunge in the Pacific Ocean.
"It was mind-blowingly cool," he said. "Even when I’m sleeping in bed, I can hear my heartbeat. I never realized the silence one experiences underwater.
"My brain was totally free to come up with a melody line, and that’s where this album began, underwater."
The star also recalled the honour of being asked to play at Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi's wedding in 2008.
"I played six of my songs and Ellen and Portia just sat right in front of me looking at each other, crying, and looking at me," he recalled. "I actually teared up a bit - that’s never happened to me before."
Underwater is out on July 30, with collaborators including pianist Benmont Tench (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), drummer Jim Keltner (Bob Dylan, John Lennon), and string arranger Jimmie Haskell (Simon and Garfunkel).
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