The Radiant Radish was the name we used for years to book local shows in New Orleans and release our friends' music on cassettes and CD-Rs. Our first Christmas comp was released in 1999. It featured six songs by three bands and was only put on cassettes. Things grew over the next few years, and our 2002 comp was really fun. But then things died out, and we couldn't get much interest for a while.
By 2010, I'd moved to Nashville and was missing playing music with a lot of my friends. I threw out the idea of reviving the Christmas comp, and a bunch of people were into it again. And it hasn't stopped yet.
It has become somewhat of an annual challenge that I'll throw out around mid-October. People will usually settle down sometime in late November or early December, write a song or two, and get something recorded by our mid-December deadline. Of course, many times songs are written and recorded the night before they're due. Yet somehow, each of the last six comps have included anywhere from 12-24 tracks. In the end, we throw it all in a zip file with liner notes and send it to a few friends.
There are basically no rules, as far as genre. Most of us stick to what we're comfortable with, but we'll sometimes branch out to include rap, country, techno, or other "strange" sounds. We've had songs recorded in studios, along with tracks recorded on phones. Covers are welcome, but everyone involved is also capable of writing songs. Really, anything goes.
I wouldn't say the songs in this collection are the "best," and this isn't a "greatest hits." I think this is more of a good mix, featuring most of the key contributors and collaborations from the last six comps. I'm so happy to be involved with all of these guys, who somehow manage to find time to participate during the busiest time of the year. And it never fails: Their songs are constantly stuck in my head, all year long.
Hopefully you'll find something to like here. If you want to hear more from the people on this comp, feel free to reach out to me at radiantradish@yahoo.com, and I'll point you in the right directions.
Psychedelic, soft-focus dance grooves abound on the new one from Austin artist Dorio, full of limber riffs and gentle vocals. Bandcamp New & Notable May 6, 2023
Two new songs from the Nashville musician (and drummer in Sad Baxter) reveal a talent for rock hooks and anthemic power pop aesthetics. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 11, 2022
Rising UK trio FES balance math rock's instrumental mischief with pop punk's anthemic sweetness for a distinctive, endearing sound. Bandcamp New & Notable May 4, 2022