José González – 2007 Biography

With his crystal-clear singing voice and vibrant, classically-inspired playing, José
González is one of today’s most remarkable artists – testament to the irrefutable power
of one man and a guitar.

His debut album 'Veneer' captured his magical sound in its purest state, simply beautiful
and beautifully simple. Touching on a remarkable array of influences, from folk to classic
pop to a dazzling spectrum of world music, 'Veneer' touched audiences across the
globe. Originally released in Sweden on Imperial Recordings in 2003 and on Hidden
Agenda in North America in 2005, 'Veneer' was re-issued in the US on Mute Records in
2006. In September 2007 González will release his sophomore album, the highly
anticipated 'In Our Nature' (released in the US on Mute). 'In Our Nature' sees González
coming into his own as a songwriter – with songs that are as instantly accessible as they
are brimming with darkness and brooding intensity.

In the four years since the Swedish release of 'Veneer,' González' global profile has
grown steadily. Winning the Swedish Grammy for Best Newcomer in 2004, González
was awarded the European Border Breaker Award in 2006 and the Swedish
Government's Music Export Award 2007. His cover of The Knife's 'Heartbeats' (which
appears on 'Veneer') was used in a successful European advertising campaign for the
Sony Bravia LCD Television, and González' played multiple worldwide tours, performing
for audiences in Europe, Asia, South America, and North America. 'Veneer' also went
Platinum in Sweden and Great Britain, Double Platinum in Ireland and Gold in Australia
and New Zealand.

In March 2006 González performed seven times at SXSW – winning over audiences and
critics in Austin TX. This set the stage for taking on North America. He has since toured
the US extensively, selling out shows in every major market, and appeared on Late Night
with Conan O'Brien, The Carson Daly Show, with Zero 7 on The Tonight Show With Jay
Leno and on the nationally syndicated English-language television show American
Latino. González was also a featured vocalist on the Grammy nominated Zero 7 album
'The Garden.'

In 2006 González performed at multiple music festivals including Central Park
Summerstage in New York City, Austin City Limits, LA's Hollywood Bowl, Seattle's
Bumbershoot, The Intonation Music Festival in Chicago and Toronto's V Fest. Most
recently, González performed at the 2007 Coachella Music Festival in Indio California.
González, like his music, is deceptively unassuming, studied and powerful. Swedishborn
but of Argentinean descent, González picked up the guitar at 14, learning the
basics from his dad’s gift of a Beatles songbook, then studying classical guitar through
his teens. At the same time as he was learning the ins-and-outs of his acoustic
instrument, González indulged edgier tastes like The Misfits and Black Flag by playing
bass in a pair of Gothenburg hardcore bands.

In 1998, González began playing guitar in a friend’s indie rock band, saving his own
songs for an as-yet-undetermined purpose. He eventually put together his own trio,
dubbed Junip, with an ear towards creating more experimental-tinged music a la Low
and the Constellation Records catalog (home of, among others, of Godspeed You! Black
Emperor, A Silver Mt. Zion, and Do Make Say Think). Incredibly, that wasn’t enough for
the young musician. His newfound interest in artists such as Cat Power and Songs:
Ohia – as well as a lifelong passion for singers like Chet Baker and Joao Gilberto –
compelled him to attempt some solo recordings.

While working towards his PhD in biochemistry at the University of Gothenburg,
González music career began to take shape, eventually forcing him to choose a career
in music over one in research.

The foundation on which he builds his songs is the same on which he built his studies -
he attacks his music patiently, methodically and with great interest in finding unexpected
angles. 'In Our Nature' is about exploring these angels.

"I didn’t want to write about love but to find other – equally universal – themes for the
songs" says González about the making of 'In Our Nature.' "These are things I have
always been thinking about. But the last six months I became even more interested after
I read the book 'The God Delusion' by Richard Dawkins. He’s an evolutionary biologist,
but the lyrics are far from biological, I’d like to point that out. It’s mainly the themes that
interest me."

"I like playing with symbolism," González continues, "On this album I’ve wanted to bring
out the primitive aspects of human beings."

'In Our Nature' was recorded entirely on tape at a Gothenburg studio. Though González
spent a great deal of time writing these new songs – playing them over and over into a
voice recorder until he was confident in their arrangements – the actual recording of the
album happened very quickly, taking less than two weeks in the studio to record and mix
ten songs.

While it is sonically similar to 'Veneer,' 'In Our Nature' shows González' growth as a
songwriter. Displaying a heightened emphasis on melody and strong, focused lyrics –
the album is a dark combination of softness and anger that is at once mesmerizing,
intimate and hauntingly epic.

José González – Key Facts
Age: 29
Lives: Haga in Gothenburg
Family: His mother and two siblings live in Sweden. His father has returned to Argentina.

Playing on the album are: José González, guitar and vocals, Erik Bodin, percussion,
Yukimi Nagamo, backing vocals and Håkan Wirenstrand, keyboards. The album art for
In Our Nature is done by Elias Araya.

Has played in Against the Wall, Renascence, Sweet Little Sinister, Only if You Call Me
Jonathan.

Sources of inspiration:
João Gilberto, Chet Baker, J Dilla, Broadcast, Fela Kuti, MF Doom, Konono no 1, Nina
Simone, Q-tip, Sick of it All, Zack de la Rocha

Veneer, the debut album, has sold 700.000 copies as of June 2007

Awards:
European Border Breaker Award 2006.
The Swedish government music export award 2007 (for sales in 2006).
Swedish Grammy in the category Best New Artist 2004.
Award for best Swedish songwriter of the year from SMFF (Swedish Music Publishers
Association).
Award for Singer/songwriter of the year at Manifestgalan.

Sales awards:
Platinum in Sweden and Great Britain.
Double Platinum in Ireland.
Gold in Australia and New Zealand.

Has toured practically all over the world during the last 4 years.

'In Our Nature' will be released simultaneously in 35 countries;
Europe, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Central and South America
and South Africa among others.

Management:
Moondog Entertainment, Morgan Johansson - morgan@moondog.se
Co-Management for The Americas by Yes Know Management, Brian Long -
yesknow@earthlink.net