José González Live Performance | Talks at Google

Good afternoon, my name is Boone, I'm working with the Oogle team. I'm here to talk with Jose Gonzales and watch him play like the rest of us. If it's possible, we'd like to respectfully ask that you turn off your ringers on your cell phones and this is going to be the biggest challenge of all. Maybe close your laptops if possible, or just type really quietly, which also may be a challenge. It's my pleasure to introduce Jose Gonzalez, our first guest in the new series Musicians at Google. We'll be having a brief conversation and Jose will take a couple of questions at the end from the audience before we get into his musical set. Jose Gonzalez was born in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1978 to Argentine parents. Although he was raised in Sweden, his parents love of Latin American classical and pop music gave him a diverse musical background that would help shape his future career. At the age of 14, Jose taught himself to play guitar by learning Beatles and bossa nova songs from two books that his father had given him. He then went on to play bass in a series of bands including a punk combo, a hardcore band and an indie rock band, although after exploring these various genres and styles he returned to his nylon strings and his classical guitar. In 2003, Jose released his debut album Veneer in Europe. The album has since been released in the UK and the United States and has sold more than 700,000 copies worldwide. His version of the Knife's Heartbeats was featured in a Sony Bravia commercial which helped to propel him into the public eye. The song Crosses was featured on the finale of the OC's second season, and stay in the Shade was used in yet another episode of the O.C. during the third season. Last month, Jose released his second album, In Our Nature, in 35 countries. Pitchfork called this latest effort a more thoughtful and atmospheric work than either Veneer or last year's Stay in the Shade ep. Mojo magazine wrote that he's a master of umbral moods and this respect, at least in our nature, is worthy successor of the phenomenal Veneer. Jose has performed on Several late night TV shows including Late Night with Conan O', Brien, the BBC's later with Jules Holland and Last Call with Carson. He recently performed as part of NPR's live concert series and will be headlining tonight at the Great American Music hall in San Francisco. So now begins the interview.

Thank you. Nice introduction.

Was it fairly accurate?

Yeah, yeah.

Great. I did a lot of research, so I find your family history very interesting. Maybe you could talk a little bit about It. And how it influenced you and your music.

Yeah, both my parents are from Argentina. They fled the country in 76. And I was born in Sweden, 78. And yeah, I mean, it wasn't a musical family, but they had this much music. And so around the age of 14, as you said, I started playing guitar and kind of started by copying this Cuban singer called Silvio Rodriguez. And as you said, I've been many different bands, but the whole. Of course, coming from Latin America, I've been inspired by that.

Sure. So these hardcore bands and punk bands were sort of an exploration of maybe that side of your music, this more aggressive side of your music. And has it influenced your playing and where you.

Yeah, I think all the music that I've. That I've listened to or played has some. Some. Some tiny fraction in the music that I'm doing now. Even though it's difficult to put the. To know exactly what kind of. I feel like on this new record I've. With the lyrics, I can. They feel a bit like the lyrics that I used to write in the hardcore band. It's like a bit more kind of accusing tone, I guess.

I noticed that this album in particular has a bit more. Maybe a political nature or you really sort of spoken up less about love a little bit more.

Yeah.

About other. Other things.

And is that something that you're trying to move more into or something that just came out in this album?

I mean, it's been. I never really like writing lyrics, although I want them to kind of mean something. And so I've been kind of focusing on not trying to write about myself and. But still writing about general stuff.

General. Not about anything particular here.

Yeah, I mean, I wouldn't. Yeah. I mean, you know, just not writing. Not exposing myself that much. That's kind of like the main.

Speaking of your songs, you've become pretty well known for some of your cover songs that you've done, including the Knife's Heartbeats and a Kylie Minogue song and some other songs like that. I personally am really intrigued by the way you choose your covers and you do them. I find that unlike some other bands that are currently out there, you take a song, you turn it into your own, you find the heart or the soul of that song and you really. It's really an expression of yourself. It's really beautiful.

Thanks. Yeah, well, I usually try to find songs that aren't similar to what I'm doing, so I wouldn't play a Nick Drake song or Bob Dylan, but yeah, I'm very much inspired by kind of like what Johnny Cash did with, you know, Nine Inch Nails and Cover.

That sort of COVID Great version. Speaking of the songs that you choose and the recordings that you've done. Veneer was done all in your apartment in Gothenburg and you did all by yourself?

Yeah, yeah, it was, you know, cheap microphones and it was a 20 square meter apartment, so it's like kitchen, bedroom and living room and. Yeah, I mean, I guess a lot of kids do that nowadays. It's easy.

Sure. And they would be lucky to have as much success as you've had. You've really.

I mean, the record labels will want to.

And your talent, you're very talented. Now, your second album, in Our Nature, it wasn't done the same way. You didn't do it in your apartment. Was it a studio or.

Yeah, I mean, it was part of this studio complex where I had a tiny room. So it was very similar. I recorded on my own with computer and not so cheap microphones.

But you don't. It's somebody's cell phone. I left mine off the side stage. So do you find that that affects the way that your songs come out in the recordings? That's more intimate that you.

Yeah, I mean, it's a matter of aesthetics. And I kind of like when you. I mean, at least for this style of music, when you record and you have kind of ambient sounds, you hear noise in the background.

I noticed the noise, definitely. Well, also on your second album you have more people playing than you did on your first album, which is sort of an expansion of your sound as well. Mm, let's see. I'd like to briefly touch upon sort of what brought you in or helped bring you into the limelight, which is this Sony Bravia ad which a lot of people talk about. And the COVID song that you did. It's a beautiful cover. The ad was spectacular. I don't know how many of you have seen it. The bouncing balls going down the streets of San Francisco and maybe briefly just talk about that and the influence that had getting you talking to people.

Yeah, it was kind of like, you know, being out touring and having, you know, reasonable amount of people coming out to the shows and then all of a sudden like, boom, like bigger rooms.

And.

You know, emails from all over the world. So it's been a big. I think it really kind of stepped it up to a mainstream level in many countries. So. Yeah, that's cool.

Not too much too fast.

No, I mean, I remember when I put out the album in Sweden, I got the impression of like, oh, what's happening. It's like the first times that I heard myself on the radio or saw myself on tv and that was more like a shock. And when the advert came on, it was a similar feeling, but although it was bigger, it didn't really feel.

Are you the type that turns the radio up when you hear yourself or quickly changes the channel because you don't know what to do?

It was really awkward at first. I'm kind of used to it.

But.

It'S more like analyzing. It's not like, yeah, I sound good.

Turn the bass up.

Yeah.

Well, I think that we're pretty close to taking a few. Or I think we have time for two questions so that Jose can play a full set. I see one hand up back there. I'm going to have to walk towards you. Unfortunately, we only have this mic.

Feels a bit like school. Sorry, it's not mine, I think.

Must be me. I'm very excited. What were you doing before music?

I was studying at the university in Gothenburg, so I was doing my PhD in biochemistry. Did one and a half year when I released the album and then kind of started touring and now I've forgotten all about it. Okay.

Our founders haven't gotten their PhDs.

Yeah.

So who was. I think she had her hand up next. Sorry.

So I wanted to ask a little bit about the groups that you've collaborated with specifically. I'd seen the concert earlier this summer with 07. Has the sort of rise to success opened up additional opportunities for you to collaborate with people? And how has that sort of influenced your music and how it's evolved?

Yeah, no, it's been some people asking about collaborations and I've done a couple like with 07 and sabas and Savalas and Bea Kelly Minogue. But it's. Yeah, I kind of feel like it's usually them asking me and it's fun and I kind of. It's fun to see how they work with writing songs.

Is there anyone that you'd like to collaborate with that you haven't had an opportunity to use of?

Well, I felt like it's been fun collaborating with people, but it takes a lot of time and I'm really picky and kind of hating being in the situation where you don't really like it. And I'm too kind of. I don't know. Conflict. Scared of conflict. So. Oh yeah, it sounds good. And then. So, yeah, no, I would rather make my own music and the music with my band and. Yeah.

So without further ado, I'd like to introduce Jose Gonzalez. And let him play you a few songs.

Sam. How low are you willing to go before you reach all your selfish goals? Punchline after punchline Leaving us all Leaving us all. Absorbed in your hustling Feeding a monster Just feeding a monster Invasion after invasion this means more this makes more Someday you'll be up to your knees in the shade you see. All the color bone that you asleep won't be up around. We're two Will you relocate now that it's warm now that it's. Through that through your weakest moments to leave up behind you Turning night only shadows we'll catch some light you'll be all right. Cast some light and you'll be all right for now Crossing all over maybe on your shoulders the siren society waiting to step on Disturbing silence darkness Cast some light and you'll be all right. Cash Some light and you'll be all right for now. Crossing so low. Crossing so low. Crossing so low. Cross it so low. The streets outside your window. Staring we know you. Faces. Cast on light and you'll be all right. Sa. Weight of truth we had a promise made far and something away Both under influence we had demonstrate to know what to say Mind is a race of blade to cover and trouble but to lean on wouldn't be good enough for me. One night of magic punch the star just simple touch One night to push on screen and then really 10 days of perfect tunes the colors red and blue we had a promise made we were in love took over and shower to the lean on Would it be good enough for me to call for angel to lean on Would it be good enough? And you you knew the hand of a devil. And you kept us awake when sharing different heartbeats in one night. Too confident to lean on Would it be good enough for me now to cover and trouble to lean on Wouldn't be good enough Sam Sa. Love stain on my heart. And you then blood stain on. But blood comes off easily but blood comes off. You. Love stain on my heart. And you. Blood stain on the cloud. Comes obviously. Comes obviously. You. Sam. I see problems down the line.

I.

Know that I'm mine. Doing the same mistake twice Making the same mistake twice Come on over Be so cold it's not about cold. I see problems down the line I know that I. See in darkness down the night I know it's not funny. Was a dirt of all gu.

Doing.

The same mistake Guys, you're making the same mistake twice Come on over don't be so cold it's all about col. I see problems down I know. Don't let the lord piss you. Don't let the darkness. Darkness you do. Don't let the darkness you. Don't let the darkness. Don't let the lord bless you. Don't let the lord bless you. Sam.

Sa.

That brought me the wake up will go to bed you sleepwalking with a delirious you were programmed a long long long time ago your stories are old and your acclamation. Sa. Even though you may well most of the time. Sa. Well it's one thing to fall in love but another to make it last I thought we were just beginning.

And.

Now you say the past and you tell me you don't want you know it's one thing to say you love me but another to mean it from the heart and if you don't intend to see it through why did we ever start? I need to hear you tell me you don't want put your hand on your heart and tell me it's all over I won't believe it till you Put your hand on your heart and tell me that we're through. Put your hand on your heart they like to talk about forever most people never get the chance do you want to lose your love together? Do you find in your mind I need to hear you tell me you don't want my love Put your hand on your heart and tell me it's all over I won't believe it till you put your put hand on your heart and tell me that we're through. Put your hand on your heart Hand on your heart look me in the eye and tell me we are different. Sam. Sa.

Playing one last song. This. This one is called Slow cover. It's one by Massive Attack. The song is called Tear Up.

Love. Love is a bird Love is a door Hands on my breath gentle shine. Tear drop on the fire feather. Nine nights of my. Be. Most faithful.

Thank you. Thanks everyone.