(Photo Credit – Time Out)
Who they are
Jose Gonzalez is a Swedish singer and songwriter, who has a very distinct folk and indie pop sound. Gonzalez was born on July 31st, 1978 in Gothenburg, Sweden. His first musical success was in the formation of the band Junip who released their first EP in 2000, with Gonzalez releasing his first solo EP in 2003. One major success was his inclusion into The Screw Life of Walter Mitty soundtrack in 2013. Shortly after in 2015, he released his album Vestiges & Claws. His most recent album was released in 2021, titled Local Vally.
Music Examples
Open Book (Live KEXP) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4bk3bQeWPw
This song features his iconic fingerstyle acoustic guitar and soft mellow vocals. Open book was originally featured in his 2015 album Vestiges & Claws, this version is a live performance from the 2016 KEXP.
Far Away (Junip) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTZ1Spe5d_A
Next up is a song from the band Junip, this song was made famous through The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty soundtrack. Although it features Gonzalez’s iconic vocal tone and acoustic guitar, it definitely features more energy and use of multiple electronic effects which give the track a contrasting feel to his usual songs. This is a must listen, enjoy!
This How We Walk on the Moon – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsPSTsmhPew
Saxophone and trumpet feature in this song and add a nice timbral contrast against Gonzalez’s voice and acoustic guitar. This piece is one of my personal favourites because of all of the different textures in the song, especially with headphones this piece is fascinating to listen to.
Stay Alive – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NucJk8TxyRg
One of his most popular songs, Stay Alive also features on the Walter Mitty soundtrack. The use of different instruments like violins combined with a sample of a clock create a very interesting and engaging atmosphere to listen to. Again his soft and welcoming vocals are found here, a pleasure to listen to. If you haven’t watched Walter Mitty, I suggest you watch it right now!
Line of Fire (rerelease 2021) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0-2LJ4dvO8
Gonzalez released Line of Fire again in 2021 on his Local Valley album. This song includes a very released atmosphere including just his solo voice and acoustic guitar. Although this is a simplistic instrumentation, it allows the listener to appreciate his vocal tone and how good it actually is.
Official Spotify Page –https://open.spotify.com/artist/6xrCU6zdcSTsG2hLrojpmI?si=jMd5S24eSW2zVxNHNRNliw
Official Instagram Page – https://www.instagram.com/jose.gonz.music/
Thank you for taking the time to read my artist showcase this week, if you have any recommendations for artists please contact me! If you would like any more information about the artist mentioned please contact me and I would be happy to help.
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