Ep. 74: Musician José González on Against the Dying of the Light
José González Photo courtesy of Ellika Henriksson
José González is a Swedish-Argentine singer-songwriter and guitarist whose career spans almost 25 years across folk, indie and acoustic music. Known for songs including “Heartbeats,” and “Crosses,” his work combines intricate guitar playing with introspective songwriting and a quietly expansive emotional range.
Across five solo albums, José has sold more than one million physical records worldwide, accumulated over a billion streams, earned platinum certifications in multiple countries, and was inducted into the Swedish Music Hall of Fame in 2024.
José González Photo courtesy of Ellika Henriksson
His latest album, Against the Dying of the Light, explores questions around ideology, collective responsibility, human flourishing and the emotional pressures of contemporary life. Written across English, Spanish, and Swedish, the record continues González’s longstanding interest in language, humanity and connection, while pushing toward a more direct and politically conscious mode of songwriting.
In this episode, he speaks with Chrystal Genesis in Brooklyn ahead of his show at Brooklyn Steel.
Together, they discuss multilingual songwriting, the emotional differences between English, Spanish, and Swedish, the relationship between weather and sound, the influence of classical and global guitar traditions and the spiritual or “holy” feeling listeners often associate with his work despite his secular worldview.
Against the Dying of the Light album cover
José also reflects on audience loyalty, artistic longevity, and how he balances experimentation with maintaining a deep connection to listeners around the world. The conversation touches on songs including “A Perfect Storm,” “Pajarito,” and “Sheet,” alongside broader ideas around collaboration, ideology and the possibility of collective flourishing.
This episode offers an intimate and thoughtful conversation with one of contemporary folk music’s most distinctive voices.
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Music Referenced In This Podcast:
Sheet
Pajarito
Against the Dying of the Light
A Perfect Storm
For Every Dusk
With thanks to José González, City Slang Records and Mute Records for the use of music in this episode.
José González IG
A Perfect Storm (Official Music Video)
Front Page Image: José González Photo courtesy of Malin Johansson.