a little bit of sweden with jose gonzalez
Before he treats our ears to some tunes in the flesh, we found out about Jose Gonzalaz's home country and what it means to him.
In just a few weeks time, swoony tunes man Jose Gonzalez will be touching down on our shores for a four-city tour. Wahoo!
But before he treats our ears to his latest album, Vestiges & Claws, live and in the flesh, we got in touch to find out about his home country and what it means to him.
Tell us a little about where you grew up. I grew up in an outer suburb in Gothenburg, Sweden, until the age of seven, along with many immigrants from Latin America, like my parents. Later we moved to the inner city, where I still live today.
What’s it like there? Gothenburg is a beautiful, medium-sized city with a really great culture. It’s close to the sea and is surrounded by lush greenery. Admittedly, the weather could be better, but when it’s good it’s really celebrated. So much so that it feels like it brings out the Jekyll and Hyde version of the same people.
Is there a Swedish musical sound? I think you can hear trends within each style of music that’s typical for Sweden, or the Nordic countries, but what stands out is the diversity of styles and the pop quality that seems to work abroad to a larger extent.
How do you think your upbringing affects your music? I’ve always listened to a huge variety of music, including hip hop, punk, hardcore and indie-rock, and I was in a number of bands that played these genres of music. But I grew up listening to classical music, softly sung jazz and traditional singer-songwriters, so I think that played a huge role in the music I play today. It’s made me more comfortable in finding my own style, and not changing with current trends as well.
What’s your favourite bar in Gothenburg? Kino.
And your favourite place to grab a bite? Hagabion.
If you had to take a tourist around the town for a day, what would be your first stop? That’s tough. The canals in Gothenburg are beautiful, so that would be the first stop. People in Gothenburg have a silly sense of humour, so it’s always worth checking out the Fish Church (the fish market) and the Sweat Church (the saunas), and any number of the amazing coffee shops and small bars in the city.
What do you miss most about Sweden when you’re touring? My friends, and the sofa by the window of my apartment.
TOUR DATES:
Friday February 5th - Melbourne Zoo, Melbourne
Saturday February 6th - Sydney Opera House, Sydney
Wednesday February 10th - Tivoli, Brisbane
Friday February 12th - Chevron Festival Gardens at Perth Festival, Perth
To nab a ticket head here.