José González ‘s new record, Vestiges & Claws, his first in seven years, was produced by González in his home as well as Svenska Grammofonstudion, both in Gothenburg, Sweden. One can find traces of inspired protest songs and eccentric folk rock: staccato grooves and rhythms, frustration and optimism. It’s a collection that is simultaneously confident, free and uncertain. Vestiges & Claws – musically gorgeous, strikingly profound in lyric — has a unique and quietly visceral power that is as an outstanding addition to what is now an impressive body of work. The album is, without question, the most highly anticipated of his career.

You can check out his album on our AOTW Spotify Playlist. Also, don’t forget to step by our nordic_by_nature instagram tomorrow to see what he’s up to as he’s taking over our Instagram.

In November José González will play at Tempodrom in Berlin on the 3rd and we’ve got 2×2 tickets for the show to give away. To become the owner of these tickets, subscribe to our Nordic by Nature newsletter.

As usual, we have asked our Artist of the Week five groovy questions and here are his five groovy answers:

What are the images on the EP cover meant to evoke?

Hannele Fernström did the artwork on this album and we decided on the images together. I’ve always liked the simple linedrawings with metaphorical or mixed meanings. I like it when you let people listen to the music and look at images that can be interpreted in different ways, so the only thing about the drawing that is clear is the eye, but still it’s not clear what it’s supposed to mean in this context – which is the way I want it to be.

What music were you all listening to at the time you recorded the record?

As always a mix of many different styles – soul, Brazilian, folk, Western African, Ragga…

What’s next for the band? Do you currently have more material in the can slated for a future release?

 
If you could give your child/ren, that you will never meet, 3 tips, black on white and nothing else, what would them 3 be?

José González live: 03.11.15 Tempodrom, Berlin | Tickets