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 27 year old Swedish purist rock artist Jose Gonzales has been making waves across Europe with his fresh eclectic sound.
Nilly has an MSN Messger chat with Jose to discuss Veneer.
Nilly: It’s funny I was browsing through and found that "Heartbeats" is taken from an old dance track. What's the original version and why did you pick that? Jose: Yes. it's written by The Knife - theknife.net - and they are originally from Gothenburg like me. I knew about them before they started to release music as “The Knife” - and when their 2nd album came out Deep Cuts, it just blew me away.
Nilly: Now congratulations on the success of “Veneer”. Lots of tours up ahead, how come no plans for Asia?
Jose: Thanks. I want to go there and I think it's coming sooner or later. Right now there's a lot happening in Europe, especially UK so I'm kind of 'working' with those places first. Hong Kong seems cool.
Nilly: On your website it says you have a home studio and that you use minimal technology. What exactly do you make music with?
Jose: I made Veneer with 2 cheap mics (600 GBP) and a PC. One song (hints) is very old and I did that one on a four track. I've always liked to do things on my own and especially in my home where I have lots of time without anyone looking over my shoulder
Nilly: What made you get involved with music? Do you come from a musical family?
Jose: When I was around 14 I started to play the acoustic guitar and also the base. I got really into music that year and my father encouraged me and gave me a Beatle’s songbook and note-sheets of bossa nova. It was the kind of stuff he liked to sing. He used to sing when he was a teenager - but apart from that no one in the family is into music.
Nilly: Your musical style is quite purist? What got you into that?
Jose: As a child, we listened a lot to Silvio Rodríguez - Cuban folk singer. He was a big inspiration for my acoustic stuff. I also took classical guitar lessons for three years. I think my music is a result of that together with the influences from the other stuff that I was listening to at that time - around the year 2000.
Nilly: What are your other influences?
Jose: I used to listen a lot to Cat Power, Songshia, Jeremy Enigk, Geoff Farina - but also Tortoise, DJ Shadow and bands from Constellation Records (Canadian Postrock). I liked the repetitive and suggestive aspect of music as the same time as I liked a more 'classic' kind of singing like Chet baker and Joao Gilberto.
Nilly: How do you feel you capture the essence of minimal rock?
Jose: Perhaps i haven't captured it but it's inspired me to not do 'verse/chorus' songs. but instead rely on repetition in the song structure. Also I like the dark side of that sort of music
Nilly: I guess there is that spooky side of it. It's becoming more and more popular now
Jose: I guess so.
Nilly: How do you feel moving from cult star status to someone more commercial or commercially recognised?
Jose: It's strange.. it is nothing i asked or aimed at. my personal aim has always to make it ok on an alternative level and be able to tour and make albums and live from it. But it's fun to infiltrate the top ten in UK with minimalistic music.
Nilly: How large is your entire crew who you tour with?
Jose: I always travel with at least one guy (tour manager - Johan). and almost always a sound engineer. and on larger shows i have additional percussion and backing vocals by two guys - so total of 5
Nilly: What city are you most looking fwd to?
Jose: On Paris in spring should be nice
Nilly: So what are you up to at the moment? Getting ready for the tours?
Jose: Just came back from Stockholm - The Knife had their release party for their 3rd album. apart from that I'll just stay at home and work on songs and hang out with friends before I start touring again
Nilly: Did u have a launch party for Veneer? How was it?
Jose: No. I just released it. I was on an extensive tour back then. Would feel strange to have a party with my music.
Nilly: Is the community of bands in Sweden very close knit?
Jose: It's a small country. so in a way it is - but I didn't know that many before I released my music.
Nilly: Are your friends in bands or are they your fans?
Jose: Stoundtrack of our Lives, The Knife, Jens Lekman they're friends
Nilly: It's quite nice that you guys share each others music.
Jose: Yes, it's nice.
Nilly: Tell me a bit about your background? I understand you father is Argentinian? Do you go there to visit? Are there many South American's in Sweden?
Jose: Both parents are from Argentina. I was born in Sweden. Not super many South Americans but when I was growing up in a suburb outside Gothenburg there were quite many. I've been to Argentina three times and my father moved back there five years ago
Nilly: Do you have any siblings? Do you speak Spanish?
Jose: A brother (26) and a sister (30) both live in Sweden. We speak Spanish.
Nilly: If you were asked where u were from what would be your immediate answer?
Jose: Sweden.
MSN Messenger Interview by Nilly Chaudhuri
Check out Jose Gonzalez ‘Veneer’ |
