It’s been six years since the last album of new studio music from José González, but from the sound of his latest, Local Valley, there’s clearly been a lot on his mind over that time. The Swedish songwriter’s latest is a record that stretches the sound and focus of what has been an impressive body of work dating back to his 2003 solo debut.
We recently caught up with González to discuss learning to be a working musician with kids, expanding the actual language of his songs, putting listeners in the room with him when he records, and finding number one hits in your own head.