José González is a Swedish indie folk singer-songwriter and guitarist born in Gothenburg on July 31, 1978, to Argentine parents. He began his musical career in hardcore punk bands during the 1990s before launching his solo career in 2003 with the album Veneer, an acoustic work featuring fingerpicked guitar and soft melodies. González is also a founding member of the band Junip, formed in 1998 with organist Elias Araya and drummer Tobias Winterkorn. His third album, Vestiges & Claws (2015), received the IMPALA Album of the Year Award and incorporated influences from West African music and desert blues. González released his fourth solo album, Local Valley, in September 2021, which included his first Spanish-language recording, "El Invento." His acoustic covers, including versions of Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart" and the Knife's "Heartbeats", have been featured in television and film, including the video game Red Dead Redemption. Known for intimate live performances, González has performed at major venues including London's Royal Albert Hall.