Cosmos: José González

Spanning and uncovering a wide range of musical genres, from minimalism to the great voices and from the classics to the newest trends, the SNFCC's Cosmos concert series has hosted, and continues to host, numerous leading artists from all over the world, in a series of musical counterpoints.

In January, the Cosmos series presents José González, who is returning to Athens to share with the public the tranquil power of his compositions.

Since his debut in 2003, González has emerged as one of the leading 21st-century indie-folk singer-songwriters, selling millions of albums worldwide and performing live in all major festivals -even on primetime American TV - while dozens of his songs have been associated with memorable TV series moments, notably his cover of "Teardrop" by Massive Attack for the highly acclaimed documentary miniseries The Last Dance.
Highlights of his career include his sold-out performance at the Royal Albert Hall, as well as his interpretation of "El Invento" at the 2020 Nobel Prize award ceremony.

González is Swedish, born in Gothenburg, where he is still based, although his last name easily gives away his Argentinian ancestry. His parents were politically active students who fled to Sweden following the imposition of a military regime in Argentina in 1976. Latin influences shaped his early tastes in music, while as a pre-teen he discovered Bob Marley and Michael Jackson to then expand his musical horizons and hone his musical instincts.

Few have achieved such international acclaim, as discreetly as José González. His fourth album, Local Valley, is a comforting reminder that one need not make noise in order to be heard.

The album comprises what González regards as his "greatest hits to date." Starting with the sunny "El Invento," the first song he recorded in Spanish (mother tongue of his Argentine heritage), and ending with his familiar but also rapturous "Honey Honey," the album is suffused with the melody and beat that are typical of González's sound, punctuating his remarkable dexterity in fingerpicking, as well as his love of world music.

Watch José González videos

This event comes under a grant by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). Alongside the majority of its events, which are free thanks to a series of SNF grants, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center also organizes a number of events with affordable tickets, thus enriching its income sources and securing its long-term financial integrity.