José González has announced his eagerly anticipated new album, Against The Dying Of The Light, arriving via Mute Records (US/Canada; City Slang rest of world) on Friday, March 27. Pre-orders/pre-saves are available now. The Gothenburg, Sweden-based singer-songwriter and guitarist’s fifth studio LP and first new collection of original songs in more than four years, the album is heralded by today’s premiere of the title track, “Against The Dying Of The Light,” available everywhere now. A companion official music video, directed by Fredrik Egerstrand, premiered today and is now streaming on YouTube.
“‘Against The Dying Of The Light’ is a song reflecting on humanity in 2025,” says González. “It’s about accepting who we are and what led us here, since the past can’t be changed. Then, about refocusing our attention on the challenges ahead, like pervert incentives and algorithms that aren’t in line with human flourishing. Even though natural selection led us here, we don’t have to do what is in the gene’s best interest. And even though cultural evolution led to our societies, we don’t have to keep all the narratives if they drag us down. And even though we have enormous opportunities with new technology that can eventually design and copy itself, we don’t have to build it right away if it has the potential to make us obsolete. We can rebel against these replicators, rebel against the dying of the light.”
LISTEN TO “AGAINST THE DYING OF THE LIGHT”
“AGAINST THE DYING OF THE LIGHT” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
PRE-ORDER/PRE-SAVE AGAINST THE DYING OF THE LIGHT
Against The Dying Of The Light – which follows, and in many ways serves as a sister volume to, 2021’s acclaimed Local Valley – sees González once again commenting on humanity and its uncertain future through the power of his distinctively engaging, deeply contemplative, acoustic-based songcraft. Inspired by the forward-thinking work of Jonathan Haidt, Liv Boeree, Yuval Harari, and Steven Pinker, the award-winning artist presents a wide-ranging collection of nuanced songs that explore big ideas with clarity and intention. The album touches upon subjects such as Game Theory, moral philosophy, and the narratives we use to explain our world. González also confronts the ethical ambiguity of modern technology and how it drives progress while simultaneously challenging our sense of humanity. These themes are delivered with warmth and immediacy through his intuitive vocals and singularly inventive finger-picking guitar.
The album also has a lighter side, including the carefree, Spanish-language first single, “Pajarito,” dedicated to González’s son, Mateo, and joined by a playful official music video inspired by the interaction of Swedish folk art with artificial intelligence, streaming now on YouTube.
LISTEN TO “PAJARITO”
WATCH “PAJARITO” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
WATCH “PAJARITO” HOME VIDEO
“Against The Dying Of The Light is a collection of songs reflecting on humanity,” says González. “Who we are – tribes of sentient apes with stories that sometimes are incompatible with each other and tools that could eventually lead to dystopia or extinction. It’s also a reflection of how we create hurdles to human flourishing by stubbornly clinging to dogmatic ideologies, where people follow dudes who pretend to know shit they don’t.
“As a concerned world citizen, I wrote these songs as a reflection of our times. Times of amazing progress, but also worrying backslides to dogmatic tribal ideologies and an extremely uncertain future. These are songs about how we can navigate humanity towards flourishing on an individual and a collective level. They can be listened to just for the sounds, harmonies, and rhythms, but the lyrics are meant to inspire people to engage and take action by collaborating to solve collective problems. For humanism and enlightenment values and against the dying of the light.”
González will celebrate the arrival of Against The Dying Of The Light with a cross-country headlining tour of the States in April and May, including a sold-out performance at San Francisco’s Castro Theater on May 3. The itinerary is below. For complete details and ticket information, please visit jose-gonzalez.com/tour-dates.
González recently took the 10% Pledge, a public commitment to give 10% of his income to effective charities fighting extreme poverty via Giving What We Can. Members of his Pledge Club have thus far donated over $175,000 to charitable organizations such as Helen Keller International, Against Malaria Foundation, New Incentives, and the GiveWell Top Charities Fund. For more information or to request an invitation to González’s Pledge Club, please visit givewithjose.com.
JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ
AGAINST THE DYING OF THE LIGHT
(Mute Records – US/Canada; City Slang – ROW
under license from Imperial Recordings)
Release Date: Friday, March 27, 2026
Tracklist:
A Perfect Storm
Etyd
Against The Dying Of The Light
For Every Dusk
Sheet
Pajarito
Losing Game (Sick)
Ay Querida
Rawls Slöja
Gymnasten
Just A Rock
You & We
Joy (Can’t Help But Sing)
# # #
JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ – US TOUR 2026
APRIL
21 – Boston, MA – Royale
22 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
23 – Washington, DC – 9:30 CLub
25 – New York, NY – Brooklyn Steel
27 – Chicago, IL – Vic Theatre
28 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
MAY
1 – Seattle, WA – SODO
2 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
3 – San Francisco, CA – Castro Theater (SOLD OUT)
4 – San Francisco, CA – Bimbos
5 – Los Angeles, CA – The Bellwether
8 – Austin, TX – Mohawk Outside
9 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
11 – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom
CONNECT WITH JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ
JOSE-GONZALEZ.COM | JOSEGONZALEZ.OS.FANFACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | X | YOUTUBE
