José González has shared his latest single, “A Perfect Storm,” available everywhere now. Inspired by both the sound of his groundbreaking live performances and diverse influences and inspirations, such as West Saharan desert blues, post-hardcore heroes Quicksand, and experimental rock combo Battles. The dynamic new track sees González warning against what many AI experts describe as a “race to lose control,” with propulsive rhythmic fingerpicking that builds to a thrillingly distorted peak beneath his intimate vocal performance. Rather than offering easy answers, González captures the emotional weight of living inside this accelerating moment – caught between awe and anxiety, hope and hubris. An official music video is in production and will premiere soon.
“‘A Perfect Storm’ is about how we ourselves are creating the conditions for a more and more turbulent future,” says José González. “Compared to natural risks, these are man-made, and therefore not random.”
Listen to “A Perfect Storm” HERE.
“A Perfect Storm” heralds the impending release of González’s eagerly anticipated new album, Against the Dying of the Light, arriving via Mute Records in North America and City Slang in the rest of the 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 was first unveiled earlier this year with the premiere of its title track, “Against the Dying of the Light,” available everywhere alongside an official music video, directed by filmmaker Fredrik Egerstrand (known for 2010’s award-winning documentary, The Extraordinary Ordinary Life of José González) and streaming now on YouTube.
LISTEN TO “AGAINST THE DYING OF THE LIGHT”
WATCH “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.
González’s lighter side is represented by the carefree, Spanish-language first single, “Pajarito,” dedicated to his 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.
“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 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:
1. A Perfect Storm
2. Etyd
3. Against The Dying Of The Light
4. For Every Dusk
5. Sheet
6. Pajarito
7. Losing Game (Sick)
8. Ay Querida
9. Rawls Slöja
10. Gymnasten
11. Just A Rock
12. You & We
13. Joy (Can’t Help But Sing)
JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ – 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
JUNE
14 – Stockholm, Sweden – Rosendal Garden Party
JULY
3 – Gent, Belgium – Gent Jazz
9 – Huesca, Spain – Pirineos Sur
11 – Feldkirch, Austria – Poolbar
17 – Göteborg, Sweden – Slakthuset Block Party
OCTOBER
28 – Barcelona, Spain – Paral-lel 62
29 – Valencia, Spain – La Rambleta
30 – Murcia, Spain – Sala Mamba!
31 – Sevilla, Spain – Cartuja Center Cite
NOVEMBER
1 – Lisboa, Portugal – Misty Festival @ Coliseu Lisboa
2 – Porto, Portugal – Misty Festival @ Coliseu do Porto
14 – Vienna, Austria – Gasometer
15 – Zürich, Switzerland – Volkshaus
17 – Milan, Italy – Alcatraz
18 – München, Germany – Muffathalle
19 – Prague, Czech Republic – Archa+
20 – Berlin, Germany – Columbiahalle
21 – Frankfurt, Germany – Zoom
23 – Utrecht, Netherlands – Tivoli Ronda
24 – Paris, France – Le Trianon
25 – Brussels, Belgium – Ancienne Belgique
26 – London, United Kingdom – Eventim Apollo
