"Don’t let the darkness eat you up." José González repeats the line over and over on his haunting song "Down The Line." González deals with universal themes drowning in shadows and the knowledge that something just isn't right. Born in Sweden, his father is from Argentina and he sings in perfect English. A true mixed bag of influences allows González's hushed vocals to ride along next to perfectly played classical guitar to create a sound that may be familiar, but is absolutely unique. A celebrated star in his homeland (Platinum sales in Sweden and Double Platinum in Ireland) his sophomore album In Our Nature was released simultaneously in 35 countries. While the songs are simple in their structure, it's González's vulnerability and naked delivery that pull us into his melancholy world. It's a place where the ghost of Elliott Smith still lingers and Nick Drake stops by. José González is currently on tour (dates available here), don't miss your chance to drift between worlds with this acoustic troubadour.

Name: José González

Place You Call Home: Goteborg, Sweden

Last album to flip your lid: White Williams – Smoke. It has a song called "New Violence" that's really good.

Album you always take on tour: David Axelrod - The Edge

What would someone always find in your van or tour bus? What supplies don't you leave home without?

I guess nowadays it's uh...hmm...nowadays it's a good book to read. It's a bit boring (laughs).

What personal rituals do you have to help keep your sanity while on tour?

I drink three bottles of water before going to bed (and then end up waking-up in the middle of the night).

Speaking of rituals, does the band have a pre-show ritual to help prepare for the stage?

Yeah, up to 20 different handshakes that we run through. If I'm on my own I don't do it, but when I have a band we do all the handshakes.

Audiences come in all shapes and sizes. What's the screwiest fan encounter you've had?

There was one girl that had not enough clothes on her and wanted me to write my signature on her side. And she was almost falling on me while I was writing, so it was a little bit scary.

What's a great, positive fan encounter you've had?

There was one couple that met at one of my shows. The next time I played a show there he proposed and now they're getting married. Too bad that the love songs that I sing are about heartbreak, I don't think they listen to the lyrics.

What's the strangest thing you've seen from the stage while performing?

There was a bar fight while I was playing because someone was talking.

What's the first thing you like to do after a show?

I usually just have two beers before I get on stage, but afterwards I like drinking and forgetting about the bad sound. I travel usually alone with my sound guy, and if he comes back and talks about bad sound it's a ritual for us two to get drunk and talk about the bad sound.

Tell us about a great road food stop you've discovered in your travels.

It's a little different from country to country.

If I weren't a musician I'd probably be a (fill in the blank) because (fill in the blank).

If I weren't a musician I'd probably be a biochemist, because I was actually studying biochemistry.

Name a few things we'd find on your rider.

Hummus and fruits and wine and Frisbee.

What was the musical highlight of your last or current tour and why?

Entombed. I think I was in Finland on a promotion and tour and didn't know they were playing. It was very nostalgic, and very Neanderthal.

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