Biography
Born in Madrid in 1973, Quique González built a career as a Spanish singer-songwriter whose lyrics stand out for their conversational warmth and unforced honesty. Early stints in Mallorca and London yielded little, so he returned home determined to focus on music. Local gigs soon led to partnerships with artists including Enrique Urquijo, who included González’s “Aunque Tú No Lo Sepas” on one of his own releases; the two performed the song together on television in 1998, giving the young writer his first national audience. A quick two-track demo called Cantautores: La Nueva Generación came next. After stalled negotiations with PolyGram, González issued his debut album on his own, only to see it stall without major-label backing. Its evident strength nevertheless earned him a deal, and PolyGram put out the follow-up Salitre 48 in 2001.
With Pájaros Mojados in 2002 his standing as a sharp yet introspective songwriter deepened. Watching the industry tilt toward pop idols and reality formats, he rejected further entanglements with multinationals and launched his own Varsovia!!! Records, debuting the imprint in 2003 with Kamikazes Enamorados. Two projects appeared on the boutique label before he moved to DRO Atlantic, whose first release under the new arrangement was the 2006 live set Ajuste de Cuentas, recorded with guests Enrique Bunbury, Iván Ferreiro, Rebeca Jiménez, and Jorge Drexler. Avería y Redención, issued the following year, became his biggest commercial success to that point; Rolling Stone Spain named it the finest Spanish album of 2007, and it received a Premios de la Música nomination for Best Rock Album. An extensive tour followed, taking him through major festivals and theaters.
More than a decade into his career, González decided a fresh start was overdue. He left his label and relocated to Nashville in 2009. The year before, he had already begun exchanging demos with producer Brad Jones, whose résumé includes work with Matthew Sweet, Allison Moorer, Chuck Prophet, and Hayes Carll. Once in Music City, the pair assembled a session crew that featured pedal-steel veteran Al Perkins; the resulting album, Daiquiri Blues, appeared on Sony. Over the next several years González divided his time between shows in the States and Spain, remaining silent in the studio for four years. When he returned with Delantera Mítica in 2013—again produced by Jones—the record adopted a leaner singer-songwriter approach, its songs examining bohemian existence, social problems, and romantic treachery. Contributions came from Americana musicians Will Kimbrough and Chris Carmichael as well as Spanish players Leiva and César Pop; the release also contained an unexpected bonus track, González’s Spanish-language reading of Bob Dylan’s “Is Your Love in Vain.” After touring, he reunited with producer Ricky Falkner and an all-Spanish band to create Me Mata Si Me Necesitas, released in March 2016 and offered as a free stream that day via the website of Spain’s El País newspaper.
With Pájaros Mojados in 2002 his standing as a sharp yet introspective songwriter deepened. Watching the industry tilt toward pop idols and reality formats, he rejected further entanglements with multinationals and launched his own Varsovia!!! Records, debuting the imprint in 2003 with Kamikazes Enamorados. Two projects appeared on the boutique label before he moved to DRO Atlantic, whose first release under the new arrangement was the 2006 live set Ajuste de Cuentas, recorded with guests Enrique Bunbury, Iván Ferreiro, Rebeca Jiménez, and Jorge Drexler. Avería y Redención, issued the following year, became his biggest commercial success to that point; Rolling Stone Spain named it the finest Spanish album of 2007, and it received a Premios de la Música nomination for Best Rock Album. An extensive tour followed, taking him through major festivals and theaters.
More than a decade into his career, González decided a fresh start was overdue. He left his label and relocated to Nashville in 2009. The year before, he had already begun exchanging demos with producer Brad Jones, whose résumé includes work with Matthew Sweet, Allison Moorer, Chuck Prophet, and Hayes Carll. Once in Music City, the pair assembled a session crew that featured pedal-steel veteran Al Perkins; the resulting album, Daiquiri Blues, appeared on Sony. Over the next several years González divided his time between shows in the States and Spain, remaining silent in the studio for four years. When he returned with Delantera Mítica in 2013—again produced by Jones—the record adopted a leaner singer-songwriter approach, its songs examining bohemian existence, social problems, and romantic treachery. Contributions came from Americana musicians Will Kimbrough and Chris Carmichael as well as Spanish players Leiva and César Pop; the release also contained an unexpected bonus track, González’s Spanish-language reading of Bob Dylan’s “Is Your Love in Vain.” After touring, he reunited with producer Ricky Falkner and an all-Spanish band to create Me Mata Si Me Necesitas, released in March 2016 and offered as a free stream that day via the website of Spain’s El País newspaper.
Albums
Singles
