José Ríos of Free Nationals: Conversation & Listening Session
Join José Ríos, Grammy Award-winning Mexican-American producer, guitarist, songwriter and founding member of Free Nationals, at Mason & Fifth for an intimate evening of music and conversation.
Born and raised in San Diego, California, and now based in Los Angeles, José has spent more than a decade at the forefront of contemporary soul, funk and R&B. As the founder, lead guitarist and musical director of Free Nationals, he has helped shape the sound of one of the most celebrated bands of the last decade.
His work has earned Grammy recognition, multiple gold records and hundreds of millions of streams, while Free Nationals’ acclaimed self-titled debut album received a nomination for Best Progressive R&B Album at the 63rd Grammy Awards. Throughout his career, José has collaborated with artists including Mac Miller, Daniel Caesar, Kali Uchis, Syd, T.I., Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Chronixx, Benny Sings and Joyce Wrice, alongside his longstanding creative partnership with Anderson .Paak.
Beyond the studio, José has toured internationally, performing alongside artists including Bruno Mars, Beyoncé, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Dr. Dre, bringing his musicianship to some of the world’s biggest stages while remaining one of the most respected creative figures behind the scenes.
Throughout the evening, José and host Leon Rehman will move naturally between music and conversation. Rather than playing music from beginning to end, José will share a selection of his productions and recordings, pausing throughout to unpack the stories behind them, the creative decisions that shaped them, the collaborations involved, and what it really takes to make records at the highest level.
As some of the music shared may be exclusive or unreleased, there will be no photography, filming or audio recording during the playback of any music. Between tracks, and throughout the conversations, guests are welcome to take photographs and record video.
Questions from the audience are encouraged throughout the evening. José has generously offered to discuss songwriting, guitar, production, arranging, touring, collaboration, the music industry, the evolution of Free Nationals, his work with artists across genres, and the experiences that have shaped his career. Whether you’re a musician, producer, songwriter, or simply curious about the stories behind great records, the evening is designed to be open, informal and conversational.
This is a rare opportunity, reserve tickets now, limited seats available.