Ondara

J.S. Ondara was born in Nairobi, Kanya. His family couldn't afford instruments but J.S. started writing songs around the age of 6.  He discovered Bob Dylan after finding out that he wrote "Knocking on Heaven's Door." In 2014, he won the green card lottery and moved in Minnesota where he taught himself how to play guitar at 20 years old.

A local DJ started playing a cover from Ondara's YouTube channel in 2016, and his career exploded in 2019 with the release of his Grammy nominated debut album, Tales of America.

"Lebanon" reached 23 on Billboard's Triple A chart.

Ondara is now touring as an alter ego named The Spanish Villager.  

"An Alien in Minneapolis" is the first song on his third album Spanish Villager No. 3, released in September 2022.

Click album covers for YouTube playlists. Click captions for all platform links.

Read more:
2019 Artist You Need to Know: J.S. Ondara – Rolling Stone
2019 JS Ondara: Emerging Artists Spotlight | Billboard – Billboard
2020 Video: Watch J.S. Ondara Play The Tiny Desk : NPR
2022 Interview: Ondara the Spanish Villager • Americana Highways

Find Ondara:
Ondara (@spanishvillager) • Instagram photos and videos
Ondara | Facebook
Ondara (@spanishvillager) / Twitter