New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Tales of America, the debut album from breakout singer-songwriter J.S. Ondara, is out today via
Verve Forecast/Universal Music. Already, the album is receiving widespread critical acclaim:
"Ondara owns a striking singing voice, which ranges from a velvety croon to an immaculate upper-register. Really, you've just got to hear it yourself."- Billboard
"Singing songs about
America through his unique perspective and stunning voice."- NPR Music
"…a clear-eyed acoustic newcomer's tale of American promise and calamity that establishes him as an invigorating new voice in American folk music."- Rolling Stone
"It's that sense of searching combined with Ondara's spellbinding and, well, haunting voice that makes this an early contender for one of the finest and most moving Americana albums of the year." - American Songwriter
Ondara also recently appeared on NPR's World Café. Watch/listen
HERE.
Tales of
America is a completely acoustic album produced by Grammy-nominated Mike Viola (Jenny Lewis). The LP was recorded at Boulevard Recording and East West Studios in Los Angeles, with all lyrics written by Ondara and featuring collaborations with Andrew Bird, Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith of
Dawes and Joey Ryan of The Milk Carton Kids.
To celebrate Tales of America's release, Ondara kicks off a North American headlining tour next month which includes one Canadian date in Toronto on March 26 at The
Drake Underground. The tour follows last year's dates supporting Lindsey Buckingham.
J.S. Ondara grew up in Nairobi, Kenya, listening to American alt-rock and making up his own songs for as long as he can remember. At an early age, he fell in love with the music of
Bob Dylan and moved to Minneapolis in 2013 to pursue a career as a singer and songwriter. He began making his way in the local music scene, continually writing songs about what he saw, felt and experienced in a place far different from home. Since then, he has toured nationwide, opening for Anderson East, First Aid Kit, The Milk Carton Kids, Mt. Joy, and The Head & The Heart.
J.S. Ondara - Tales of America:
1. American Dream
2. Torch Song
3. Saying Goodbye
4. Days Of Insanity
5. Television Girl
6. Turkish Bandana
7. Lebanon
8. Good Question
9. Master O'Connor
10. Give Me a Moment
11. God Bless America
