Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Ondara has released a new single, “A Nocturnal Heresy.” The track is from Ondara’s forthcoming third studio album, Spanish Villager No: 3, which is set for release on September 16 via Verve Forecast.
“A Nocturnal Heresy” follows the release of “An Alien In Minneapolis,” the first track to be released from Spanish Villager No: 3. The namesake behind the new album is The Spanish Villager: a mysterious man with a potent message who has proven to be a versatile guy. He’s the subject of a short story Ondara wrote and turned into a graphic novel, and now a new album.
The album was produced by Ondara and Mike Viola (Jenny Lewis, Dan Wilson) with contributions from Taylor Goldsmith and Griffin Goldsmith of Dawes, Sebastian Steinberg, Tim Kuhl, and Jeremy Stacey. The new collection of songs features a much more full, electric sound.
In celebration of the new music, Ondara will soon embark on his run of headline fall dates in North America and Europe. Kicking off on September 9 in Chicago, the new headlining tour includes performances at New York’s Bowery Ballroom, Los Angeles’ El Rey Theatre, and Nashville’s Exit/In.
Spanish Villager No: 3 follows his 2020 sophomore album, Folk N’ Roll Vol 1: Tales of Isolation, and his 2019 debut album, Tales of America, which was released to widespread critical praise, receiving a nomination for Best Americana Album at the 62nd Grammy Awards. Ondara also received a nod for Best Emerging Act at the 2019 Americana Awards.
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 was granted a visa through the immigration lottery system. He chose Minneapolis as his home to pursue a career as a singer and songwriter with Dylan in mind. The rest, as they say, is history.
