J.S. Ondara - Tales Of America (The Second Coming) (2019) [Hi-Res]

Tales of America: The Second Coming, the deluxe version of singer-songwriter J.S. Ondara’s breakout debut album, will be released on September 20 via Verve Forecast. The deluxe version will be comprised of the standard album tracklist with five additional bonus tracks including a feature by Madison Cunningham and a cover of Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold,” which is available now. Listen/share the song here. Pre-order the deluxe version here.

To support the release, Ondara is set to appear on “CBS This Morning: Saturday” September 7 and will perform on the 2019 Americana Awards stage on September 11. He is nominated for “Best Emerging Act” at this year’s awards.

The music continues to receive widespread critical acclaim—Billboard recently featured the LP as one of their “50 Best Albums of 2019 (So Far)” and “Saying Goodbye” was featured in NPR Music’s “Best Songs of 2019 So Far.” He was also profiled for PBS’ “NewsHour” and made appearances on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and “World Cafe.”

Following a completely sold out debut headline run, as well as standout performances at Xponential Festival, Newport Folk Festival and Edmonton Folk Festival this summer, Ondara has confirmed further U.S. and international tour dates throughout the fall. Brooklyn Vegan praises his live performance as “one of the most commanding sets…with just his voice and acoustic guitar, he had the packed room mesmerized and so silenced that you could hear a pin drop.” More details below.

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. It features collaborations with Andrew Bird, Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith of Dawes and Joey Ryan of The Milk Carton Kids. Watch the previously released videos for “American Dream” here, “Saying Goodbye” here, “Torch Song” here and “Television Girl” here.

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 Neil Young, Lindsey Buckingham, Anderson East, First Aid Kit, The Milk Carton Kids, Mt. Joy and The Head & The Heart.