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Top row, left to right: Ondara, Sylvan Esso; bottom row, left to right: Nora Brown, Momma Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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All Songs Considered

New Mix: Sylvan Esso, Ondara, Momma, Nora Brown and more

July 6, 2022 • All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite tracks of the week, including a surprising new single from Sylvan Esso, the L.A. rock duo known as Momma, the singer-songwriter Ondara and more.

New Mix: Sylvan Esso, Ondara, Momma, Nora Brown and more

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#NowPlaying

Ondara, 'An Alien In Minneapolis'

WFAE

July 1, 2022 • Ondara delivers a new sonic package that embraces both his intriguing voice and a unique accent that remains present when he sings.

Marcus King (by Jamie Stow), Molly Tuttle (by Emily DeHart), Ondara (by Galea McGregor) WXPN hide caption

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World Cafe

World Cafe 30th Anniversary: 30 Under 30

WXPN

October 15, 2021 • We've chosen 30 artists who are 30 years old or younger that we believe are poised to be the next generation of World Cafe stars. Each week, we'll reveal one of the artists on that list.

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Ondara Ian Flomer/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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World Cafe

On Ondara's New Album, He Shares 'Tales From Isolation'

WXPN

August 4, 2020 • The Grammy-nominated folk singer-songwriter from Kenya wrote and recorded his second album entirely during the COVID-19 shutdown.

Ondara On World Cafe

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Ondara (formerly known as JS Ondara). He's latest release, Folk N Roll Vol. 1 – Tales of Isolation, is on our shortlist of the best new albums out on May 29. Ian Flomer/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The Top 8 Albums Out On May 29

May 29, 2020 • If there's a common theme to the best new albums out this week, it's joy, from the relentlessly jubilant rock of the band Vistas, to singer Nicole Atkins' love letter to the Jersey Shore.

use this one

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SsingSsing performs a Tiny Desk Conert on June 27, 2017. (Claire Harbage/NPR) Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption

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Tiny Desk Playlists

The 5 Best-Dressed Tiny Desk Concerts

March 25, 2020 • From gender-bending bling and a sharply-tailored pink suit to orange plaid and a classic black overcoat, these performers classed up the Tiny Desk

J.S. Ondara performs during a Tiny Desk concert, on Nov. 5, 2019. Catie Dull/NPR hide caption

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Tiny Desk

J.S. Ondara: Tiny Desk Concert

January 24, 2020 • After first trying to win our annual Tiny Desk Contest, the singer-songwriter from Nairobi decided to put out a record, got nominated for a Grammy and wound up here anyway.

Brittany Howard made NPR Music's No.1 album of 2019 with Jaime. She's on our playlist of best songs of the year, too. Brantley Guttierez/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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World Cafe

World Cafe's Best Songs Of 2019

WXPN

December 18, 2019 • Some of World Cafe's favorite songs of the year include music by Strand of Oaks, The Head and the Heart, Clairo, Sharon Van Etten and more.

Cameron Pollack/NPR

World Cafe

Heavy Rotation: Public Radio's Most Popular Songs Of 2019

December 11, 2019 • The Black Keys, Sturgill Simpson and Mavis Staples all landed on this list of the most-played songs on public radio stations across the country.

Watch Brandi Carlile perform at the 2019 Americana Honors & Awards ceremony. Pete Souza/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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World Cafe

Watch A Live Webcast Of The 2019 Americana Honors & Awards Ceremony

WXPN

September 11, 2019 • Hosted by The Milk Carton Kids with performances and appearances by Brandi Carlile, Elvis Costello and more, the ceremony kicks off on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 6:30 p.m. CT.

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Clockwise from top left: Dawes (Magdalena Wosinska), Amy Ray (Brian Fisher), Kathleen Edwards (Victor Tavares), J.S. Ondara (Josh Cheuse) Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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World Cafe

Watch Live Performances From XPoNential Music Festival 2019 This Weekend

WXPN

July 26, 2019 • Watch Dawes, St. Paul and The Broken Bones, Guster, Kathleen Edwards, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram and many more perform live on the Camden Waterfront starting Friday, July 26.

Clockwise from left: Lizzo, Gary Clark Jr., Maggie Rogers Lizzo (Lissa Alicia/WXPN), Gary Clark Jr. (Frank Maddocks/Courtesy of the artist), Maggie Rogers (Olivia Bee/Courtesy of the artist) hide caption

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World Cafe

The 10 Standout World Cafe Sessions Of 2019 (So Far)

WXPN

June 28, 2019 • Some say the glass of 2019 is half empty; others say it's half full. We say, "Wow, we've had some incredible artists perform so far this year."

Gary Clark Jr. On World Cafe

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Best Music Of 2019

Best Songs Of 2019 (So Far): Amber Mark To Karen O

June 26, 2019 • There's no one sound to a year, but public radio writers across the country do set their ears to the most essential music. We asked them: What is your favorite song of 2019 so far?

Clockwise from upper left: Billie Eilish, Maggie Rogers, Nilüfer Yanya, Better Oblivion Community Center, Lil Nas X Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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All Songs Considered

Poll Results: Your Favorite New Artists Of 2019 (So Far)

June 18, 2019 • On this week's All Songs Considered we share NPR Music listeners' picks for the top new artists from the first half of the year.

Poll Results: Your Favorite New Artists Of 2019 (So Far)

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The Austin 100

The Austin 100: J.S. Ondara

March 5, 2019 • Recommended if you like Leon Bridges, Kamasi Washington and Nathaniel Rateliff.

All Songs Considered's 2019 SXSW Preview

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Chaka Khan's Hello Happiness is on our short list of the best albums out on Feb. 15. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: Our Top Six Albums Out Feb. 15

February 15, 2019 • Our list of the best albums out this week includes the first new music from Chaka Khan in 12 years, the transporting sounds of Yann Tiersen, the bubblegum punk of Sir Babygirl and more.

New Music Friday: Our Top Six Albums Out Feb. 15

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J.S. Ondara performs inside the World Cafe Performance Studio Galea McGregor/WXPN hide caption

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World Cafe

J.S. Ondara's Sound Is Extraordinary And His Story Is Even Better

WXPN

February 11, 2019 • Ondara grew up in Nairobi, Kenya with big dreams of becoming a musician in the U.S. Hear a studio performance of songs from his debut album, Tales Of America.

J.S. Ondara On World Cafe

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Clockwise from upper left: Sharon Van Etten, Miya Folick, SOAK, J.S. Ondara Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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All Songs Considered

New Mix: Sharon Van Etten, SOAK, Miya Folick & More

October 16, 2018 • On this week's show, we reflect on life and death over popcorn, catch a blissful confession from SOAK, a plaintive apology sung by Miya Folick, and Sharon Van Etten's mid-career pivot to driving pop.

New Mix: Sharon Van Etten, SOAK, Miya Folick & More

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JS Ondara's debut album Tales of America is out Feb. 1 on Verve Forecast. Josh Cheuse/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Slingshot

The 'American Dream' Through The Kenyan Eyes Of J.S. Ondara

October 12, 2018 • J.S. Ondara's "American Dream" video follows a delusional man on his journey to purchase a weapon.

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