"Spanish Villager No. 3" is the third studio album by Ondara, a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter from Kenya, now based in America. Released in 2022, the album is a concept piece centered around a character called "The Spanish Villager." This persona was born from Ondara's discovery that his last name is also the name of a village in Spain, and it serves as an alter ego to explore his experiences as an immigrant in the United States.
The album's narrative follows the Spanish Villager, an "alien" protagonist, on a journey through various cities worldwide, including Minneapolis, Paris, and Tokyo. Through this character, Ondara critiques American society and the disillusionment with the "American dream." The album touches on themes of being a Black artist in a predominantly white genre, cultural displacement, and the search for identity.
Musically, "Spanish Villager No. 3" moves away from Ondara's earlier folk sound towards a more rock-influenced style, with influences like Bob Dylan and U2's "The Joshua Tree." The album is also accompanied by a graphic novel written by Ondara, which expands on the Spanish Villager's story.
At the time of its release, the album's themes of immigration, identity, and social commentary were particularly relevant. It reflects a period of heightened global conversations around these topics, offering a personal and artistic perspective on the challenges and complexities of navigating a new culture while trying to find one's place in the world.