ONDRO A KAMARÁTI (SK)

Ondro a kamaráti is a Slovak music project that brings a unique fusion of authentic folk music and experimental elements. The group is made up of musicians – friends who love to dream, play, and create with spontaneity and ease. Many of their musical arrangements were born during casual gatherings and jam sessions, and it took years before they were recorded. The entire project was built on friendship – and thanks to friendships, it came to life.

Led by Ondrej Druga, known for his collaboration with Katarína Máliková, the band performs songs from central Slovakia and northern Serbia. Their arrangements feature vocals, string instruments, piano, organ, and the Horehronie multipart singing tradition, which is inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Alongside authentic elements of Slovak folk music, they introduce subtle experimentation and new approaches to traditional songs.

In 2020, they caught the public eye in the Slovak TV competition Zem spieva (“The Earth Sings”), reaching the finals and winning the hearts of both jury and viewers.

Their debut album Pod obločkom, released in 2023, is the first Slovak album with an explicit anti-totalitarian message – including two anti-fascist and one anti-communist song. In 2024, the album was awarded the Radio_Head Award in the World Music category.

As ethnomusicologist Jana Ambrózová wrote:
“This CD certainly doesn’t get lost in the sea of music that draws from folk sources. Each track carries its own unique story and reveals a deep sensitivity to the folk song and a profound knowledge of its roots. It’s a stunning selection of the most delicious flavours, served in a way that touches both the soul and the heart of the listener.”