Dons gained popularity in 2003 by winning the Latvian reality show Talantu Fabrikā (). During the show, he met and dated fellow contestant Lily (real name Linda Kalniņa). He joined Radio SWH Rock as a DJ host after winning the reality show, which he says was much more stressful than performing on stage. Dons and Lily would release an English language duet album in 2004, Viens Otram (). The album would become a best seller in Latvia and they earned a nomination for Top Radio Hit with "Just For You" at the 2003 Latvian Music Recording Awards. In 2004, his song "Ja es būtu vējš" () was nominated for Top Radio Hit at the Latvian Music Recording Awards. After the success of the duet album, Dons would focus on a solo career, releasing his first solo album (mostly in English) Lights On in 2006. The album was nominated for best Rock album and his single, "Lights Out" was nominated for best Rock song at the 2006 Latvian Music Recording Awards.
