Dance Hall: Jalen Ngonda
Thursday 16 January from 8pm to 10pm Friday 17 January from 8pm to 10pm
Early in his career, US-born, UK-based singer Jalen Ngonda was already drawing weighty comparisons to soul greats like Marvin Gaye and David Ruffin.
Signed to ‘the’ label for golden-era styled soul, New York’s Daptone Records, Ngonda possesses a rich, nuanced voice that hits those classic touch points, while still belonging to the present.
Having earned the respect of everyone from Snoop Dogg to Elton John, Ngonda levelled up on his 2023 debut album, Come Around and Love Me. Recorded alongside a who’s who of Daptone-affiliated musicians, the album is infused with classic Motown and Philly soul, carried by Ngonda’s swooning vocals and sharp songwriting.
Following the album with back-to-back 2024 singles, “Here To Stay” and “Illusions”, this fast-rising soul dynamo is coming in hot to City Recital Hall.