Jalen Ngonda just wrapped up his recent sell-out UK tour at the revered Roundhouse in London, but as he heads home he has shared the wonderful radiant old school soul of his new track- ‘Just As Long As We’re Together’. Written during a trip back to his family home in Wheaton, Maryland, Jalen took the early sketches of this to producers Mike Buckley and Vincent Chiarito at Hive Mind Recording Studio (both previous members of Charles Bradley’s Extraordinaires) who sprinkled their magic and helped pull it all together, his gorgeous voice shivering up and down the register with comfort and affection, wrapping around you in golden classic soul sounds, to see you off to the weekend with a glowing heart.
At just 17 years old, Jalen took the huge leap to move from his home-town in Maryland, USA – to cross the Atlantic and begin studies at Liverpool’s Institute of Performing Arts, honing his rich, nuanced voice and sublime falsetto. After a chance meeting with Daptone Records co-founder Neal Sugarman following a last minute opening slot for Jools Holland, the pair set the wheels in motion to get Jalen out to New York to begin writing and recording. The result, Jalen’s debut album Come Around and Love Me was released in September 2023 to rapturous reviews. It’s heavy arrangements and introspective lyrics shone with Motown sophistication, leaving listeners in a blissful wash of wonderment.
Tour dates
13th March – The Roundhouse, London *SOLD OUT*
22nd June – Nevill Holt Festival, Nevill Holt
4th July – Museum Gardens, York w/Nile Rogers
10th July – Alexandra Palace, London w/ Leon Bridges
13th July – Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul, Birmingham
3rd August – Wilderness Festival, Oxfordshire
16th August – We Out Here, Wimborne
16th October – City Hall, Newcastle
17th October – Rock City, Nottingham
19th October, Apollo, Manchester
21st October – Corn Exchange, Cambridge
22nd October, Eventim Apollo, London
23rd October – Bristol Beacon, Bristol
tickets
