Jalen Ngonda’s debut album Come Around And Love Me is now in the retail atmosphere. The lifelong Motown fan discloses his exuberance for love in a sinewy falsetto with songs exclusively dedicated to romantic relationships. The  Daptone Records artist has company with other singers like Leon Bridges and October London who have also grabbed ’60s and ’70s soul styles as a major inspiration for their music. Ngonda worked with producers/arrangers Mike Buckley and Vincent Chiarito of Charles Bradley’s Extraordinaires to write the album which was recorded at Hive Studios in Brooklyn, New York. The retro theme manages to stay interesting because of Ngonda’s heavy emotions and at times shrill but soulful vocals. The Washington DC native rehashes the past with new energy that stops the album from being a period piece. The Matt Lubansky-directed video for “That’s All I Wanted From You” was also released today.  Ngonda’s tour kicks off tonight in Virginia and will visit more than 20 cities before heading overseas in November. Tickets are still available for some of the shows. 

 

Jalen Ngonda’s “So I Glad I Found You” is the third and final single from his soon-to-be-released debut album. Ngonda’s ’60s and ’70s time machine sound stuns with an audio patina that defies his age. His falsetto conveys a chilling devotion that is odd amongst countless R&B tunes fervent about fast sex. He is candid about his love of the Motown records he grew up listening to and that sound along with some of contemporary style is what inspired the album. He says,  “I love music from the 20th century— I listen to it all the time, but I’m in this world and the 21st century. …to a stranger, I’d describe my music as modern soul and R&B, while trying to fit in the Beach Boys and the Beatles somewhere in between.” 

Come Around And Love Me will be released on September 8th by way of Daptone Records. A tour of North America starts on September 5th and tickets can be purchased now. 

 

Jalen Ngonda returns with another retro soul trip called “That’s All I Wanted From You.” Ngonda unapologetically flaunts his love for Motown with the single that has sonic reminders of Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. The singer just announced his debut album Come Around And Love Me and he shared his feelings about his new single in a statement, “So happy to share with you this up-tempo soul rocker. This one is my favorite performance because of the raw emotion as well as the conviction of the backing vocals. I give to you ‘That’s All I Wanted From You.'” Ngonda is Daptone Records’ latest artist to take up the ’60s and ’70s soul mantle. The album comes out on September 8th and he will go on a tour of North America with his band on September 5th. Tickets are on sale now. 

 

Jalen Ngonda starts summer with the ’60s soul-styled single “Come Around And Love Me” from his forthcoming debut album. The Daptone Records artist released the video today vide that he stars in with his guitar. The Marvin Gaye influence is a warm throwback feeling that Ngonda confidently brings into the 21st century. He describes the tune in a press statement: 

 “It was written in late 2021 as soon as it was possible to fly to the USA after lockdown I jumped on a plane and we got to work! The song is about taking a chance in spite of the surrounding doubts.”

The DC native who makes London his home, recorded “Come Around And Love Me” in Brooklyn with producers and arrangers Mike Buckley and Vincent Chiarito of Charles Bradley’s Extraordinaires. Ngonda’s proudly claims his love of Motown and classic soul and those sounds will be on his debut. The album is also named Come Around And Love Me and has a release date of September 8th. He is going on a tour of some European cities this summer more than 20 North American cities in the fall. Tickets are available for both tours.  

 

                                                                                    Tour Dates 

09/05 – Asheville, NC @ Grey /Eagle

09/06 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West

09/07 – Durham, NC @ Motorco

09/08 – Charlottesville, VA @ The Southern

09/11 – Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair

09/12 – Philadelphia, PA @ MilkBoy

09/14 – Baltimore, MD @ 8×10

09/15 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat

09/16 – New York, NY @ Racket

09/18 – Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe

09/19 – Detroit, MI @ El Club

09/21 – Evanston, IL @ SPACE

09/24 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line

09/27 – Denver, CO @ Globe Hall

09/28 – Boulder, CO @ Fox Theatre

09/30 – Ft. Collins, CO @ The Armory

10/01 – Salt Lake City, UT @ State Room

10/03 – Boise, ID @ The Olympic

10/05 – Seattle, WA @ Madame Lou’s

10/06 – Vancouver, BC @ Hollywood Theatre

10/07 – Portland, OR @ The Jack London Revue

10/09 – San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel

10/10 – Sacramento, CA @ Starlet Room

10/11 – San Luis Obispo, CA @ SLO Brew

10/14 – Los Angeles, CA @ Gold Diggers

10/15 – San Diego, CA @ The Casbah

10/16 – Phoenix, AZ @ Last Exit

10/18 – Dallas, TX @ Deep Ellum Arts Collective 

10/19 – Austin, TX @ Empire Garage Control Room

10/20 – Houston, TX @ Axlerad

10/22 – Nashville, TN @ Basement East

11/01 – Glasgow, SCT @ King Tut’s

11/02 – Liverpool, UK @ Jimmy’s

11/04 – Birmingham, UK @ O Institutes

11/06 – Bristol, UK @ Exchange

11/07 – London, UK @ Jazz Cafe

11/08 – Rotterdam, NL @ Bird

11/09 – Paris, FR @ Cafe De La Danse