Jalen Ngonda

Jalen N’Gonda (stylized Jalen Ngonda; born February 22, 1994, Wheaton, Maryland) is an American soul singer-songwriter based in England—a Motown-obsessed revivalist with a soaring tenor, multi-instrument live chops, and Daptone Records pedigree. Hooked by The Temptations’ “My Girl” at eleven, he mastered drums, guitar, piano, and voice by sixteen, then flew one-way to Liverpool for the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts before leaving school to self-release and grind local stages.

He signed to Daptone for the acclaimed debut Come Around and Love Me (2023)—UK indie chart heat, praise from Snoop Dogg, Kehlani, Olivia Dean, and Elton John—then built world-tour and Glastonbury credits (West Holts 2024; The Park 2025). Rolling Stone UK called him a leading soul revivalist; he won Jazz FM’s 2025 Soul Act of the Year. Second album Doctrine of Love (2026) continues the classic-soul lane. Expect vintage R&B warmth and live-band fire when Jalen Ngonda hits U.S. and UK stages.