Jalen Ngonda by Rosie Cohe
PERFORMING “IF YOU DON’T WANT MY LOVE” ON
THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT
EUROPEAN AND US LIVE DATES IN MARCH, APRIL & MAY
“a sweet, sunshiny serenade invites the funk-threaded spirit of rock and roll” – NPR
“a slice of classic soul revamped” – The Face
“a transport to the peak era of Motown and ‘70s funk” – Vibe
“one of the most talented and exciting artists in the contemporary soul scene” – Wonderland
London-based artist Jalen Ngonda made his US late night TV debut yesterday on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Stunning the Colbert audience with a powerful performance of his hit single “If You Don’t Want My Love” from his critically-acclaimed debut album Come Around and Love Me, Jalen’s late night TV debut opens his next chapter with more new music to come this year.
Jalen’s late night TV debut in the US opens his next chapter, with forthcoming new music to come in 2025 following a string of standalone songs Jalen has released throughout last year including “Illusions,” “Here to Stay,” and “Anyone In Love,” which he performed on Later… with Jools Holland last month. Jalen will also be embarking on a series of shows in the UK and Netherlands, beginning March 8th in Bristol, followed by a couple of festival dates in the US including sets at Austin Blues Fest in April, and Bottlerock festival in May.
Jalen jumped into the spotlight in 2023 with the success of “If You Don’t Want My Love,” with NPR noting Jalen’s “striking” presence that “commands…attention” on the track and onstage. His debut album Come Around and Love Me, released via Daptone Records, received major praise from The Guardian, who described it as “the work of someone possessed of an almost indecent amount of vocal talent…a real find.” Under The Radar Magazine praised Jalen for “a voice worthy of Marvin Gaye and an ear for lush melodicism.”
Watch the performance of “If You Don’t Want My Love” on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert below, see below for Jalen’s upcoming European tour dates and stay tuned for more Jalen Ngonda soon.
Upcoming Live Dates:
3/8 – Bristol, UK @ Marble Factory
3/9 – Manchester, UK @ Manchester Albert Hall
3/11 – Glasgow, UK @ SW3G
3/12 – Liverpool, UK @ O2 Academy Liverpool
3/13 – London, UK @ Roundhouse
3/15 – Nijmegen, NL @ Doornroosje
3/16 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso Grote Zaal
4/26-27 – Austin, TX @ Austin Blues Fest
5/24 – Napa, CA @ Bottlerock
More about Jalen Ngonda:
Jalen’s music is a refreshing take on classic 60s soul – a sound that evokes nostalgia yet is uniquely his own. Jalen recently thrilled audiences on both sides of the Atlantic while supporting Thee Sacred Souls and playing several headline shows. After catching Jalen’s performance at the Nice Jazz Festival this year, legend Elton John proclaimed that Jalen “is going to be a huge star.”
Jalen Ngonda grew up in a music-loving family in Maryland, attended the Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts, and is now based in London. He draws inspiration from the music he grew up around, especially his father’s collection of Motown CDs. Jalen describes his music as “modern soul and R&B while trying to fit in the Beach Boys and the Beatles somewhere in between.”
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