Born and raised in Maryland outside Washington D.C., Ngonda’s journey began at 11 when hearing The Temptations on the radio “blew my mind”. Self-taught on guitar, drums and keys, he cut his teeth playing drums in church before studying at LIPA (The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts). After busking across London and honing his craft, he signed to Daptone Records in 2022 - home to Thee Sacred Souls, The Womack Sisters, Lee Fields - and released his acclaimed debut album the following year.
Since then, Ngonda’s ascent has been relentless. From London’s 300-capacity Moth Club to the 5,000-plus Hammersmith Apollo, from early festival slots to commanding headline crowds at Glastonbury and We Out Here, he has proven that authentic soul still has the power to move modern audiences. Collaborations with Gorillaz and Jordan Rakei, and support slots alongside Thee Sacred Souls, Freddie Gibbs and Olivia Dean, have further cemented his reputation as one of contemporary music’s most compelling performers.
