-
11Years old
His father’s records
He heard The Temptations’ “My Girl” in his father’s record collection, and that was it. His parents saved up for a Fender Squier; by 16 he played drums, guitar and piano, and sang.
-
19Years old
One way to Liverpool
He found the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, which had already heard his songs on SoundCloud. His family and his church raised the money for a one-way flight.
-
2022
Daptone
Self-released singles, small rooms, support slots for Laura Mvula, Martha Reeves and Lauryn Hill. In 2022 Daptone Records, home of Sharon Jones and Charles Bradley, signed him.
-
2023
Come Around and Love Me
His debut album, steeped in the Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield of the 1970s.
-
2025
Recognition
Rolling Stone UK called him the “leading soul revivalist of this decade”. He won Soul Act of the Year at the Jazz FM Awards and played Glastonbury in 2024 and 2025.
-
2026
Doctrine of Love
His second album, out on 5 June 2026 on Daptone, reaches back to 1950s New Orleans R&B and to Chicago and Detroit soul.
Jalen Ngonda
A one-way ticket to soul
Maryland-born, Liverpool-made, Daptone-signed. On 12 October 2026 the Doctrine of Love tour brought him to X-TRA in Zürich.
“…love is the highest measure of human worth.”
Live in Zürich
Doctrine of Love Tour
Monday 12 October 2026 · X-TRA, Zürich
With the piece: 2 × 2 guest-list places, drawn on Instagram. Entries closed on 11 October.