Jalen Ngonda

On 27 May 2026 at Rough Trade Liverpool, Jalen Ngonda steps in for a solo in-store set to mark the release of his new album, Doctrine of Love, on Daptone. The format is stripped back and voice-led, designed to bring the writing and melodies into focus and to let the new songs breathe in a close-up setting.

Born in Silver Spring, Maryland and later settling in the UK after studies at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, Ngonda forged his approach on stage in clubs and small rooms. His sound leans on 60s-informed soul and rhythm and blues with a present-day pop sense for concise hooks: steady grooves, melodic bass lines and vocals pushed to the front. On record he moved from early singles to the 2023 album Come Around and Love Me, refining arrangements built around voice and rhythm section with occasional horns or strings.

This in-store appearance turns that palette into something intimate. Expect material from Doctrine of Love alongside earlier favourites, reworked for a solo setting that shifts easily between slow-burn ballads and more rhythmic cuts while keeping the pulse steady. A focused moment with an artist who balances classic soul DNA with clean, modern songwriting, back in the city that helped shape his live craft.