Jalen Ngonda

Jalen Ngonda brings his soul craft to Rough Trade East in London on 26 May 2026 for an in-store solo performance marking the release of his new album, Doctrine of Love on Daptone. Raised in Silver Spring, Maryland before settling in the UK to study at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, he cut his teeth in clubs and small venues, shaping a sound that bridges classic soul, rhythm and blues and a clear pop sense of melody.

On stage, Ngonda gravitates toward concise songs, steady grooves and a voice pushed to the front, drawing from the language of 1960s soul without leaning on nostalgia. His work with Daptone refined that approach across a run of singles and the 2023 album Come Around and Love Me. With Doctrine of Love, he keeps the rhythm section tight and the hooks clean, leaving space for subtle phrasing and detail.

This solo set goes straight to the core of his songwriting, bringing new tracks from Doctrine of Love together with earlier material, in an intimate format that lets his vocals and sense of groove take the lead.