Jalen Ngonda

On 14 October 2026, Neue Welt in Berlin hosts Jalen Ngonda, a singer who treats soul as both archive and frontier. Raised in Silver Spring and refined in Liverpool, he first honed his set in small rooms before stepping onto festival and arena stages. With Daptone Records, he defined a lean, song‑first approach on Come Around and Love Me (2023); he now tours Doctrine of Love, a second album built on taut grooves, upfront vocals and uncluttered arrangements.

The title track sets the tone: a compact code for love over a James Brown‑inspired pulse, born from a studio slip between “doctrine” and “doctorate” that turned into a running theme. Live, Ngonda stretches that palette with a tight rhythm section, flashes of brass or strings, and songwriting that nods to 60s soul while staying sharp and current. Expect slow‑burn ballads, quick‑stepping R&B and concise hooks, carried by a voice placed front and center, with dynamics that shift from hush to release without excess.