Jalen Ngonda Unveils Stunning New Album Doctrine of Love, Shares Title Track Ahead of June 5 Release
Jalen Ngonda by Rosie Cohie
Washington, DC–raised and London-based soul singer Jalen Ngonda returns with news of his sophomore album, Doctrine of Love, arriving June 5 via Daptone Records. Alongside the announcement, Ngonda unveils the album’s stirring title track—a sharp, emotional meditation on the highs, lows, and enduring pull of loving someone through every phase of a relationship.
Speaking on the album’s title track, Jalen explains: “I wrote that track when I was trying to do anything to get out of the studio. I was listening to a lot of James Brown at the time and that was an inspiration. ‘Doctrine’ to me was a word no-one ever uses. I took it to be like a certificate, the ‘Certificate of Love’ – look, I think maybe I meant ‘doctorate’, but we wrote it and recorded it and now it’s a whole thing. I just write the song. The listener can interpret it however they want.”
Doctrine of Love marks a confident second chapter following the breakthrough success of Ngonda’s acclaimed debut album Come Around and Love Me. Praised by outlets including The Guardian, NPR, and The Face, the 2023 release introduced listeners to Ngonda’s timeless voice and classic soul sensibilities.
For the new album, Ngonda returned to the studio with producers Vince Chiarito and Michael Buckley, developing the record across two writing sessions in Brooklyn and Riverside, California. The result expands on the contemporary soul palette established on his debut, weaving in gospel-tinged background vocals that nod to his church roots while embracing a modern pop perspective. With Doctrine of Love, Ngonda pays homage to soul’s rich legacy while pushing the genre forward, drawing subtle connections to the influence it continues to have on today’s R&B and hip-hop landscape. In Ngonda’s own words:
“The doctrine of love holds that every thought and action should be guided first by compassion for others, because love is the highest measure of human worth”
Ngonda first captivated audiences with his once-in-a-generation voice, refined during his time at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts after years of playing drums in church. His 2023 debut sparked a rapid rise, including his U.S. television debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and appearances on The Graham Norton Show and Later… with Jools Holland. His breakout single “If You Don’t Want My Love” has since amassed more than 253 million streams and earned A-list rotation on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 6 Music, and Jazz FM.
On stage, Ngonda has quickly built a reputation as a compelling live performer. He has opened for artists including Thee Sacred Souls, Freddie Gibbs, and Olivia Dean across the U.S. and Europe, while also selling out club shows worldwide as a headliner. His collaborative work includes appearances with Jordan Rakei and Gorillaz, the project led by Damon Albarn, which recently featured Ngonda on their album The Mountain.
Ngonda will also embark on a headlining European tour this fall, launching October 2 in Amsterdam. The run follows a packed year of live performances that begins with Australian tour dates this month, followed by spring shows across the U.K. and Europe and a summer festival circuit including Love Supreme Jazz Festival in the U.K., North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, and Mad Cool Festival in Madrid.
Fans can listen to the title track from Doctrine of Love now, with more music from Jalen Ngonda expected soon.
Jalen Ngonda Tour Dates:
3/4 – Perth, AUS @ The Astor Theatre
3/6 – Melbourne, AUS @ Forum Melbourne
3/7 – Adelaide, AUS @ WOMADelaide
3/8 – Meredith, AUS @ Golden Plains
3/10 – Sydney, AUS @ Enmore Theatre
4/22 – York, UK @ York Barbican
4/25 – Oxford, UK @ O2 Academy Oxford
4/27 – Sheffield, UK @ Octagon
4/29 – Margate, UK @ The Drill Shed
5/3 – Liverpool, UK @ Liverpool Sound City
5/4 – Cheltenham, UK @ Cheltenham Jazz Festival
5/5 – Leicester, UK @ O2 Academy Leicester
5/11 – Rouen, FR @ Le 106
5/12 – Luxembourg City, LU @ Den Atelier
5/19 – Strasbourg, FR @ La Laiterie
6/26 – St. Gallen, CH @ OpenAir St. Gallen
6/28 – Milton Keynes, UK @ SMK Live Festival
7/4 – Glynde, UK @ Love Supreme Festival
7/10 – Rotterdam, NL @ North Sea Jazz
7/11 – Madrid, ES @ Mad Cool Festival
7/12 – Birmingham, UK @ Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul
7/17 – Pori, FI @ KIRJURINLUOTO
7/24 – Suffolk, UK @ Latitude Festival
8/5 – Rome, IT @ Casa Del Jazz
8/7 – Locorotondo, IT @ Masseria Ferragnano
8/13 – Oslo, NO @ Øyafestivalen
8/14 – Gothenburg, SE @ Way Out West
8/30 – Portsmouth, UK @ Victorious Festival
10/2 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
10/3 – Groningen, NL @ De Oosterpoort
10/5 – Cologne, DE @ Carlswerk Victoria
10/6 – Brussels, BE @ Ancienne Belgique
10/8 – Paris, FR @ L’Olympia
10/9 – Lille, FR @ L’Aéronef
10/11 – Munich, DE @ Muffathalle
10/12 – Zurich, CH @ X-Tra
10/14 – Berlin, DE @ Huxleys
10/15 – Hamburg, DE @ Grosse Freiheit 36
10/16 – Copenhagen, DK @ Amarger Bio
10/24 – Bristol, UK @ O2 Academy
10/27 – Bournemouth, UK @ O2 Academy
10/28 – London, UK @ O2 Academy Brixton
11/1 – Leeds, UK @ Project House
11/2 – Glasgow, UK @ Barrowland Ballroom
11/3 – Manchester, UK @ Academy
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jalen_ngonda/
