The soul singer talks new music, his upcoming Australian tour and making music in the TikTok age
Jalen Ngonda is something of an anachronism. Armed with a voice like silk and a sound seemingly lifted straight from 1968, it’s easy to imagine him perched atop the stage of a smoky dive bar, dressed in a wide-collared pastel suit. In a world where bell-bottoms, gold chains and beehive hairdos reigned supreme. It was, by all accounts, a simpler time. Devoid of TikTok dances, photo filters and the near-constant compulsion to record and share every facet of life. You did things because you wanted to, not because you thought you should.
Alas, as time machines have not yet been invented, this is not where I find Jalen Ngonda.
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Instead, we’re in London. It’s 8:30am and the sun is just beginning to poke its head above the concrete. The see-your-breath chill is starting to dissipate, and smiles are finally populating the streets.
“It’s quite nice to see the sun” Ngonda effusively says of the glowing ball of plasma as soon as I call him. “Finally.”
You can almost picture the smile stretching across his face as he says it. Unlike most, Ngonda has been largely unfazed by the darkness of the British winter. Where many succumb to bedridden colds and seasonal depression, he seems to have found his own rhythm within it.
“I’ve been here for 11 years, man. Where I’m from is a bit sunnier — but not too much — so I’m pretty used to it now.”
Despite not being from the ’60s, Ngonda’s story almost reads like that of a Motown great. Born in the small town of Wheaton, Maryland, he was introduced to soul music from an early age. Then, after hearing The Temptations’ My Girl for the first time, he knew music was for him. His parents later bought him a Fender Squier guitar, and within five years he was proficient in drums, guitar, piano and singing.
After moving to Liverpool to study, Ngonda began releasing music on SoundCloud. This eventually culminated in a record deal with the legendary Brooklyn-based Daptone Records and the release of his critically acclaimed debut album, Come Around and Love Me. The record took him around the world — including an Australian tour in early 2025. Just over a year later, Ngonda is returning to our shoes.
“I actually fell in love with Australia last time I was there,” he says of his previous tour. “I’m not joking — I really did. It felt like being in a completely different world.”
Last year’s run saw Ngonda perform across the country in intimate theatre venues. This time, he’ll be stepping into even larger rooms. Despite not yet having a new album out, he promises the show will feel markedly different to last time.
“There will be new music and a bigger band this time around. Last time it was kind of just me and my drummer. Now it’s a big band.”
Where the previous tour felt like a whirlwind, this time Ngonda and his team are allowing space to properly sink their teeth into the country — literally.
“On the last tour we tried kangaroo in Melbourne. It kind of felt like I was eating a human being,” he laughs. “But I liked it. It was cut up and grilled. Anything else you’d recommend this time?”
I suggest something slightly more approachable for a second- time returnee: Tim Tams, Vegemite, lamingtons, a Mrs Mac’s meat pie, Twisties and chicken crimpy Shapes.
Having attended one of Ngonda’s shows on his last tour, what struck me most was the diversity of the audience. From peachy-cheeked children to those with skin like dinosaurs, his music casts a wide net. This may partly be due to the fact that his buoyant single If You Don’t Want My Love seemingly found a home on TikTok.
Unlike many artists resistant to the algorithm-driven trends of music discovery in 2026, Ngonda embraces them with open arms.
“When I was 15, I was only exposed to what was on the radio — or what my parents played. Even kids in the ’60s mostly listened to music from their own time. Now someone can hear a song from 1952 on TikTok and fall in love with it.”
He pauses.
“And I kind of fucking love that.”
As the conversation naturally winds its way down to a close, I ask Ngonda what he has coming up beyond the tour. He takes a moment to think.
“Oh yeah, I have an album coming out this year” he says, casually, as if we were talking about the weather again.
“Wait — what?” I ask.
“It’s all recorded and has a similar flavour to the last one. And that’s all I’m giving you for now.”
Upon pressing for more details, I was politely told that that was it. So, I shut my mouth, said my thankyou’s and reminded myself that patience is a virtue. I guess we’ll all just have to wait, or, perhaps, see a show.
Jalen Ngonda
- Where: The Forum
- When: 6 March
Tickets are available here.
