Jalen Ngonda on Music, Movement & the Stage
Soul musician Jalen Ngonda, celebrated for his rich, nuanced voice and timeless sound, returns Down Under this March, landing just in time for festival season in South Australia. With praise from musical heavyweights including Elton John, Snoop Dogg and Kehlani, and a run of sold-out tours across the US, UK and Europe (including Glastonbury in both 2024 and 2025), Ngonda is carving out a lane entirely his own. His critically acclaimed debut album, Come Around and Love Me (2023), peaked at #4 on the UK Album Downloads Chart, cementing his place as one of soul’s most compelling new voices.
We’ve long been fans of his work, so news of his return felt especially exciting — particularly with an upcoming set at WOMADelaide, held in the heart of Adelaide at the beloved Botanic Park / Tainmuntilla.
Ahead of his Australian shows, we caught up with Jalen Ngonda to talk sound, influence, favourites, touring, and the creative process behind the music.
To start, for anyone who’s never heard a Jalen Ngonda song, could you describe your music in three words?
It’s. Soul. Music.
Are there any artists who are influencing your music at the moment?
A wide range of them. Continuous inspirations are: Burt Bacharach to The Motown Sound, various 60’s stuff, British Freakbeat, to The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and just a mixture of a lot of stuff from the Sixties and early Seventies.
When did music start feeling like something you wanted to pursue?
I would say at age 11 or 12. I got into music when I was 11, and to be honest, it probably became a pursuit by the time I was 14, when I first performed in front of people.
What comes first for you when writing — Melody or the Words?
Well, it could be more than that. It could be the beat, the melody, the words, or the chord progressions. It just depends on what strikes the inspiration first.
Going on that a little bit, when do you know when a song is finished?
I suppose when you decide it’s finished. I don’t know, you just kind of know when it’s finished because you wrote what the song is about or what feels good. If I write the verse, a couple of choruses, and a bridge, the song feels a bit finished to me if it reaches about two and a half minutes. I think once you play it through, it depends on whether you need another verse or not. It depends on the song, but you just know in your mind if it’s the end of the song or whatever.
You’ll be performing at WOMADelaide in March. What does performing there mean to you?
To be honest, I’ve never heard of the festival until today hahaha. It was booked under my management. But nah, I mean, it sounds exciting.
Yeah, sick! In that case, I don’t know if you’ve looked at the WOMADelaide lineup, but if you have, are there any artists you’re keen to see when you’re not performing?
I haven’t looked at the lineup, so I hope Kendrick’s playing or something haha.
Do you have a favourite song to perform live?
Yeah, I would say I have a couple of favourites. Don’t You Remember is a favourite; another is The Look of Love, a cover of Dusty Springfield. But it’s usually Don’t You Remember. I love performing it all, to be honest, I just enjoy the whole experience. It just feels like one thing.
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Nah, I wouldn’t say it’s a ritual. I just warm up ten minutes before the show. Before that, I’ll have some food and listen to music in the dressing room with the band. I just stay backstage, because I have to be there. If I had the choice to go to a get-together or a party or something, I’d do that, but you know it’s just getting ready.
What do you love about performing in Australia?
Well, because it’s so far away from me. That’s one thing, to play somewhere on the other side of the world, that’s crazy because you wouldn’t think you’d be doing that as a person, you know? It’s so crazy to get on stage and have people singing your songs. Physically, you feel so far away from that place, living in another hemisphere. It’s a great feeling, and that’s what it’s like performing in Australia.
What’s the biggest crowd you’ve played?
I don’t know, I don’t really keep records. There are gigs where there’s a huge crowd because there’s a festival and it’s under a big tent. I would say at my own shows, it would probably be the Hammersmith Apollo that I did back in October last year.
I’ve just got a few quick-fire questions to wrap up the interview.
Firstly, what song or album is currently in your daily rotation?
There’s no album in my rotation; I’m just listening to a mix of songs I like and have discovered recently.
Any specific artists?
Just some sixties soul, rock, and pop. You know, Betty Harris, Burt Bacharach, Motown to Beach Boys, to Cream and Led Zeppelin. Just a mixture.
Sick! And, what’s the last great film you’ve seen?
Oh, it’s a very recent film, actually. I would say Marty Supreme. I saw that a couple of weeks ago and thought it was great. Last week I watched Muholland Drive by David Lynch, which is another great film. So I’d have to say David Lynch, as I watched it after Marty Supreme.
If you could collaborate with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be?
Burt Bacharach.
And finally, what piece of advice would you give to aspiring musicians and creatives who might want to go down a similar path as you?
“Focus on your craft wherever the road takes you, whether you want to be a recording artist or a producer or a songwriter, just focus on your craft.”
You can catch Jalen Ngonda live at WOMADelaide in Adelaide on March 7 2026, or at one of his other select Australian shows.