Some voices make you feel like you’ve travelled back in time. Jalen Ngonda is one of them. With his smooth vocals, timeless soul sound and undeniable love for the golden era of Motown, the singer has been bringing classic soul to a new generation. On his Doctrine of Love Tour, he brought that magic to Berlin’s Huxleys Neue Welt, turning the venue into a celebration of love, heartbreak and the kind of soul music that never goes out of style.
The stage decor is simplicity at its very best. No extravagant props or elaborate designs take up space on stage. Instead, eight strategically placed lighting fixtures and live instruments are all it takes to set the scene. Together, they evoke the days when Soul Train was in full swing, with a modern twist that makes the whole setup feel right at home in 2026. The band, consisting of drums, keyboards, electric guitar, electric bass and congas, is joined by two backup singers who look as though they’ve been transported straight from the Motown era.
When we say we’ve never heard a live male voice quite like Jalen’s, we’re not exaggerating. His rich, expressive tenor, smooth and supple in tone, with a slight rasp and a beautifully effortless falsetto, gives us yet another reason to wonder whether we’ve truly travelled back in time upon entering the venue. The way he moves between romantic, tender and understated delivery and a powerful, soaring falsetto that fills the entire room is incredible. It’s a voice that feels increasingly rare in this day and age. And perhaps most impressive of all, he makes it look so easy.
Throughout the night, we dance away to vintage soul and Motown-inspired music, with touches of doo-wop and gospel. Somewhere around the middle of the show, Jalen sends his band backstage to take a breather, giving himself a moment to slow things down. For one song, we get to sit with our feelings and leave the golden days of soul behind for something more intimate. It’s just Jalen, his piano and a spotlight, allowing his voice to shine without distraction. The stripped-back performance of the emotional ‘Love Is Gone’ gives the crowd a moment to catch its breath between all the dancing.
At a time when success in the music industry goes hand in hand with creating viral TikTok moments and short, catchy music designed to please the algorithm, it’s refreshing to see an artist like Jalen playing to a sold-out crowd of fans who aren’t there to film memorable moments of the show for their followers. Don’t get us wrong, we do exactly that ourselves and often feel the pressure to record all our favorite moments. It’s simply the times we’ve grown accustomed to living in. But when Jalen and his band give us a reason to leave our phones in our pockets and truly enjoy the music and the incredible musicians on stage, the result is a raw, real experience that’s becoming hard to find these days.
We loved every single moment of the show. Hearing the instant classic ‘Anyone in Love’, the cheesy and desperately-in-love ‘Mr. Train Conductor’ and his biggest breakthrough moment to date, ‘If You Don’t Want My Love’, is a true blessing to the ears. Jalen Ngonda is a one-of-a-kind talent, bringing the spirit of Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and James Brown to a new generation. If this is what timeless soul sounds like in 2026, we’re more than happy to stay in the past a little longer.