Jago Alan Returns With New Single, King of Hearts

South African Singer-Songwriter Jago Alan Shares His Heart And Mind On New Single ‘King Of Hearts’

Following his debut release, She Knows, South African singer-songwriter Jago Alan returns with new single, King of Hearts — a deeply personal and poetic offering.

“The inspiration behind this one came from a very specific time in my life,” says Jago. “I was reading Arthurian tales, the Bible, Moby Dick… even books about human origins. I’d hear things, notice rhythms, dream in images. It all started to loop and cycle. If this song is about anything, it’s about that strange, beautiful period. And yet that moment has passed. Now it’s something else entirely.”

Written alone on an acoustic guitar, King of Hearts is a song rooted in both experience and exploration — the heart and the mind. Musically, the new single continues Jago’s self-described exploration within the singer-songwriter tradition — music that comes from the heart, and keeps the torch of honest storytelling alive.

King of Hearts is Jago’s second official release, following his debut single, She Knows. While his first track introduced his gentle, introspective style to listeners, the new single arrives as a bolder statement — a fuller representation of who he is as a songwriter and artist. With a sound rooted in the singer-songwriter tradition, his music pays quiet homage to Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, and Rodriguez — but never feels derivative.

Jago’s musical journey has taken shape across continents — from Johannesburg to Cape Town, Newfoundland to rural England — and so has his songwriting.

“I started writing songs when I was 16,” he says. “Back then, I thought I was in communion with angels. I’ve kept writing ever since.”

This track is off Jago’s upcoming EP, which will be released in phases over the coming months. He calls this particular song “the one I’m most proud of” — a track that represents his sound, voice, and place in the world.