Jonathan Mendelsohn

When Jonathan Mendelsohn first stepped onstage for amateur night at "Showtime at the Apollo," he was admittedly freaked out, but he didn't let the notoriously picky Apollo audience know it. After all this was the legendary stage that had launched the careers of Ella Fitzgerald, The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Lauryn Hill just to name a few. “I just got out there and started doing what I do. People were screaming and I couldn't even hear myself, but at the end I was like, ‘Okay, I didn't get booed off!,” which is common practice at this particular venue. Performing his soulful self-penned urban tinged pop song "Over," he ended up winning the competition that night. And the next night. And the next. And, ultimately, the entire season. Not bad at all for a young white boy singing a homemade song that was otherwise unknown to the unruly urban crowd.
Born in Brooklyn NY in 1980, Jonathan moved to the suburbs with his family shortly thereafter where he recalls spending countless hours singing along to TOP40 music with a fisher price radio armed with a toy microphone. After teaching himself piano with the help of his mother, a classically trained pianist, he began writing his own songs and developing his craft as a singer/songwriter. In high school, Jonathan found himself basking in the debauchery of the '90s rave scene where he discovered his other musical passion. Electronic dance music.
Seduced by the energy and unique sonic soundscapes that could be created with synthesizers and computers sparked his interest in music production and after graduating high school, Jonathan spent countless hours at the computer, teaching himself the basics of home recording. “At first, the songs were very amateur but I loved everything about the digital songwriting process. It was pretty obvious that this is what I wanted to do with my life.”
In 2000, Jonathan returned to his birthplace to pursue his professional music career, taking courses in audio engineering, studying with numerous vocal coaches, and building his home studio from the ground up. Shortly after, he joined forces with producer Chris Brann, most known for his successful dance act Ananda Project. They immediately started writing for what would become the rebirth of Brann’s other brainchild, Wamdue Project, which had previously achieved a 1 hit with their infection song “King of My Castle,” selling over 2 million copies worldwide.
It was through this collaboration that the song “Forgiveness” was born. Wamdue’s first single in a decade, it is one of those irresistible timeless tracks that stands out, is always well received and leaving the listener stunned by its brilliance. The song has scored Jonathan a record deal with Sony BMG’s now defunct sub label “Music with a Twist” and has been recently licensed exclusively to euro compilation giant “Fierce Angels” set for worldwide release early next year with remixes by Eric Kupper and Rasmus Faber to follow. In 2007, Jonathan joined forces with dance music legends, Nick Warren and Jody Wisternoff, to be the new lead vocalist of their well known act, “Way Out West.” Jonathan’s voice and lyrics will be featured on nearly two thirds of the album which is set for release early 2009.
With a voice expressing a unique soulful quality that is both urgent and soothing, coupled with intelligent songwriting, irresistible beats and soaring melodies, his music has an immediate and infectious impact on any conscientious listener.