Jonathan Brenner is an Atlanta-based singer-songwriter who defies easy classification. Described as “somewhere between New York and Nashville,” his music is a unique amalgam of genres, including pop, country, folk, Americana, and jazz. His musical influences include Hank Williams, Sr., Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Elton John, Billy Joel, James Taylor, Cole Porter, Tom Lehrer, and Antônio Carlos Jobim.
Jonathan has been writing songs since the age of five, when he penned the epic composition Goin’ to the Beach, while skipping down the hallways of his auntie’s condo in Miami Beach, stylishly clad in water wings, sandals, and floppy hat. Sadly, it was panned by the critics, who attacked the predictability of the lyrics (Goin’ to the Beach/Goin’ to the Beach/Goin’ to the Beach), the lack of a bridge, and the sparse harmonic rhythm. Undeterred, he went on to write a slew of songs that year, including Swimmin’ in the Pool, Diggin’ in the Sand, and Scrambled Eggs. Scrambled Eggs marked a paradigm shift for the artist, as it signified a departure from the “verb, preposition, article, noun” titular structure to a more minimalist approach.
Jonathan's music career began in earnest in 2016 when he decided to record his debut album with producer Billy Gewin at the legendary Cave Cricket Studio in Tucker, Georgia. The two quickly discovered that they shared similar musical sensibilities and embarked on a two-and-a-half year musical adventure that became Playin’ Hooky with My Baby, enlisting a virtual who’s who of the Atlanta music scene in bringing Jonathan’s artistic vision to fruition.
On July 10, 2023, Jonathan won the weekly Monday Night Songwriter’s Open Mic competition at the world-famous Eddie’s Attic listening room in Decatur, GA, and was entered in the 52nd bi-annual “Shootout,” following in the footsteps of John Mayer, Clay Cook, The Jacob Jeffries Band, and Jennifer Nettles (of Sugarland).
Jonathan currently resides in Midtown Atlanta, where he performs periodically at local venues. His second LP, Instagram Success, is scheduled for release on Spotify and other major music streaming platforms on May 3rd, 2024.