Mergui

Israeli singer Yehonatan Ya’akov “Jonathan” Mergui has a memorable voice that listeners will never forget. He competed on a reality show called Rising Star where the finalist was awarded to be Israel’s representative on Eurovision’s Song Contest. He came in second place in season five against pop singer Netta Barzilai and then began building a strong following afterward.

His latest song “10,000 Faces” is climbing up the charts and his previous single “On My Mind” gained half a million streams in a short time.

He opened for Forest Blakk on The Love & Loss Tour at Lincoln Hall and sat down to discuss his life on the road shortly before his set.

JN: (Jerry Nunn) So this is your first time in Chicago?

M: (Mergui) Yes, I just arrived here and it’s my first two hours in Chicago.

JN: Welcome. Where are you stationed these days?

M: I live in LA now and I am there most of the year. I still go back and forth between California and Israel, where I am from in Tel Aviv.

JN: I went to the Pride parade there and it was the best.

M: It’s one of the best in the world. It’s for everybody and all genders. I’m straight and all of my friends enjoy it. There’s such good energy in a loving environment.

JN: I felt that when I was there. They didn’t put up metal barriers like many at many Pride parades and instead, they encouraged people to march along together.

M: Israel accepts everybody with a warm feeling of brotherhood.

JN: How is your family?

M: Thank you for asking. They are great physically, but it’s been rough lately. It’s sometimes hard for me to be on the road and far from all of the people that I love.

My career is a distraction from that and can be exciting otherwise.

JN: Did you always want to be a singer?

M: My mom is a singer and my dad used to make music too. He played guitar all the time and the music was always there. I always remember music being around, but I wasn’t sure about it in my life.

I tell the story onstage about having equipment in my bedroom to make it a studio. I wanted to produce my own work and create music. I loved to explore and do cover songs on my little piano. I would send the songs to my family and friends.

JN: What is your favorite cover song?

M: There is one that I am doing onstage on every show titled “Say Something” by A Great Big World. Do you know the song?

JN: Yes, I interviewed them when the track came out.

M: The song started my career in a way. I sent my version to my family and my dad loved it. He sent it to some television production companies in Israel. One of them worked on the show Rising Star, which was our American Idol, and that audition changed my life completely.

I couldn’t walk the streets the day after it aired and before I knew it I was in second place.

I started releasing songs after that and my following grew bigger in Israel. A couple of years ago I decided to leave and begin to build a career in the United States.

It’s a big dream for me and I remember wanting to touch as many people as possible through music.

JN: Your voice is incredible. Have you tried out Eurovision yet?

M: That was the prize at Rising Star and my competition was Netta Barzilai. She won Eurovision that year.

JN: I interviewed her for a street festival that she performed at in Chicago. She would be hard for anyone to beat and she’s very creative.

M: She’s a good friend of mine now.

JN: Let’s talk music. I have heard of people being two-faced, but “10,000 faces?” Is the song about specific people?

M: [laughs] The song refers to a few situations in my life, but it’s for anyone in a relationship with someone who they can’t trust anymore or maybe they have been fooled one too many times. It’s about someone trying to get out of a situation and not be on a rollercoaster anymore. While it’s about someone doing something bad to another person, it is also meant to be empowering. People have to stand up to others and not be mistreated.

JN: It’s a single that's out now.

M: Yes, my latest single.

JN: Is the plan to put it out on a full album?

M: Yes, I am working on an EP for the future.

JN: How do you change “hopeless into roses” these days as stated in your song “On My Way Up?”

M: It is such a crazy time in the world with so many things happening every day, I try to remember to be grateful for what I have. I am on a tour with my chosen family and have my real family at home. I love the people around me and I remind myself every day how lucky I am.

These days we all need people to lean on…

JN: And good music to listen to.

M: Yes, music to listen to always and space to create. That’s how I make roses!

JN: Your track “Cry” has a big range. How challenging is it to perform live?

M: You are right it is kind of hard, but I am doing it. When I create songs I don’t even think about how to perform it then when the time comes I always figure it out.

I incorporated the Elton John melody into the song and that took it into all different ranges.

It is a song very close to my heart and it’s about being vulnerable.

JN: Are you a big Elton John fan?

M: Of course and I can’t believe how it all happened with him. I decided to incorporate his melody and at the time I wasn’t sure if I could use it or not. My team sent it to him for approval and a few weeks later he wrote back with compliments. He said I have an amazing voice and approved of me using his melody.

After that, he invited me to his annual Oscar event and I met him. It was so amazing and I am very thankful for that.

JN: Is fashion an important part of your brand?

M: Yes. Fashion has been something I love to play with. I think of my body as a canvas that I can throw colors on top of every day.

I remember being a kid in school and wearing a cap that no one else was wearing back then. I think that’s where it started and that was one of my first experiences in fashion now that I look back. Since then I have played with fashion all of these years.

I try to be unique in everything that I do and I don’t try to fit in.

JN: What would you like to tell others about yourself as an artist and where do you see your career going from here?

M: I am here to tell my story. My story is something no one else can say and it’s my personal experience. I want to inspire people and maybe help in some way. My music is for people to not feel alone anymore and have a shared experience with someone else.

It happens all the time when I hear a song and the lyrics are exactly how I feel. Some songwriters were able to articulate what I felt at the time and I want to do that for others.

I want to do that for the rest of my life and keep getting better at it. I am going to keep writing songs and 2025 is going to be big. I get to meet so many fans on this tour and I can’t wait for them to hear this music live.

JN: It must be nice to finally go from making music in the bedroom to taking it on the road.

M: It’s been a hell of a journey and this is starting from zero in a new country after being so big in Israel. I’m energized and ready for it!

Mergui returns to the Midwest for a few Ohio dates after performing in Canada. Keep up with the tour and his work at mergui.com.