Let’s get to know each other a little better. 

I’m Jonny - Malingo’s founder & guitarist and one of the singers/songwriters. I’ve been playing & writing music for as long as I can remember. From piano, to sax, to drums, to guitar, music has provided me with a sense of pride, identity, meaning, and even an escape when needed. It has been the most important tool in my kit for processing the complexities of life. 

This was put to the test in the 2010s, when I was dealing with my mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. After going through the motions for a few years, I knew I had to do some inner work, so I sat in the pain for a while and wrote an entire album dedicated to my mom and my relationship with her. That album is called Fay and it set this whole thing in motion. 

After finishing that album I could not deny the impact and the healing that the process had on me. I was hooked. Immediately, I queued up another song for release, then another, then another. Over time, more people started listening and following along, and I started feeling the itch to play live shows again and turn Malingo into a “real” band. So I gathered some old friends and met some new ones and off we went!

First, I picked up my best friend, John (second from left below). We've been friends since middle school and have played music together since high school, so I knew I wanted him along for the ride. He picked up a mando and impresses us every day with that thing. Next I found our drummer, Josh (2nd from right), online - his musical tastes and abilities aligned perfectly well and he was totally down for playing shows anytime, and I'm super glad he joined up! Then I found our wildcard, Sam (left), who is a wonderful spirit and has a unique style, both on the banjo, and just as a person. We love him to death. Lastly, I wrangled an old friend, LJ (right), to join up on bass. He's always been a loyal friend who I could talk to for hours, and he rounded out the band perfectly!

These first couple years as a full band has been wild. We started with a sold-out DIY show, and quickly started playing mid-sized venues, listening rooms, and festivals. We take a lot of pride in our live shows and uniquely craft each set with songs that blend in and out of each other, and tons of improvised jam breaks throughout. The amount of growth we’ve experienced has been intense, which makes us even more excited for what the future holds.