“Nobody Really Knows” quite how, but Mergui has managed to establish himself as a formidable player in the modern indie pop music scene.

Stream: “Risk It All” – Mergui

2025 was only a couple weeks old when indie pop artist Mergui got things going with the release of a new four-track EP, Nobody Really Knows, on January 17th.

It was a sure sign that this was going to be a productive year for Mergui, and he’s followed through on that early promise by releasing a further collection of singles over the ensuing months.

These include “Purple Rose,” a song he first wrote about four years ago and had been tinkering with ever since until just now; “Risk it All,” which he describes as “a reflection of all the times I’ve chosen love, art, and growth over comfort;” and a cover of “Say Something,” originally performed by NYC pop duo A Great Big World.

Let me get this out of my chest
I wanted you from the get go
Too many mutual friends
So I kept it low

Your hands inside of my vest
I’d never tell you to let go
Even though it’s probably a mess
We still can’t say no

All the way up to the 28th floor
And then we closed the door

– “Risk It All,” Mergui

Such productivity has been the norm for Jonathan Mergui, who uses his last name as his onstage pseudonym, ever since he first launched his music career with the 2019 release of his debut EP, Ma Iyea. He’s continued to tour and produce ever since, while also getting to score some opening slots for Bruno Mars and Maroon 5, and seeing his music featured in the popular video game The Sims and on the NFL’s GameDay Morning Show

He’s never reluctant to let his vulnerable side come through in his songs – he describes his recent single, “Purple Rose,” as being “about the lengths we go to for love, even when it’s unreciprocated” – and the results are evidently winning fans over.

Mergui shares more of the secrets behind his high level of output and creative flair with Atwood Magazine.

I wasn’t supposed to
Take it off, but sometimes
Friends get lost
There’s just something about you
That makes me wanna risk it all
You make me wanna risk it but it’s dangerous
‘Cause I might f* this up
But There’s something about you
That makes me wanna risk it all
You make me wanna risk it all

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:: stream/purchase Risk It All here ::

:: connect with Mergui here ::

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A CONVERSATION WITH MERGUI

Mergui: It definitely started with my parents. My mom’s a singer, so music was always a big part of our house. And my dad used to make music too and play guitar; he and I would sing together all the time. But I think the real turning point was when they helped me build a little studio in my bedroom. That’s when I started producing and writing on my own, and honestly, I’d get completely lost in it. I remember my mom knocking on the door at 3 a.m. thinking I’d gone missing, and I was like, “Wait, I thought it’s like 6pm or something haha.” I’d forget to eat, forget to text people back. That room didn’t just shape my sound – it really shaped me.

Mergui: Wow, six years… that’s crazy. I still remember making that first EP like it just happened. Since then, I’ve gone through so many different phases, both in life and in music. And honestly, the biggest thing I’ve learned is more about me. Every project forced me to dig a little deeper and peel some layers down.. it makes me ask, “What do I actually want to say?” Every project helps me stop trying to impress other people and allows myself to be real. I still have a long way to go, but it feels like I’ve already learned so much.

Mergui: Nobody Really Knows is still one of the projects I’m most proud of. It felt like a mix of something nostalgic and something super personal. At the time, I was asking myself a lot of questions – like, where do I go next? What’s the “right” move? And this EP became a space for me to process all of that. Especially today, with social media constantly showing everyone’s highlights, it’s easy to get caught up in the noise. I think writing those songs and working on that project helped me block that out and focus on what’s true for me.

“Say Something” has a whole different story. That cover was actually one of the first things that started my career. I recorded it in my bedroom studio and sent it to my dad. Without telling me, he sent it out to a bunch of TV production companies and that’s how I ended up on the music competition tv show that launched everything for me. Fast forward almost 10 years, and I was on tour with Forest Blakk and started performing it again, and people really connected with it. So I thought, you know what? Let’s finally put this one out into the world.

Mergui: It’s kind of wild to think this song is finally out! We actually wrote it almost four years ago. It was me, Noga Erez (a great artist and friend) and Ori Rousso (amazing producer and also a very good friend) who are both unbelievably talented. At that time, we were writing a bunch of songs together, and “Purple Rose” was one that always stood out. Everyone I played it for loved it, but it took a while to get it exactly where we wanted it.

Then randomly, The Sims reached out. They wanted the song for the game and asked me to record it in Simlish, which is their made-up language. I didn’t grow up playing The Sims, but I knew how big it was because so many of my friends were obsessed with it. Recording in Simlish was honestly one of the coolest and funniest things I’ve done in my career.

As for the lyrics, it’s about loving someone who doesn’t give that love back. You do everything you can for them, but at some point you have to stop and ask – do they even deserve it? That line “she won’t fake a smile, even for a purple rose” is about realizing that no matter how hard you try, some people just aren’t going to meet you halfway.

Mergui: Yeah, for sure. If you look closely at the visualizer, there’s a clear contrast between us. I’m moving a lot – dancing, reaching, trying – and she’s totally still. Almost frozen. That was the whole point. It reflects the energy of the song: someone giving everything, and the other person not giving anything back.

Visually, I’m always drawn to minimalism. I’ve done more over-the-top stuff before, but I usually come back to simple, clean, monochromatic vibes. There’s something powerful in keeping it stripped down and just letting the emotion breathe. I’m really happy with how this one turned out.

Mergui: It’s something I think about all the time, honestly. I’ve always had super wide taste in music . I never just listened to one genre. It’s been everything from pop, hip-hop and R&B to some British rock and so many different stuff. I went to an art school too, so I got introduced to a lot of stuff I might not have found otherwise, like music from the classical and jazz worlds.

For a long time, I wasn’t sure how it would all come together. But now I get that the common thread is just… me. My voice, my way of telling stories. It’s hard but I try not to think in terms of genre anymore and just chase whatever excites me and feels honest.

Mergui: That was one of the craziest things I’ve ever done. I opened for Bruno Mars in Tel Aviv in 2023, and for Maroon 5 the year before. Both shows were surreal. First of all, I grew up listening to Bruno and Maroon 5 all the time. To say opening for them was a dream come true is an understatement. And then standing in front of 60,000 people and they were all singing my songs back to me was overwhelming in the best way.

But more than that, it made me think about what music really does. It brings people together, no matter where they’re from or what they’re going through. And it made me realize even more how much I want to get to that level myself. not just for the stage, but for the connection. I’ve always been about unity and peace, and I think music is one of the most powerful tools we’ve got for that.

Mergui: Yes! “Risk It All” is a song I’ve been dying to release. It’s one of those feel-good tracks and I feel so connected to the story in it nowadays actually. I’m so excited for people to hear it. But that’s just the beginning. 2025 is going to be full of new music. I’ve been working on a lot of stuff behind the scenes that I can’t wait to share.

I’m also really focused on shows. I love being on stage, it’s where I feel most like myself. It brings together all the things I love: music, fashion, dancing, and connecting with people. So yeah, it’s going to be a big year. If anyone reading this wants to keep up, follow me on socials and I’d love to see all of you at a show.

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:: stream/purchase Risk It All here ::

:: connect with Mergui here ::

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Stream: “Risk It All” – Mergui

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