Birthday:
26th August 1971

Location:
Marsascala, Malta (Europe)

Musical Background:
Triggered by his twin sister who was taking guitar lessons and his elder sister who was learning the piano accordion, Jonathan discovered his aptitude as a musician from a very young age when his two sisters gave up music lessons and he took over both instruments. He started playing the classic guitar and the piano accordion on his own initiative and managed to start playing popular songs. This urged him to start being exposed beyond his room at home.

His debut on stage was at the age 10 at Christmas Day Party, where he played solo Christmas carols with the parish choir. From that day on he knew: “I’m going to be a musician". The neighbors were able to see the birth of his passion for music: The house boomed when Jonathan turned on his cassette recorder, playing with various genres of songs.

His musical ability continued to grow when a friend of his approached him to join a village band where he took clarinet lessons and music theory. He performed in a number of village bands where there he met many friends who gave him the opportunity to widen his musical spectrum and perform a number of duets and orchestral presentations. By this time his parents bought him a synthesizer and started performing in several clubs and restaurants.

During his evolvement in music and at his very early age Jonathan had always considered the bass as one of the most over-looked instruments in a musical group. Many audience members have no idea what a bass even is. Despite this fact, he measures bass as the most critical instrument in a group. It was for this reason why he preferred to play other instruments rather than the bass instrument: “I only play the bass when time tells me that I am fine at it and am convinced that I am prepared to deliver the rhythmic and harmonic foundation to the consistent pulse and melody of the music with the bass”.

In the early months of the year 1999 Jonathan bought his first bass guitar and started learning some bass lines and bass techniques on his own. He continued progressing with some of his friends until he decided to start performing his bass technique in a number of mini concerts. He managed well in taking the role of a bassist in featuring lots of cover versions of slow rock, reggae, groovy, pop, blues and sole music genre.

In 2002 Jonathan was introduced to the Maltese choir EnKor which was founded and directed by Johanna van Lent-Singels. He managed to pick up with the particular style of the choir which was still experimenting to perform in public for its debut. Jonathan acquired lots of experience and technique during the time with Enkor which consists of 40 talented singers and musicians who perform a varied selection of classical and spiritual pieces and original works by Maltese composers. Since its first appearance in November 2002, Jonathan performed with Enkor on many special occasions such as the May 2004 celebrations of Malta’s entry into the EU, participation in a number of concerts, charity marathons and performances for television and radio events.

At the mid-year of 2004, Jonathan had to give up music to spend time studying to focus on the final 2 years of the degree course at the University of Malta. During the period of pause from the musical scene he started feeling something missing in his life and realized that music was still his passion, so he started jamming on his own at which he can proudly look back and continue where he left. In January 2008 he was approached by his work colleague Oriella Casha (Rising Sunset Official Violinist) who introduced him to Rising Sunset. During his musical experience Jonathan didn’t even dream to join the Metal scene, which type of style is not his favorite. However that classical touch and the expressive melodious quality induced in the repertoire of Rising Sunset gave him the courage and challenge to put his feet on the ground and start working to achieve a rhythm technique and speed compatible with the unique Metal style of Rising Sunset: “This is not the style of music I enjoy playing…however once I am given the role to provide a steady rhythm and beat which is the pulse the bass creates, I feel confident to bring the line-up for Rising Sunset complete!”

Main instrument:
Bass Guitar

Other Instruments:
Keyboards, Piano Accordian, Piano Forte & Clarinet

Current equipment:
Tanglewood Nevada Bass guitar – FPB 24K, Roland Cube 100 Bass Amp (Feed Forward Processing), Torque Bass Amp – T200BG (Celestion Powered), Digitech Bass Guitar 12A x 7 Preamp Processor – BP8 Valve, Boosey and Hawkes Clarinet in B flat, Hohner Piano Accordian Verdi III, Upright Classic Piano - Studholm & Sons London and a Yamaha PSR 90 keyboards.

First album bought:
Imagine (John Lennon)

Favourite Albums:
Help! (Beatles)
Golden Album (ABBA)
Crazy World (Scorpions)
Greatest Hits II (Queen)
In The Garden of Venus (Modern Talking)
Brothers in Arms (Dire Straits)
Nimrod (Green Day)
Californication (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
In Time: The Best Of R.E.M. 1988-2003 (R.E.M)

Favourite musicians:
Roger Waters
Aston Barret
Francis Buchholz
John Deacon
Chas Chandler
Charles Mizzi

Other interests:
Interests in building industry technological innovations, home furnishing and interior design, model making and art enthusiast, carpentry and crafts, sports and gym.