ABOUT

Born to a Sri Lankan father and German mother, Stefan Mahendra’s musical journey began at a piano bench in South London, guided by his mother’s encouragement and early classical training. But it wasn’t long before he veered off the traditional path - drawn deeply into the world of jazz, soul, and R&B.

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His early discovery of American gospel greats like Smokie Norful - artists who weren’t just masterful pianists but also powerful vocalists - inspired a deeper passion for both playing and singing. That influence led him to icons like Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, and D’Angelo: legends who built their songs from the keys up, crafting entire sonic worlds from the piano. It's this lineage that flows through Stefan’s music - soulful, grounded, and effortlessly timeless.

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Stefan's breakthrough arrived with a sold-out debut show at the iconic Pizza Express Jazz Club in Holborn in June 2022. The momentum continued with another sold-out night at the legendary Ronnie Scott’s, and in June 2023, he headlined The Lower Third in Soho to a packed house.

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The release of his debut EP Sentiments in July 2023 made an immediate impact, with tracks landing on major Spotify and Apple Music playlists, and support from BBC Radio 1‘s ‘Future Soul’ show.

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In December 2024, Stefan joined US soul sensation Jarrod Lawson as the opening act on his UK tour, performing in landmark venues such as Shepherds Bush Empire and Birmingham Town Hall. A month later, in January 2025 he returned to the Shepherds Bush Empire stage to support Death Row Records star October London on his sold-out UK run. Since then, Stefan sold out his headline show in London at the brand new ‘Soul Mama’ venue, and performed at SXSW London and All Points East festival. 

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With new singles on the horizon and a highly anticipated second EP set for release in early 2026, Stefan Mahendra continues to carve out his space as one of the most distinctive voices in modern R&B and soul.