Biography
I was born Daniel Richard Mandel in 1961 in Cleveland, Ohio. Everywhere I’ve lived, California, Minnesota, Utah... I gradually realized that I was happiest when music was central in my life. My songwriting fits into the Adult Contemporary Folk Rock style, being inspired by Jackson Browne, Cat Stevens, Freedy Johnston, Damien Rice, Elvis Costello and Ray LaMontagne.

I think a lot about how to express myself in song. I like the creative outlet that comes with songwriting. I think of each song like a riddle or a puzzle. Something that may be bothering me or something I'm trying to figure out. It could be years stewing or come to me in a week or a day. But I really get a rush when I capture the emotion or the solution to a problem in a way that I can express it so that others can relate or feel it in themselves. At the highest level I think of song writing and singing as a healing art. Those times that I can reach someone and stir some feelings and thoughts that lead to understanding and healing are the highest form of art.

Music opens me up. Songs let me voice my puzzles and solve them. I wrote a song called, "Brave Open Love" trying to make sense of the details of my life. I wrote a song called, "Hide" because I tend to. I fall in love too quickly! I write these songs to communicate my essential feelings and sensibilities.


Timeline
- August of 2004 I assembled my home studio and September of 2005 I had completed my first independent release MIGHT BE YOU. It ended up as the culmination of all my songwriting work to that point. I am very proud of the result.
- In 2006 and together with the collaborative guidance of Nancy Spanier and Paul Oertel created an acoustic solo performance based on my songs called Brave Open Love. Click to find out about all my performance options.
- 2007 I set up my artist web site www.DanielRMandel.com and I joined the ASCAP performing rights organization.



- 2008 I released my new CD, entitled Jongleur!
- 2012 I am performing both as an acoustic solo act and with a great group of musicians, we are calling simply, the “Daniel Mandel Band”. I’m really interested in an authentic expression of Brave Open Love in song. I am working on my next album. I am performing in and around the San Francisco Bay Area often!