Inspired by artists such as Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michaelson, and Taylor Swift, Mandy Pennington creates piano-led pop that invokes a visceral reaction from her audiences. Her style is influenced not only by these three artists, but also brings in elements of musical theater and soul. Focused around the idea that music is a form of therapy, Mandy’s goal is to write music that makes her listeners feel understood and moved; an experience that Mandy’s favorite artists have given to her. Mandy is passionate about mental and emotional health, and believes that music is a tool for healing.

Growing up in Louisville, Kentucky, Mandy was constantly surrounded by music and art. Her first solo performance was “Silent Night” in German in a church Christmas pageant at the age of four. She was raised in the church, and gained much of her musical experience singing and playing piano on worship teams, which she continues to this day. Mandy was classically trained in the violin for seven years, the piano for ten years, and voice for eight years. She began taking lessons at the age of seven, and was in love with music ever since. At the age of nine, Mandy played a role in her first musical, “The Wizard of Oz,” which sparked her love for musical theater. She was inspired by some of the greats: Judy Garland, Julie Andrews, Audra McDonald, Idina Menzel, and Kristin Chenoweth, and this musical theater influence is still found in her music today.

When Mandy was in high school, she found a way to combine her love for writing poetry and her love for music: songwriting. Her dreams quickly shifted from becoming a Broadway star to becoming a singer-songwriter. She continued to hone her craft with Vocal Performance, Audio Engineering, and Creative Writing majors at Greenville University, from where she graduated in 2018.

Mandy released her first full-length album, “Kindling,” in March 2016. Following that success, she released a light-hearted four-song ukulele EP called “Aria” in June of the same year. After a heart-wrenching breakup, Mandy composed a seven-song EP called “Enough,” which she recorded, produced, and performed all on her own as a tribute to the love that she had lost. This project came out in January 2017. After spending a summer interning in Nashville, Tennessee, Mandy recorded her first professional EP, “Now & Then” in the city. This EP was released in December 2017, with subsequent remixes and acoustic versions following the next year. In summer 2019, Mandy release three singles about the idea of “letting go”: “Getting Better,” “Trick of the Light,” and “Let Go.” In April 2021, Mandy released her latest EP, “Queen of the Letdown.”

Currently living in Louisville, KY, Mandy continues to perform in writer’s rounds and shows around Louisville and has spent a year recording hymn arrangements with the Norton Hall Band.