Bendzko grew up in the Köpenick region of Berlin. As a youth he attended a sport gymnasium and played at the first FC Union Berlin football. Later he studied Protestant theology and non-Christian religions. His musical career began with guitar lessons. At age 16 he wrote his first songs. As a winner of a talent competition he performed in the summer of 2009 before 20,000 spectators at the Berlin Waldbühne, one of Europe's largest concert venues.[3] Then he devoted himself entirely to his music. He received a recording contract with Sony Music and performed as an opening act for Silly on their 2010 tour.

On 17 June 2011 he released his debut album Wenn Worte meine Sprache wären ("If words were my language"), from which the single Nur noch kurz die Welt retten ("Just quickly save the world") was released on 27 May 2011. The video was produced by Hagen Decker, Los Angeles. The album reached number four in the German charts[4] and the single number two.[5] . The album, which sold over...