Jesus is a Jedi: The story behind the band
My name is Jonathan Kiper. I first started recording when I was 14 years old using a Tascam 424. Later I progressed to using a computer for software based recordings. I experimented a lot but felt my recordings were still lacking. So in 2007 I attended SAE Institute in Melbourne Australia to study audio engineering.
Armed with a head full of knowledge I recorded my first album "The Black and White of Gray" under the name Washington's Ghost. That album was reviewed by Dan Bowles, music critic for Burlington's 7 Days News paper said this about the album:
"The album opens with the post-punk punch of “When We Were Jung.” As the title implies, the tune has something of a philosophical bent. Though Kiper doesn’t offer anything terribly earth shattering lyrically, the song owns some vicious, gritty hooks. Imagine a hyper-literate version of The Strokes’ Julian Casablancas and you’re not far off the mark.
That cut bleeds seamlessly into the electro-lounge chill of the next track, “You Wish You Were.” It’s a neat trick, to be sure, and one that’s repeated throughout, giving the disc more of a unified feel than merely a collection of songs. In the iTunes Age, that’s a refreshing concept for album purists. Here, Kiper proves a talented singer as well as an inventive composer with a smooth, brooding delivery reminiscent of Sea Change-era Beck — if backed by Fatboy Slim, perhaps.
“Catch You on the Dark Side” continues in a similar vein, though with more of a head-bobbing trip-hop feel than the preceding number. Again, Kiper shows an uncanny knack for catchy, melodic hooks with near-anthemic lines throughout.
“I Am a Robot King” is next and is perhaps the best example of Kiper’s talents as a whole — including playing virtually every instrument himself and programming electronic loops. Here he deftly wraps a gorgeous melancholy melody around a wash of distorted guitar and some seriously slow and low beats. Think of it as an indie-rock mashup. Trust me, it’s a lot cooler than that description sounds." -Dan Bowles, 7 Days Burlington, VT Jan. 7, 2009
On December 7th 2008 the first track from the album, "When We were Jung" was featured on the WFNX New England Product Radio Show. Later in 2009 I released the b-sides from my first recording which became my 2nd album: "Sometimes a great nation." I recorded but never really released 2 more albums in the next few years.
At some point in all this I decided that I wanted to change my band name from Washington's Ghost to Jesus is a Jedi. I can't exactly remember why, but I did it.
In February 2010 I recorded a bunch of my songs using only drum machines and synthasizers via a program called Reason. These songs are instrumental.
Later that same year I helped my friend Sean Jackson record some of his songs. We also recorded our friends girlfriend, Rose. Her stuff is super haunting. She was just like "Hey can I record some stuff" and we didn't even know that she played guitar...
At some point in all this I helped my friend Korbud record some tracks that he had written while he was in jail. We also had a short lived band called Down for the Cause.
It wasn't until February 2012 that I recorded my next full album: "Until the Universe Explodes." This album was recorded with the help of my friend Sean Jackson, who is featured on a number of the tracks. We wove together some interesting sounds by blending mandolin with traditional rock instruments and featuring Sean's interesting rap skills.
In September of 2012 I formed the Wave Decay Creative Collective with Derek Price and Alejandro Rodriquez. Greg Rothwell would join us on keyboards a few months later. Finally with Wave Decay I have a band for live performance.
We continue to seek gigs and will be recording together soon. In the mean time, feel free to check out other music that I have recorded in the Audio Archive.
Thanks for checking out my website!
JoNAthan Kiper
Armed with a head full of knowledge I recorded my first album "The Black and White of Gray" under the name Washington's Ghost. That album was reviewed by Dan Bowles, music critic for Burlington's 7 Days News paper said this about the album:
"The album opens with the post-punk punch of “When We Were Jung.” As the title implies, the tune has something of a philosophical bent. Though Kiper doesn’t offer anything terribly earth shattering lyrically, the song owns some vicious, gritty hooks. Imagine a hyper-literate version of The Strokes’ Julian Casablancas and you’re not far off the mark.
That cut bleeds seamlessly into the electro-lounge chill of the next track, “You Wish You Were.” It’s a neat trick, to be sure, and one that’s repeated throughout, giving the disc more of a unified feel than merely a collection of songs. In the iTunes Age, that’s a refreshing concept for album purists. Here, Kiper proves a talented singer as well as an inventive composer with a smooth, brooding delivery reminiscent of Sea Change-era Beck — if backed by Fatboy Slim, perhaps.
“Catch You on the Dark Side” continues in a similar vein, though with more of a head-bobbing trip-hop feel than the preceding number. Again, Kiper shows an uncanny knack for catchy, melodic hooks with near-anthemic lines throughout.
“I Am a Robot King” is next and is perhaps the best example of Kiper’s talents as a whole — including playing virtually every instrument himself and programming electronic loops. Here he deftly wraps a gorgeous melancholy melody around a wash of distorted guitar and some seriously slow and low beats. Think of it as an indie-rock mashup. Trust me, it’s a lot cooler than that description sounds." -Dan Bowles, 7 Days Burlington, VT Jan. 7, 2009
On December 7th 2008 the first track from the album, "When We were Jung" was featured on the WFNX New England Product Radio Show. Later in 2009 I released the b-sides from my first recording which became my 2nd album: "Sometimes a great nation." I recorded but never really released 2 more albums in the next few years.
At some point in all this I decided that I wanted to change my band name from Washington's Ghost to Jesus is a Jedi. I can't exactly remember why, but I did it.
In February 2010 I recorded a bunch of my songs using only drum machines and synthasizers via a program called Reason. These songs are instrumental.
Later that same year I helped my friend Sean Jackson record some of his songs. We also recorded our friends girlfriend, Rose. Her stuff is super haunting. She was just like "Hey can I record some stuff" and we didn't even know that she played guitar...
At some point in all this I helped my friend Korbud record some tracks that he had written while he was in jail. We also had a short lived band called Down for the Cause.
It wasn't until February 2012 that I recorded my next full album: "Until the Universe Explodes." This album was recorded with the help of my friend Sean Jackson, who is featured on a number of the tracks. We wove together some interesting sounds by blending mandolin with traditional rock instruments and featuring Sean's interesting rap skills.
In September of 2012 I formed the Wave Decay Creative Collective with Derek Price and Alejandro Rodriquez. Greg Rothwell would join us on keyboards a few months later. Finally with Wave Decay I have a band for live performance.
We continue to seek gigs and will be recording together soon. In the mean time, feel free to check out other music that I have recorded in the Audio Archive.
Thanks for checking out my website!
JoNAthan Kiper
Jesus is a Jedi is a member of the Wave Decay Creative Collective. We are artists who work together so that one day we wont call it work at all.
Wave Decay is: JoNathan Kiper-Jesus is a Jedi
Derek Price- Blown Aways
Alejandro Rodriquez- Eden Noise
Jesus is a Jedi is also brought to you by:
The Ministry of Public Happiness
Sustainable Happiness in our lifetime