Jesus Aaron
Having just released his debut last year, he's already being featured on international tours, his tracks are getting radio play both domestically and abroad, his indie music video (for the song "We Like Pretending") is getting international attention and airtime on big stations and his music is constantaly being compared to the likes of music greats.
It was 10:23 pm on September 21, 1977 in the city of Atlanta, Georgia, when Jesus Aaron was born. He was given the name Aaron Peter at birth (It wasn't until later in life that people began to call him Jesus). As soon as he was old enough to travel (about 2) his parents took him to India, to places well know for their spiritual significance. While there, he was repeatedly and emphatically blessed by a renowned holy man in a manner quite uncommon and rarely, if ever, seen in that place. Two more trips followed shortly thereafter and the blessings continued. While this may have whispered of things to come, the rest of his childhood appeared fairly normal.
He began writing poetry and playing guitar right around the turn of the millenium, and, though he had no musical training, picked it up quite naturally and was almost immediately writing songs. And it was there, in those early performances at a poetry hang out and open mic, hosted by an urban coffeehouse and art gallery, that people began to call him Jesus.
As well, his extensive trips to India had continued in his college years and something unusual was beginning to happen: his uncommon capacity to communicate truth was becoming apparent to many around him. At the university he was attending, students would sometimes gather around after class to ask him questions about life or the universe. He graduated with honors in 2002 with a degree in Philosophy, and if one speaks to him about philosophical or spiritual topics it is very easy to understand why people call him Jesus. Of the iconic name he says: "This form is one the divine has provided for "my" use, and while beautiful to me, it is really not that important. It is only a vehicle; I exist beyond it. I do certain types of work through it. I also play through it. But it is not me. The name Jesus Aaron is only a handle which befits this form. Nothing more."
Dozens of newspaper mentions and huge billboards bear his face in India (as do some of the big music channels) and he's just completed a tour there of a couple amphitheatres and a couple Hard Rock Cafes with lots of press and really good reviews.
Back home, he's completed the first installment of The Heart of Georgia Singer/Songwriter Tour: Some of the very best singer/songwriters in Georgia, playing the best listening rooms. These shows were shockingly good to many and we will likely see another installment of it 2008.
He writes music with a message, but does it so well, it just doesn't come off as preachy. All the tracks on his brief but brilliant first record display a mastery of language and natural melodic sense that one finds only in really amazing songwriters.
His allusion to incredible material waiting to be laid down in the studio and his intention to continue touring both at home and all over the world promises much, much more from this rarest of artists. Expect even more big things from him.
A Quick Listing of Upcoming Shows. You can link to the venues websites by clicing their names.