On the brink of the release of Kings Kaleidoscope's first full-length album, Becoming Who We Are, BREATHEcast caught up with front man Chad Gardner about the incredibly painful, yet character building journey that formed the band's new record.

The band originated in the controversial Mars Hills Church where they led worship, have released several EPs, and gained recognition - but Becoming Who We Are is their first full-length record.

"Finally we have done what we've been wanting to do for years," Gardner declared when talking about the release, "We fully got to make it the way we wanted it to be, and we had the grind and the energy to just make what we love, and what we want, and really reflect ourselves in it."

Kings Kaleidoscope is a 10 member band that Gardner heads, and their edgy hip-hop, soulful sound consists of passionate vocals, drums, bass, keys, guitars, and a vast array of orchestral elements including violins, cellos, woodwinds, trombones, trumpets, and vibraphones. Kings Kaleidoscope is independent, but has teamed up with Tooth & Nail Records' and Bad Christian to push their music.

(Photo : Facebook)

"We make what we love," Gardner says, and explains why he partnered with a major company like Tooth & Nail Records. "We know that there's probably a lot of people that will like it and the only way they can find out about it, is if it's put in front of them and having a bigger label to do that is really helpful."

Gardner and his band started off as the worship band of Mars Hill church, but have since left the church. "It's been almost a year now since I left working for Mars Hill church. Within that year I've kind of been like a baby learning about the music industry."

In recent months Mars Hill Church has been under fire for controversy surrounding their former pastor, Mark Driscoll, who has since resigned. "It's just really unfortunate and heartbreaking," the singer said, "It makes me really sad and we pray for them and wish the best for Mark and the other pastors there."

"If I could, I would be back leading every Sunday as part of that local church and Kings Kaleidoscope and would still be a wild band doing what we do," he confessed, "but it wasn't a healthy place to be and so it's unfortunate."

Gardner candidly talked about why he is so passionate about music and God.

"God has made me to really express myself and talk to him. Music has always been something that I would go to express really deep pain or really deep needs that I have or wants or joys," he explained, "All of my emotions since I was little, I've let out through music."

Gardner made it clear that he and the rest of Kings Kaleidoscope are not making music just to sell records "or even move other people," he said, "I'm doing it cause I need to. We're just trying to be ourselves and sing about what we need to sing about."

The Seattle based musician said "Defender," a track off of Becoming Who We Are, is an example of how he turned a personal struggle with fear into a reminder. "I just wanted to write a song where I can say really loud that I will not be afraid," he explained, "cause I needed to sing it to my own soul. The whole song was built around that idea."

In the midst of creating Becoming Who We Are Gardner experienced much tragedy, but it did not slow the band down. "It has probably been the most difficult year if my life," he admitted, "Thing after thing, both my wife and I resigned from the church that we helped plant, and got married at, we both had to leave because of how things were going, So we lost our jobs at the same time."

"Then she got into a car accident," he continued.

The couple also suffered four deaths in the family. "My father in law was diagnosed with cancer and passed away, and then we got pregnant and then we lost our first child to still birth and his name was Zion so I wrote a song for him and it's on the record...then two months after that my wife's grandma passed away and great aunt."

Gardner said they still managed to release their EP Live in Color and record their full-length record with no resources. "It's taken a huge toll on us and at the same time it's just like any suffering," he explained, "You see how close God is and how interested he his in my heart and my mind and my character. He's just interested in me eternally; he's invested in my future right to just walk with me through this terror in my present. And I'm thankful for the suffering because I know it's producing character."

(Photo : Facebook)

The talented artist explained that despite everything that has happened he has kept the faith. "I'm not responsible for the fact that I believe God is good right now," he revealed, "I'm having panic attacks sometimes and I'm dealing with all kinds of anxiety and stuff, but I've never been in the place where I feel like I'm just done with God."

He said God's grace has given him the faith and ability to recognize that He is good. When facing the loss of their son Zion the couple remembered that God was still their father, "He's weeping with us right now," the singer recalls thinking at the time of the heartache.

Kings Kaleidoscope collectively have a strong hip-hop influence and it shows in their music, Gardner says it's mostly because he grew up as a hip-hop DJ and it is how he learned how to make music. "We're just really not afraid to do what we love," he said, "The King Kaleidoscope sound is what we think is dope."

Gardner said they drew influence from Kimbra, and the Jay-Z/Kanye West's Watch the Throne album.

"We're influenced by all that stuff and we love Jesus," he said. He is not worried about critics who believe Christians should not listen to secular music. "I grew up, Pacific northwest, we mostly listen to Christian music growing up and went to Christian festivals, but I never couldn't listen to the radio, and my dad still listened to Stevie Wonder and so you know I do what's good for my heart," ?he noted.

He admits that listening to music that is vulgar is not the best for a Christian, but maintains that he enjoys when people do what they were created to do.

"Most of the time listening to Kanye is not the best thing to do, but at the same time I listen to musically most of the stuff he does and even his wit in some if his lyrics and I think 'goodness God blessed this dude so much, he's a friken genius," he continued, "It's beautiful to watch somebody that God created do what he created them to do. Kanye may not be a Christian, but God obviously made him to be a musician, and he's making music."

Gardner and Kings Kaleidoscope are certainly doing what they are gifted to and are using it to glorify God through tragedy and triumph. Get your copy of Becoming Who We Are HERE and for more information visit the Kings Kaleidoscope website.