Kings Kaleidoscope

Kings Kaleidoscope is an American alternative rock band based in Seattle, led by producer/singer/songwriter Chad Gardner. Their music features an eclectic range of electronic, woodwind, string and brass instruments, with a musical style described as indie rock meets hip hop production with a sprinkle of Disney. Kings Kaleidoscope has recorded 5 EPs, and four LPs: Becoming Who We Are, Beyond Control, The Beauty Between, and Zeal.

Kings Kaleidoscope
OriginSeattle, Washington
GenresAlternative rock, indie rock, Christian, Urban Inspirational
Years active2011 (2011)–present
LabelsRainbow Records, formerly Tooth & Nail Records
Websitekingskaleidoscope.com
MembersChad Gardner
Daniel Steele
John Platter
Zach Boyd
John McNeill
JJ Kim
Beserat Tafesse
Past membersZack Walkingstick
Zawadi Morrow
Blake Strickland
Jared Buck
Nadia Essenpreis
Lindsay Gardner
Julianne Smith
Andrew Nyte

Background

Based out of Seattle, WA, Kings Kaleidoscope formed out of Gardner's eclectic group of musical friends, a random mix of musicians from genres that don't always belong together. Kings Kaleidoscope started writing music that brought together seemingly opposite ideas, from gospel chops and dirty 808s to sweeping orchestral arrangements and sampling. Kings' aims to write music that is "as dope as it is genuine, a faithful, wholesome soundtrack born out of sincerity and hard work."

The group formed in 2010 at a Mars Hill Church plant on the campus of the University of Washington, where Gardner was a worship leader. Looking for a big, orchestral indie pop sound, he assembled a ten-person group. Drawing on a variety of influences from math rock and hip-hop to the dense sound of Canadian indie outfit Broken Social Scene, Kings Kaleidoscope recorded their first live EP, Sin, at a Good Friday service in 2011.

A year later, they released the studio EP, Asaph's Arrows, shortly followed by a Christmas EP, Joy Has Dawned.

In late 2013, Gardner and the band announced they were leaving Mars Hill, where they had served as worship leaders and artists on the church's label. Their fourth EP, 2014's Live in Color, was released by BadChristian Music, a label formed by Seattle post-hardcore band Emery.

Working with BadChristian Music and well-established indie label Tooth & Nail Records, Kings Kaleidoscope released their debut LP, Becoming Who We Are, on October 27, 2014. The album includes the song "Zion", commemorating Gardner's son who died shortly before he started to write songs for the album.

Their second album Beyond Control was released June 24, 2016, and was the band's most commercially successful release to date.

Their third album, The Beauty Between, was released on August 17, 2017, and features several collaborations with hip-hop artists and producers, including Propaganda, Andy Mineo, Beautiful Eulogy, Derek Minor, Beleaf and DSTL.

Their fourth album, Zeal, was released on April 5, 2019.

Current members
  • Chad Gardner - vocals, guitar, keyboards, production, tambourine
  • John Platter - drums, percussion, cello, recorders, harp, vocals
  • Daniel Steele - drums, synth, programming, vocals
  • Zach Boyd - guitar, cello, sampling, mullet, vocals
  • Beserat Tafesse - trombone, trumpet, euphonium, vocals
  • John McNeill - bass, synth, vocals
  • JJ Kim - guitar, bass, vocals

Discography

Studio albums
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions
US
[1]		 US
Christ.
[2]		 US
Indie
[3]		 US
Rock
[4]		 US
Alt.
[5]
Becoming Who We Are 171933——
Beyond Control
  • Released: June 24, 2016[7]
  • Label: BEC/Gospel Song
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download
 —[upper-alpha 1]6162619
Zeal
  • Released: April 5, 2019[9]
  • Label: Rainbow Records
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download
 —[upper-alpha 2]810——

Mixtapes
List of mixtapes, with selected chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions
US
[1]		 US
Christ.
[2]		 US
Indie
[3]
The Beauty Between
  • Released: August 18, 2017[11]
  • Label: Independent
  • Format: CD, LP, CS, digital download
 —[upper-alpha 3]414

Extended plays
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions
US
Heat.
[12]
Sin —
Asaph's Arrows
  • Released: February 28, 2012
  • Label: Mars Hill Music/BEC
  • Format: Digital download
 —
Joy Has Dawned
  • Christmas EP
  • Released: November 27, 2012
  • Label: Mars Hill Music
  • Format: Digital download
 —
Live In Color
  • Released: March 18, 2014
  • Label: BadChristian Music
  • Format: Digital download
 —
Live In Focus
  • Released: April 21, 2015
  • Label: BEC
  • Format: Digital download
 —
Live In Season
  • Released: December 28, 2015
  • Label: Independent
  • Format: Digital download
 —
Live In Between
  • Released: March 26, 2018
  • Label: Independent
  • Format: Digital download
 —
The Rush —
Power Perfect
  • Release Date: October 30, 2020
  • Label: Rainbow Records
 —

Notes
  1. Beyond Control did not enter the Billboard 200, but peaked at No. 81 on the Top Current Albums chart.[8]
  2. Zeal did not enter the Billboard 200, but peaked at No. 66 on the Top Album Sales chart.[10]
  3. The Beauty Between did not enter the Billboard 200, but peaked at No. 98 on the Top Album Sales chart.[10]

References
  1. "Kings Kaleidoscope Chart History: Billboard 200". Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  2. "Kings Kaleidoscope Chart History: Top Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  3. "Kings Kaleidoscope Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  4. "Kings Kaleidoscope Chart History: Top Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  5. "Kings Kaleidoscope Chart History: Top Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  6. "Becoming Who We Are – Kings Kaleidoscope". AllMusic. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  7. "Beyond Control by Kings Kaleidoscope on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  8. "Kings Kaleidoscope Chart History: Top Current Album Sales". Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  9. "Zeal by Kings Kaleidoscope". iTunes Store. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  10. "Kings Kaleidoscope Chart History: Top Album Sales". Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  11. "The Beauty Between – Kings Kaleidoscope". iTunes Store. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  12. "Kings Kaleidoscope Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". Retrieved February 26, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.