kassandra chandler

LEAD VOCALS

Kassandra was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana.  She was exposed to music at a very early age, growing up around theater and classical music and Christian contemporary such as Sandy Patty, Charlotte Church, Erna Sack, Andrea Bocelli and a favorite of hers, Journey, by her mother's side.  She was also exposed to metal and hard rock such as Ozzy Osborne, AC/DC, Metallica, Queen, Kiss, Foreigner and a not so metal artist Michael Jackson, during car rides with her father.  Vintage musicals and music videos were always playing in her home.

At the age of 9 her interest in singing began and her mother started her on basic training, and began by performing duet vocals with her at church. Picking up singing again at 14 and discovering her own musical genre preferences, she began singing every day to Evanescence and Sarah Barellis to start vocals up again.  Then, at the end of high school she discovered Symphonic metal and fell head over heels with it.  This style mixed her love of metal and the use of classical vocal technique.  She discovered Nightwish, Sirenia, Delain, Epica and later Gothic rock and metal such as Lacuna coil, Sisters of Mercy, and Souxie and the Banshees.

After her first year of marriage and beginning a family, her longing for a band of her own grew.  At age 23 she began taking professional vocal lessons with her current vocal teacher, learning contemporary and operatic techniques, and wanting to grow and develop into a vocalist for the genre she was going for.  During this time and still today her biggest influences became Floor Jenson (Nightwish), Vibeke Stene (Tristania), Tarja Turnen (Nightwish, solo), the Norwegian band Sins Of Thy Beloved, and Lori Lewis (Therion).

She then formed her own band in late 2019.  During 3 years of ups and downs with different line ups and later on being classified a high soprano, it caused musical differences within the band.  She departed and kept going to create a permanent band, after another forming of a band wasn't going as she expected so she departed as good friends. Most importantly at this time, she re-dedicated her life to Christ.

Seeing a post for a new front woman on Facebook she decided to try out for Divine Martyr, familiar with them back in the beginning days of her band journey she wanted to give it a try, and prayed for whatever the outcome might be.  After being selected she was overjoyed, saying "God has answered my prayers, and I see now he put me through all these trials, ups and downs to have me grow, train, and most of all put Him first before giving me what my heart desired.  I owe this journey to Him and I am reminded that He alone created and gave me this ability and I should honor Him with it".

In her spare time she loves to cook, bake, play The Sims on PC, and watch Anime such as Fruit Basket, Sword Art Online, Clannad, and Christian films such as The Encounter films, the animated The Pilgrim's Progress, The Chosen, and The Bible Collection. She hopes to share the gospel through music, write pieces that encourage fellow believers in their walk, and show God's love to everyone, especially outcasts whom she shares sympathy for by having similar experiences herself growing up. She hopes to honor God in everything she does and is excited to see what He has in store for the future!