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Rainbow Kitten Surprise

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Rainbow Kitten Surprise
RKS in 2022
RKS in 2022
Background information
Also known asRKS
OriginBoone, North Carolina
GenresIndie rock, alternative rock
Years active2013–present
LabelsElektra
Members
  • Ela Melo
  • Darrick "Bozzy" Keller
  • Ethan Goodpaster
  • Jess Haney
Past membersCharlie Holt
Websitehttps://www.rksband.com

Rainbow Kitten Surprise is an American alternative rock indie band, featuring lead vocalist Ela Melo, Darrick "Bozzy" Keller (guitar, backup vocals), Ethan Goodpaster (electric guitar), and Jess Haney (drums). The band formed in Boone, North Carolina. (Robbinsville, North Carolina is the hometown of Ethan Goodpaster and Jess Haney.) Rainbow Kitten Surprise's sound has been influenced by artists such as Modest Mouse, Kings of Leon, Frank Ocean, and Schoolboy Q.[1]

History

[edit]

Rainbow Kitten Surprise was formed in 2013 by Darrick Keller and Ela Melo, who at the time went by “Sam”, in an Appalachian State University dorm room.[2] They asked a friend who had just been through a tough illness to name the band.[3] Their first EP, Mary, was recorded in a dorm room.[4] They later added three new members, Ethan Goodpaster, Jess Haney, and Charlie Holt. RKS independently released its first album, Seven, which was later re-released together with the band's first EP as a joint album called Seven + Mary. RKS initially recorded its music under the Split Rail Records label, a student run label at Appalachian State University's Hayes School of Music, where three of the band's members attended.[5] From 2014 through 2017, Rainbow Kitten Surprise has performed at multiple music festivals and other events, including Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival and Austin City Limits Festival.[6][7]

On April 6, 2018, RKS released its How To: Friend, Love, Freefall album, under the Elektra Records label. It features 13 tracks, including the single "Hide", the music video of which depicts four drag queens coming out to their families.[8] The single "Fever Pitch" from the album climbed to number 34 on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart in spring 2018.[9]

In May 2019, RKS released Mary (B-Sides), consisting of a studio recording of "Heart" (a song originally released via YouTube and SoundCloud in 2014) and the track "No Vacancy".

In January 2020, the PBS show Austin City Limits aired Rainbow Kitten Surprise in a half-hour set recorded the previous fall.[10]

On October 9, 2020, Rainbow Kitten Surprise released the single "Our Song", which had been previously played at multiple live events. This single marked their first release as a band since May 2019.

On August 13, 2021, Rainbow Kitten Surprise released the live album RKS! Live from Athens Georgia. It included a collection of 25 songs performed at a previous live concert.

On March 30, 2022, the band's lead singer came out as transgender, becoming ‘Ela’ Melo.[11][12]

On April 6, 2022, Rainbow Kitten Surprise released the single "Work Out", their first new single released in nearly 18 months.

On May 24, 2023, Rainbow Kitten Surprise cancelled their 2023 tour. The decision came shortly after a bandmate fell ill.[13][12]

On March 4, 2024, the band announced on Instagram that they would be parting ways with their bassist, Charlie Holt.[14]

On March 8, 2024, the band released the lead single "Superstar" and fan track "LOL". These released singles accompanied the announcement of their fourth studio album Love Hate Music Box.

On April 5, 2024, the band released the single "Overtime" from their fourth album. The song features Grammy-winning artist Kacey Musgraves.[12] It also marks the band’s first artist feature as a band.

On April 26, 2024, the band released the new single, "SVO" from their fourth album.

On May 10, 2024 the band released their fourth studio album, Love Hate Music Box. The album reflects on many of the hardships the lead singer, Melo, went through over the previous six years.[13] It is also their biggest project since 2018.[15]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
List of albums, with selected details and peak chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[16]
Seven + Mary
  • Released: November 19, 2013
  • Label: RKS Recordings
 —
RKS
  • Released: April 25, 2015
  • Label: Split Rail
 —
How To: Friend, Love, Freefall
  • Released: April 6, 2018
  • Label: Elektra
 —
Love Hate Music Box
  • Released: May 10, 2024
  • Label: Elektra
 142

Charted songs

[edit]
List of charted songs, with selected peak chart positions and certifications
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
CAN
[17] 		UK
[18]
"It's Called: Freefall" 2018 98 78 How To: Friend, Love, Freefall

Music videos

[edit]
  • "Devil Like Me" (March 1, 2014)
  • "Cocaine Jesus" (May 1, 2015)
  • "Bare Bones" (May 3, 2015)
  • "Fever Pitch" (January 16, 2018)
  • "Holy War" (February 23, 2018)
  • "Hide" (April 3, 2018)
  • "It's Called: Freefall" (January 28, 2019)
  • "Work Out" (June 16, 2022)
  • "LOL" (March 6, 2024)
  • "Superstar" (March 8, 2024)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Rainbow Kitten Surprise Biography". AXS (company).
  2. ^ Hight, Jewly (May 10, 2024). "Rainbow Kitten Surprise evolves to keep going". WPLN News. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  3. ^ "Rainbow Kitten Surprise on their fast road to fame and unforgettable name". CBS Mornings. October 6, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  4. ^ "Rainbow Kitten Surprise hometown, biography". Last.fm. April 4, 2022.
  5. ^ "Alternative/indie-pop band signs with Appalachian's Split Rail Records". Appalachian Today (Appalachian State University newspaper). February 3, 2015.
  6. ^ Rainbow Kitten Surprise - October Tour 2017. Rainbow Kitten Surprise. September 21, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2022 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ Rainbow Kitten Surprise- Devil Like Me ACL Fest 2017. Shelby Nester. October 16, 2017. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ LeDonne, Rob (April 4, 2018). "Director Kyle Thrash Takes Fans Inside Rainbow Kitten Surprise's Emotional 'Hide' Video". Billboard.
  9. ^ "Alternative Songs Chart". Billboard.
  10. ^ Austin City Limits | Mitski / Rainbow Kitten Surprise | Season 45 | Episode 4510 | PBS. Retrieved June 4, 2024 – via www.pbs.org.
  11. ^ Rainbow Kitten Surprise [@RKSBandOfficial] (March 30, 2022). "Hi everyone! I'm Ela, lead singer of Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Over the past couple of years, I've been doing some major soul searching in the pursuit of my authentic self.I'm happy to share with you that I am trans. My pronouns are she/her. https://t.co/kejuO2yLIn" (Tweet). Archived from the original on September 4, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ a b c Abercrombie, Olivia (May 17, 2024). "Rainbow Kitten Surprise: Through the Ringer and Then Reborn". Paste.
  13. ^ a b Goldstein, Tiffany (May 24, 2023). "Folk-Rock Band Rainbow Kitten Surprise Cancels "Entire Year" of Shows Due To "Medical Crisis"". American Songwriter. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  14. ^ Baitinger, Brooke (March 4, 2024). "Rainbow Kitten Surprise announces its return, but a member was asked to leave the band". Charlotte Observer.
  15. ^ "Rainbow Kitten Surprise's Ela Melo Breaks Down New Album Love Hate Music Box Track by Track: Exclusive". Yahoo Entertainment. May 10, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  16. ^ "Billboard 200: Week of May 25, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  17. ^ "Canadian Hot 100 - Week of March 11, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  18. ^ "Rainbow Kitten Surprise | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  19. ^ "American Single Certifications - Rainbow Kitten Surprise". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  20. ^ "Dropbox" (PDF). www.dropbox.com. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  21. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Rainbow Kitten Surprise – Its Called: Freefall". Music Canada.
  22. ^ "BRIT Certified". BPI. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
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