Rainbow Kitten Surprise
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Rainbow Kitten Surprise | |
|---|---|
 RKS in 2022 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | RKS |
| Origin | Boone, North Carolina |
| Genres | Indie rock, alternative rock |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Labels | Elektra |
| Members |
|
| Past members | Charlie Holt |
| Website | https://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]
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (August 2023) |
Rainbow Kitten Surprise was formed in 2013 by Ela Melo and Darrick Keller. The two wrote and composed music together as they attended Appalachian State University. The band name was created by a friend who was on a morphine drip at the time, recently out of surgery.[2] Their first EP, Mary, was recorded in a dorm room at the university.[3][better source needed] 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.[4] 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.[5][6]
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.[7] The single "Fever Pitch" from the album climbed to number 34th on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart in spring 2018.[8] In spring and summer 2018, the group toured the US and Canada to promote the album.[9]
In April 2019, RKS performed at several venues across North Carolina to raise funds for Equality NC, the country's oldest statewide LGBT equality organization.[10]
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 June 2019, they performed at the legendary[11] Red Rocks Amphitheater, which they sold out in seven days. This was the last stop on their summer tour.
In January 2020, the PBS show Austin City Limits aired Rainbow Kitten Surprise in a half-hour set recorded the previous fall.
On July 14, 2020, RKS played a livestream concert. This was their first of the year because of the cancellation of many events due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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 23, 2022, the band announced a new single, "Work Out".
On March 30, 2022, the band's lead singer came out as transgender.[12]
On April 6, 2022, Rainbow Kitten Surprise released the single "Work Out", their first new single released in nearly 18 months.
On April 10, 2023, Rainbow Kitten Surprise released the single “Drop Stop Roll,” which had been played frequently in live shows during their prior world tour. The band also teased new upcoming “surprises from the rainbow” via a social media post.
On May 24, 2023, Rainbow Kitten Surprise cancelled their 2023 tour. The decision came shortly after a bandmate fell ill.[13]
On February 23, 2024, the Rainbow Kitten Surprise webpage was changed to show only a spinning ballerina figure, accompanied by the sound of a music box, and socials at the bottom.
On February 28, 2024, The Rainbow Kitten Surprise webpage changed again, this time revealing a contest for fans to find boxes hidden around the United States.
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. 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.
Discography[edit]
Studio albums[edit]
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| US [15] | ||
| Seven + Mary |
|
— |
| RKS |
|
— |
| How To: Friend, Love, Freefall |
|
— |
| Love Hate Music Box |
|
142 |
Charted songs[edit]
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certification | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN [16] |
UK [17] | ||||
| "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]
- ^ "Rainbow Kitten Surprise". AXS.
- ^ "Rainbow Kitten Surprise on their fast road to fame and unforgettable name". www.cbsnews.com. October 6, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- ^ "Rainbow Kitten Surprise hometown, biography". Last.fm.
- ^ "Alternative/indie-pop band signs with Appalachian's Split Rail Records". today.appstate.edu.
- ^ Rainbow Kitten Surprise - October Tour 2017. Rainbow Kitten Surprise. September 21, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Director Kyle Thrash Takes Fans Inside Rainbow Kitten Surprise's Emotional 'Hide' Video". Billboard. April 4, 2018.
- ^ "Alternative Songs Chart". Billboard.
- ^ "Rainbow Kitten Surprise | How to: Friend, Love, Freefall | the New Album". www.rksband.com. Archived from the original on January 18, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
- ^ "Rainbow Kitten Surprise on Instagram: 'Just a little reminder that our upcoming run starts in less than 2 weeks! If you haven't heard yet, we are so excited to have partnered...'". Archived from the original on December 25, 2021 – via Instagram.
- ^ "7 Magical Performances from Colorado's Red Rocks Amphitheatre". americansongwriter.com. March 3, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
- ^ "Billboard 200: Week of May 25, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
- ^ "Canadian Hot 100 - Week of March 11, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- ^ "RAINBOW KITTEN SURPRISE | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- ^ "Singles Accreditations Report - March 2024" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 21, 2024.