Rainbow Kitten Surprise is an American alternative rockindie 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. Rainbow Kitten Surprise's sound has been influenced by artists such as Modest Mouse, Kings of Leon, Frank Ocean, and Schoolboy Q.[1]
Rainbow Kitten Surprise was formed in 2013 by Darrick Keller and Ela Melo in an Appalachian State University dorm room.[2] The band's distinctive name came from a friend who had recently recovered from a serious illness.[3] The duo recorded their first EP, Mary, in the same dorm room where the band began.[4]
The band expanded to include three additional members: Ethan Goodpaster, Jess Haney, and Charlie Holt. RKS independently released their debut album Seven, which was subsequently re-released alongside their first EP as the joint album Seven + Mary. Initially, the band recorded under Split Rail Records, a student-run label at Appalachian State University's Hayes School of Music, where three band members were students.[5]
Between 2014 and 2017, Rainbow Kitten Surprise built their reputation through performances at major music festivals, including Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival and Austin City Limits Festival.[6][7]
The band achieved broader recognition with the release of How To: Friend, Love, Freefall on April 6, 2018, through Elektra Records. This 13-track album included the single "Hide", notable for its music video depicting four drag queens coming out to their families.[8] Another single from the album, "Fever Pitch", reached number 34 on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart during spring 2018.[9]
In May 2019, the band released Mary (B-Sides), featuring a studio recording of "Heart"—originally shared on YouTube and SoundCloud in 2014—alongside the new track "No Vacancy". The following January, Rainbow Kitten Surprise was featured in a half-hour set on the PBS programme Austin City Limits, recorded during autumn 2019.[10] After nearly two years since their previous release, RKS returned with the single "Our Song" on October 9, 2020, a track that had been performed at various live events. This was followed by the live album RKS! Live from Athens Georgia on August 13, 2021, capturing 25 songs from a previous concert performance.
A significant moment for the band occurred on March 30, 2022, when lead singer came out as transgender, adopting the name Ela Melo.[11][12] Just one week later, on April 6, 2022, the band released "Work Out", their first new single in nearly 18 months.
The band faced challenges in 2023 when they were forced to cancel their entire year of touring on May 24, following a bandmate's illness.[13][12] Further changes came in March 2024 when the band announced their separation from bassist Charlie Holt.[14]
The band's return to new music began on March 8, 2024, with the simultaneous release of lead single "Superstar" and fan track "LOL", which announced their fourth studio album Love Hate Music Box. This was followed by "Overtime" on April 5, 2024, marking the band's first artist collaboration, featuring Grammy-winning artist Kacey Musgraves.[12] The single "SVO" followed on April 26, 2024, before the full album release. Love Hate Music Box was released on May 10, 2024, representing the band's most ambitious project since 2018. The album serves as a reflection on the numerous hardships Melo experienced over the previous six years.[13][15]
The band continued their musical output with the release of "Espionage" on February 14, 2025, followed by "Dang" on July 18, 2025. Most recently, on August 6, 2025, Rainbow Kitten Surprise announced their upcoming album "Bones", scheduled for release on September 26, 2025.
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