History
Rainbow Kitten Surprise was formed in 2013 by Darrick Keller and Ela Melo 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]
On February 14, 2025, the band released the single 'Espionage'.
