All you gotta do is just pour some cream on top and chug it. How do you find time to practice between working jobs or school?". Rainbow Kitten SurpriseWork Out. Rainbow Kitten Surprise lead singer Ela Melo revealed in an interview that she had found her true self as a transgender woman. Surely the beginning of a new era for the band, Transgender women voices actually dont change with hormones so they might actually sound the same just with a hot ass chick as the lead , She didn't sound any different when I saw them in December? My pronouns are she/her. It was limbo for me. 2 countries. Become a member to support the independent voice of Dallas My pronouns are she/her. While their music does not necessarily have overtly Christian themes, many of the band members have been vocal about their Christian faith. Mon. In 2010, the band was accused of plagiarism after their song Fantasy resembled another artists work. Their sound has been influenced by artists such as Modest Mouse, Kings of Leon, Frank Ocean and Schoolboy Q. When you consider some of its subject matter songs like "Cocaine Jesus" come to mind the name really is a bit of a "Surprise.". Rainbow Kitten Surprise appeared on the show, and even though the group was eliminated in the first round of competition, the appearance brought a notable measure of exposure. Im so curious about Elas sound. Formed in an Appalachian State dorm room in 2013 by singer Ela Melo and guitarist Darrick "Bozzy" Keller, the duo recorded and self-released their first acoustic EP, Mary, before recruiting additional members Ethan Goodpaster (guitar), Charlie Holt (bass), and Jess Haney (drums) to complete the lineup. And now about her coming out, damn that's brave of her to do that! Live from Athens Georgia. Because of I definitely still kind of in that mode of wanting to try too many things and given more time it would have ended up being an incomplete 21 songs record. Concert Review: Rainbow Kitten Surprise By October 29, 2018 October 29, 2018 Music . That success drew the attention of Elektra Records, and the major label signed Rainbow Kitten Surprise, setting the table for an even bigger breakout. Play. Read our full chat and get information on the show below. Now boasting over 1 billion global streams across platforms, the band first began building their devoted fanbase with independent albums "Seven + Mary" (2013) and "RKS" (2015). Recorded at Nashville's Neon Cross Studio, where the group took advantage of a collection of vintage instruments, How To: Friend, Love, Freefall was produced by Jay Joyce (Cage the Elephant, the Head and the Heart) and released in 2018. COLD LOVE hitting different today!!! Memoriam 2022, which will take place in Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. For their first evening in Chicago, they pulled out all the stops and gave their fans a flawless performance. Well, if you keep selling out each show, then Atlantic is going to have to give you more than two-and-a-half weeks in the studio to get it done, right? SDGLN provides in-depth coverage on issues of importance to the LGBT community and our allies. While the bands music has earned them widespread acclaim, one member in particular has stirred up a bit of controversy: the lead singer, Sam Melo. Yvonne Gougelet is a playwright, theater producer, actress, activist and political & music journalist. The Ritz, 1503 E. 7th Ave., Ybor City. Everyone uses it down here in Florida. . In an interview with VICE, he said, I thought that it might be a step too far, because there are just so few songs that talk about it, you know? I think where it comes from is the place that I'm at when I'm writing. Join the Observer community and help support Hi everyone! Melo, who was raised half in Appalachian North Carolina and half in a Dominican Republic mission, belted out the lyrics with every fiber of his being, driving home the importance of embracing your truth while the crowd sang along. Music is the universal language. The group held its earlier rehearsals in Boone, North Carolina . . Rainbow Kitten Surprise Fashion Casual Navel,Funny Women_s Personality Sticker. She is responsible for overseeing the bands growth, having worked with them since their inception in 2013 and assisting them with their success. She has written, produced, directed &performed in four original plays. It features 13 tracks, including the single "Hide", the music video of which depicts four drag queens coming out to their families. I feel like we are the most blessed to be able to play. Im going live from inside to show admiration, pay respect and donations to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee and their partners. The band got its name when someone's hospitalized, heavily medicated friend kept repeating the phrase Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Yeah, so Tampa is kind of a city I only know in a very limited fashion. CANCELLED: Rainbow Kitten Surprise. In 2017, the band appeared at festivals including Bonnaroo, Firefly, and Austin City Limits, and they signed with Elektra Records for their third album. and Tags: Music Features, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Sam Melo . My pronouns are she/her. Rainbow Kitten Surprise on Audiotree . The alternative band will perform at the famous music venue on Monday, July 11 and Tuesday, July 12, concert promoter AEG Presents announced Monday. Rainbow Kitten Surprise live in South Africa! But you guys have tons of it, I'm sure. And hopefully, that comes out of the next record. On this weekend, the quintet from North Carolina will perform at Boston Calling. 116 posts. In this album, Rainbow Kitten Surprise continues to evolve and change their music style while maintaining the core elements of what always makes their music great. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging schools to incorporate transgenderism and LGBT education into their curricula. By TOM KRISHER and MARK THIESSEN Twenty dates on their tour were sold out earlier this week. The band had arrived in Nashville with only a couple of songs partially written and all two and a half weeks to write and record the rest of the songs for what became the 2018 album How to: Friend, Love, Freefall. Ela Melo, the lead singer for the popular alternative/indie rock band Rainbow Kitten Surprise, revealed she has found her "authentic self" in coming out as transgender. Before long, Melo and Keller had grown RKS into a full band with Haney, Goodpaster and bassist Charlie Holt. I was so shocked! I'm happy for her to find courage and embrace it publicly, all the best for Ela , ik i was confused at first too!! Hailing from the Blue Ridge Mountain college town of Boone, North Carolina, Rainbow Kitten Surprise play a mix of bright indie pop and earnest, harmony-driven folk-rock. No own drinks allowed. Their music blends elements of folk, jazz, rock, and hip-hop, creating a unique and captivating sound. So once I was a teenager, everything else was a faint glimmer, I didn't really understand The States, so coming back was a rough transition for sure. These North Carolina-based festival favorites mix exuberant indie pop and earnest folk-rock. What happens is, I learn different things that I'm interested in, like for the last record I got really interested in jazz drumming and the beats, the meters they're in, the different time signatures and playing around with that and usually I go down those avenues for a while until the band snaps me back into reality and it's like, "Oh shit we've got this show to put on, we've got a job to do." Yeah, we stay stocked, for sure. With catchy and deeply lyrical meaning, beautifully designed bass lines, and melodic guitar riffs, their unique sound will keep you humming their tunes all day long. Sign up for the latest music, videos, tour dates, and more It was incredible. independent local journalism in Dallas. Ultimately, Rainbow Kitten Surprises music is open to interpretation, and it is up to the listener to decide whether or not they find spiritual meaning in their songs. I can hop out and do press stuff in the middle of that. This was their first of the year because of the cancellation of many events due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rainbow Kitten Surprise. It was incredible, but it was a lot to take on at the time. While Holt has been openly trans for some time now, Melo only came out as gay alongside the release of Rainbow Kitten Surprise's 2018 album, How to: Friend, Love, Freefall. 17. The Alternative/Indie-Pop band takes influence from great artists . I've come to understand it differently. Address: Orange Road, Emmarentia, Johannesburg 2195. 10201 fans Top tracks. Does that feel like a burden for you as your fan base grows and is very devoted to the band? Before Rainbow Kitten Surprise's sold-out show at the Palace Theatre in St. Paul last month, I met up with Sam Melo (lead vocals and keys) and Charlie Holt (bass). It's like two years old but just brush the dust off and it will be good." The group then worked out a deal with Split Rail Records, a student-run label at Appalachian State's Hayes School of Music, and in 2015, released the album RKS. Naturally, cheers climaxed when Melo confessed, "He's a better kisser than you'd think, Mom.". May 6, 2018. In particular, the song Killing for Love has been interpreted as an allegory about finding solace in faith and discovering inner peace. Thank you for your taking the time and we look forward to seeing you guys at The Orpheum, (Now playing the Ritz due to popular demand), when you guys come down to Ybor City for pretty much the tour kickoff. The band is made up of singer-songwriter Sam Melo, bassist Darrick "Bozzy" Keller, drummer Jesse Wells, and guitarist Richarddriver. 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. No coolerboxes. And the circumstance that we left my family had lived on predominately support from missionary organizations so as time progressed, as happens quite often with people going down to do medical work the excitement and support wains because people don't know what's going on down there. 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. Rainbow Kitten Surprise With chilling harmonies, dynamic instrumentation, and introspective lyrics, their distinct sound takes influence from artists like Modest Mouse and Kings of Leon. That was pretty rough going down there as a kid, going from first world comfort to the third world. Over the past couple of years, Ive been doing some major soul searching in the pursuit of my authentic self. Spiritual warfare informs Sam Melo's music. The internet. People who are b. Rainbow Kitten Surprise has booked two nights at Colorado's iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in 2022. 02:32 . No glass or glass hubblies. Sometimes life is a grind of the best possible espresso you can put into a percolator. Wu-Tang Clan and Nas are playing a Tampa pool party this fall, Tampa Bay's best live music happening this week (March 2-9), KennyVance headlines 'Doo Wop Reunion' coming to Clearwater on Saturday, Willie Nelson's set is sold-out, but there's so much more music happening at Plant City's Strawberry Festival this weekend, Review: Gladys Knight puts a little love in the hearts of Tampa fans during short set at Hard Rock Event Center, Review: In St. Pete, Deep Purple shows why its one of the longest-running rock bands on the planet, Review: Country icon Marty Stuart effortlessly runs band through genre-crossing set in Clearwater, 'Im not gonna do it because Ill never sing again': The Who's Roger Daltrey lives a little, then prematurely ends Florida concert. February 18, 2019 Reading the new introductions to the band has been awesome and I cannot wait for their new chapter! Did something happen to you here where you changed? 04. In fact, Melo publicly came out through one of the tracks off of the project, "Hide." Though he wrote the song in 2015, it wasn't released until three years later. On the track, Melo sings, "Called to the devil and the devil said, 'Hey, why you been calling this late? [2] Their first EP, Mary, was recorded in a dorm room at the university. As lead singer Sam Melo spent most of his childhood in the Caribbean islands with his missionary parents . Past work can be seen at Suburban Apologist, Tampa Bay Times, Consequence of Sound and The Scroll to read more Show Previews articles, When we went down in '99, it was like this is home now and at least until me and my three brothers were old enough to move back stateside on our own, that's where we'd be living. On October 9, 2020, Rainbow Kitten Surprise released the single "Our Song", which had been previously played at multiple live events. But back to the Bustelo question. Rumors have swirled for years about Melos sexuality, with some claiming that he is gay. 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. Once you make it better you gotta figure out how to play it. ElA you are beautiful! Things have happened fast since then for the band, which got its unique name when someone's hospitalized, heavily medicated friend inexplicably kept repeating the phrase Rainbow Kitten Surprise. They're as big a surprise as their name and, when they took the stage at First Avenue, the surprises kept on coming. on With catchy, yet deep lyrical meaning, beautifully designed bass lines, and melodic guitar riffs, their unique sound will keep you humming their tunes all day long. How much are the fans playing into your mindset? Rainbow Kitten Surprise. TERMS OF USE. . BY CONTINUING PAST THIS PAGE YOU AGREE TO OUR By Rainbow Kitten Surprise is a band that defies all definition. Over the past couple of years, I've been doing some major soul searching in the pursuit of my authentic self. Although the group of Carolinians frontman Sam Melo, Darrick "Bozzy" Keller, Ethan Goodpaster, Jess Haney and . You adapt pretty quick as a kid and kind of roll into it. Im Ela, lead singer of Rainbow Kitten Surprise. This year has seen the deaths of stars and icons, but we honor their memory by highlighting them. on They had started playing shows around the Boone area and wrote and recorded the earliest Rainbow Kitten Surprise songs as a duo. The expansion resulted in the bigger, more energetic sound heard on their debut album, Seven, which was later repackaged with their EP in a release called Seven + Mary. But power to Ela! How to: Friend, Love, Freefall. As if channeling another dimension where genres simply don't exist, Rainbow Kitten Surprise finds harmony in unpredictability - weaving together lyrical poetry, hummable melodies, and a rush of instrumental eccentricities. Rainbow Kitten Surprise consists of Sam Melo, Darrick 'Bozzy' Keller, Ethan Goodpaster, Jess Haney and Charlie Holt. . Actor Elliot Page slams Texas officials for calling trans health care child abuse, Teacher suspended for not using a students he/him pronouns now sues Kansas district, Support my work with a digital subscription, Global race to boost electric vehicle range in cold weather, Murdaugh verdict sends a Lowcountry message: No one is above the law | Opinion, Mail carrier cant believe his eyes after seeing NC lottery win. The rest of Rainbow Kitten Surprises bandmates also revealed what they identify as. "Me and Ethan went to high school together, and we kind of played in my basement and did covers of random things. The contemplative "Mission to Mars" then eases into fuller band arrangements and introduces lead singer Sam Melo's stylized, melodic speaking-rapping. They have more than 3.3 million monthly streamers on Spotify, with their upcoming tour taking them across the country and to several premier music festivals. "I got into the band through Ethan," Haney said, referencing guitarist Ethan Goodpaster during a recent phone interview. It was weird. "It was all just very surreal," Haney said. Reply. Even by this early stage, there were signs RKS might balloon beyond a just-for-fun . Happy Pride Month. I'm always under the assumption that the band life is never is as glamorous as you think it is. There's so much of it down here but I keep forgetting it's actually from New York. Can you expand on that? Weve grown a lot as humans and as a band, the group said. Whats the balancing act like between the person we hear on the record and thinks about insecurities and this other person who is committed to making RKS something you can do for the rest of your life? Over the past couple of years, Ive been doing some major soul searching in the pursuit of my authentic self. San Diego Gay & Lesbian News (SDGLN) is the top-read news source for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community of San Diego. Rainbow Kitten Surprise Sticker. Rainbow Kitten Surprise is an indie rock band from Boone, North Carolina, formed in 2013. [7] The single "Fever Pitch" from the album climbed to number 34th on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart in spring 2018. Your band is in such a great position and there is so much for me to think about and I also wanted to congratulate you onHow to: Friend, Love, Freefall. I'm happy to share with you that I am trans. Sam Melo. Hailing from the Blue Ridge Mountain college town of Boone, North Carolina, Rainbow Kitten Surprise play a fervent mix of bright indie pop and earnest, harmony-driven folk-rock. [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]. The lead vocalist (Sam Melo) seems like someone that is very suited for passionate Americana music and has a similar voice to the frontman of . Steven Loftin finds out how they went from obscurity to their first sell-out London show. 8. You looked great in your dress on New Years Eve in DC. Hi everyone! In January 2020, the long-running PBS show Austin City Limits aired Rainbow Kitten Surprise in a half-hour set recorded the previous fall. Their mix of tight instrumental chops and jam band finesse helped earn them a strong grassroots following and, after a couple of indie releases, they . The Alternative/Indie-Pop band takes influence from great artists like Modest Mouse, Lana Del Rey, and Kings of Leon. I will say as a trans girl that some of the older lyrics make more sense now. Inspired by a close friend's morphine-ridden ramblings from a hospital bed, RKS was. May 7, 2019. But before long, Melo who recently announced on Twitter that she is trans, her pronouns are she/her and that she wants to be referred to as Ela Melo and Keller decided they wanted to have a full band, and that's when fellow students Haney, Goodpaster and bassist Charlie Holt joined up. For Rainbow Kitten Surprise's lead singer and songwriter Sam Melo - a man who has lived all over the place; including in the Dominican Republic for seven years because he was raised by a . Especially in a place of uncertainty. How to: Friend, Love, Freefall. thanks to their energetic performances, and frontman Sam Melo's impressive dance moves. If you're looking for the living embodiment of multi-dimensionality, turn to Sam Melo, lead singer from the band Rainbow Kitten Surprise. It's all fun. It just sounds great. Or these are 2 different people? I wouldn't say it gets easier, it certainly gets more routine. ", Produced by Grammy Award-winner Jay Joyce (Cage The Elephant, Sleeper Agent), the album featured RIAA-certified Gold single "It's Called: Freefall", and earned widespread praise from Billboard, TIME, Vice, and NPR who described their sound as "a mix of jam and indie and whatever else you can throw into the soupvery earnest, beautiful, political, loving rock n' roll," and saw the band make several national television appearances, including performances on "CBS This Morning Saturday," "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," and PBS's "Austin City Limits.". As a son of missionary parents, Melo spent seven years of his childhood in the Dominican Republic before moving back to the United States, ultimately attending Appalachian State University in N.C. We regret to announce, that due to unforeseen circumstances, tonight's show with Rainbow Kitten Surprise has been canceled. Nah, I was pretty much in my own world, to be honest. [5][6], On April 6, 2018, RKS released its How To: Friend, Love, Freefall album, under the Elektra Records label. Video shows Florida alligator easily blasting through a metal fence, The four-day Grand Prix of St. Petersburg starts today. Rainbow Kitten Surprise live in South Africa!Genre-defying, live sensations Rainbow Kitten Surprise announce South African Tour Dates for March 2023 including a show at the beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens on Friday 10 March 2023.Rainbow Kitten Surprise recently released the emotionally charged track "Work Out," marking the band's first new music in nearly two years. My dad's cousinlives down there. It makes me so happy to see fellow trans people living as themselves authentically, and you will always have my support., Ive never met kinder or more welcoming people, another commenter said. Musician/band "Work Out" video out now . On June 9, the North Carolina-based band played an intimate show at The Troubadour in West Hollywood, CA, and Ones to Watch was lucky enough to stop by and see what stories the band had to tell. Whatever you need. Three years ago, when Rainbow Kitten Surprise sold out Visulite Theatre, . Guaranteed to be fire . That was the understanding that I had. // Privacy Policy Line-up: Rainbow Kitten Surprise (USA) + Spoegwolf, Shortstraw & Mann Friday (Zimbabwe). Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. 264k Followers, 70 Following, 116 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Rainbow Kitten Surprise (@rksbandofficial) rksbandofficial. The Troubadour is located in West Hollywood, the historic gay district of Los Angeles. She has appeared Read his 2016 intro letterand disclosures from 2022 and 2021. . The opening track was a slow-burn, but once Sam Melo danced his way to stage, the front of the crowd came alive at "It's Called: Freefall." Twirls, drops, rapid-fire harmonies ensued. Its really exciting to see the band thriving and doing so well and it brings me a ton of joy every time I listen to your music.. I can't wait to watch her sing in a few weeks . Live from Athens Georgia. Even at this early stage, there were signs that Rainbow Kitten Surprise might grow into something more than a just-for-fun college-years band. Rainbow Kitten Surprise recently released the emotionally charged track "Work Out," marking the band's first new music in nearly two years. pic.twitter.com/kejuO2yLIn. On June 11, Rainbow Kitten Surprise will perform at Red Rocks alongside their ride-or-die, . I was just talking about this with my bassist last night, you encounter different sets of problems the further you go. We always love Austin City Limits debuts, and it's even better with a young band as fresh and exciting as Rainbow Kitten Surprise. The Split Rail label was founded in 2005. I don't know if that's the way this next record is going to come together but given our history, I feel like maybe that right now it's still that gestation period I'm curious to know what's going to come out on the other side of the rabbit hole. People who are brainstorming how to heap as much food as they can onto as many plates as possible have a lot to think about. More than three million streams of the bands music are recorded each month on Spotify. Life is work. Like if somebody loses a friend and somehow our music is cathartic to them, go for it, man. According to couples, men typically want more sexual activity. Rainbow Kitten Surprise has also been involved in various Pride events, such as playing at the Los Angeles Pride Parade in 2016. When we went down in '99, it was like this is home now and at least until me and my three brothers were old enough to move back stateside on our own, that's where we'd be living. Rainbow Kitten Surprise's (RSK) recording will be the eighth album produced and released by Split Rail Records since 2008. Rainbow Kitten Surprise-a band name you don't easily forget. I think it was something we had to get acclimated to a bit.". Rainbow Kitten Surprise hails from the mountains of Boone, North Carolina.