Rainbow Kitten Surprise

American alternative/indie rock band from Boone, North Carolina
American alternative/indie rock band from Boone, North Carolina

Rainbow Kitten Surprise (RKS) is a genre-blending alternative/indie rock band known for poetic lyricism, dynamic live shows, and songs like “It’s Called: Freefall.”

Formed in 2013 at Appalachian State University by vocalist Ela Melo and guitarist Darrick “Bozzy” Keller, the band later expanded with Ethan Goodpaster (guitar) and Jess Haney (drums). Early releases Seven and Seven + Mary built a grassroots following that expanded with their Elektra Records debut How To: Friend, Love, Freefall (2018).

After pausing touring in 2023 to prioritize health, the band returned with the studio album Love Hate Music Box (2024) and continued extensive touring in 2025. Frontperson Ela Melo publicly shared her transition in 2022 and uses she/her pronouns, marking a renewed creative chapter for the group.