By Sophia Lennox
Elm Staff Writer
On May 23, 2023, Rainbow Kitten Surprise (RKS) abruptly ended their European tour and canceled their upcoming United States tour, stating that one of the band members was suffering from a medical crisis and needed help.
RKS is an alternative rock indie band known for their balanced harmonies, poetic lyrics, and unique sound thanks to lead singer Ela Melo.
This announcement received mixed reactions. On the one hand, the band had not completed a full tour in many years, and fans had lost money on hotels and transportation.
However, many were supportive of the band making the right decision to protect a member’s mental health.
After this decision, the band went silent on their social media for almost a year and did not release any statements.
On Feb. 28, 2024, they sent an email to their website subscribers announcing that a new single, “Superstar,” would release on March 8 along with a secret scavenger hunt.
In 21 locations across the country, RKS placed key necklaces engraved with a code that people can use to uncover the name of one of their songs on an upcoming album.
Fans were excited about the news, especially since the band had not released a full album in six years. Within hours, all the keys were found, and the album title, cover, and 22 songs were released to the public.
According to comments on the band’s Instagram page and dedicated subreddit, people loved the unique and meaningful way that the band announced their new album, as it showed they were conscious of the fan’s experience.
Four days before “Superstar” was set to release, the band posted a vague statement to their Instagram announcing they had asked lead bassist and backup singer Charlie Holt to leave the band, writing “Ela could not find a way to continue working with them.”
This departure immediately dampened the excitement for the new album. Most RKS Instagram posts have between 300 to 500 comments, but this announcement received almost 2000, with hundreds of posts made to the subreddit expressing their disappointment and confusion.
Instagram user KaliStrange’s comment is representative of how the news was received: “You guys have let us down so many times in so many ways, and this one feels like a low blow. Should have said something about Charlie’s departure before you hyped new music, and you should have figured out a more professional way to say two grown people had a rift that could not be mended. Disappointed is an understatement. I will never stop listening, but the spot RKS held in my heart is smaller than it’s ever been.”
Besides Melo’s inability to work with Holt, the band did not elaborate on what happened or how they decided to kick them out. This confusion led to extensive fan theories, ideas, and general heartbreak over the situation.
On March 7, RKS released a surprise song, “LOL,” and then “Superstar” the following day. The songs exemplified a completely new sound for the band, as Melo’s voice was heavily autotuned, shifting into the pop genre instead of the band’s usual indie sound.
Despite the band stating this album was Holt’s last project as a member of the band, fans noticed an absence of their vocals, and thought the bass sounded more like a virtual synthesizer.
Considering the band’s atypical behavior and sudden shift in sound, anticipation is conflicted. The whole album is set to release May 10, with a small tour scheduled for the following two months.
According to the Instagram comments, some people are worried that the tour will not be completed as scheduled, or that the band’s famous stage personality and showmanship will be different without a vital member.
After the initial shock, some fans came around to the new sound and are grateful for the band’s return. The announced shows have sold out, so time will tell what the reception is to the full album next month.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Photo Caption: Indie band Rainbow Kitten Surprise stirred up confusion for fans when they announced new music and then quickly added that one of their members would be leaving.