While the band Rainbow Kitten Surprise is far from new when it comes to terms of the music world (their first album Seven + Mary was released in 2013), there has been a new wave of excitement since their recent return.
The band took a short break during 2023 from touring as a response to the lead singer’s (Ela Melos) declining mental health at the time. Many were shocked and even upset by the postponement of this tour, causing a large uproar at the time.
In Montana alone, they canceled 2 showings. The first concert that was canceled was in 2022, and the second was in 2023. Both shows were postponed, and all ticket sales were refunded.
After another year, they finally returned to Montana for their 2025 tour. The event was completely sold out, with the Kettle House amphitheater being stock full of people.
The show itself was phenomenal. It contained an hour and a half set, filled with fan favorite songs, alongside some teasers for their upcoming music. To add onto the ambiance of the scene, there were over 20 spotlights alternating colors and patterns.
It was exactly what any fan would expect after a 3 year delay. The band was energetic, playful, and returned the crowd’s energy ten-fold. Melo in particular engaged with the audience through their singing and dancing, creating a vibrant atmosphere within the amphitheater.
While the return of Rainbow Kitten Surprises tour brought many fans joy, it also came with an unexpected change within the band itself.
The lead bassist and backup singer, Charlie Holt, was removed from the band. This was an even bigger surprise to the fan base. Charlie was a loved member of the band by many fans and enthusiasts.
His departure from the band was the result of a growing disagreement between him and Melo. Melo mentioned how she felt as though she couldn’t continue working with Charlie because of their creative and personal differences.
Holt’s departure from the band signaled a turning point in the legacy and music making of RKS. They have since begun exploring new musical sounds. Melo and the other band members have started experimenting with new instruments alongside a new artistic style.
In Melo’s own words she described their new sound as “not necessarily maximalist [but a lot of instruments]. This type of sound, reflected in their 2024 album Love Hate Music Box, captures not only what they’ve done in previous demos, but also what they plan on doing in the future.
In the same interview, Melo explains that this new sound has to do with their new found creative liberty since they have amassed a large following. This allows for the band to freely create their own music, without the concern of engaging with an audience, since they already have a loyal fan base.
Melo states that it’s simply a “natural evolution of the band”. Every band undergoes construction at some point within their careers, and after their extended break, RKS began to undergo a form of change.
A huge part of this evolution is centered around Melo and her transition. In 2022, she publicly announced that she was starting her transitioning journey and that she was using (she/her) pronouns.
This, albeit surprising, wasn’t a complete shock. Before her transition, she had already come out as an openly gay man. While her transition helped improve her mental health, it’s continued to be a subject of intense scrutiny.
Many people in the public are heavily judgemental of Melo’s choice to transition since she started rather late in life. As hard as it is to receive this criticism, Melo has stated that she “never gets tired of talking about it” because she understands how important it is for this to be discussed.
After everything the band has gone through in the past few years, they are back on track for a productive tour.
Alongside touring, they are releasing new music continuously. The latest of their music to drop is their EP “Dang”, which was released on July 18th, 2025. Now, there is a new countdown for their album “100 summers”, scheduled to be released this September.
The band is expected to end their tour in 2026, and from there, anything can be expected. They are creative and relentless, and new music is to be expected from them in the near future.
