Spread the love across the bar community! You cannot repeat the same bar more than three times. If the same bar is voted on in more than three categories, the entire vote will be disqualified. Voting closes at midnight on Dec. 1, 2024.
Rainbow Kitten Surprise is slated to have a jam-packed end to their year. After pulling out of their 2023 tour, the NC-based indie rock/pop band is back on the road following the release of their first album in six years and third ever, Love Hate Music Box. And what’s a tour without a visit home? The 35-stop North American tour incorporates two NC shows, including a Raleigh performance at the Lenovo Center Oct. 26.
Formed over a decade ago at Appalachian State University (s/o Boone!), the group has garnered millions of listeners and a steady following. But success hasn’t always been an easy road for the foursome—in the six years since the release of their 2018 album, How to: Friend, Love, Freefall, they’ve faced a slew of challenges, from mental health crises to creative differences and even a medical diagnosis that ultimately led them to cancel last year’s shows.
Now, the 2024 tour and release of Love Hate Music Box ushers in a new era for Rainbow Kitten Surprise. And with a new era comes a new sound—the 22-track album mulls over more fresh, poppier tunes than its previous indie-folk records. Here, we chat with Rainbow Kitten Surprise frontwoman Ela Melo about the natural progression of this sound, living in NC and giving back to their home state.
How has living in North Carolina impacted the Rainbow Kitten Surprise sound? North Carolina is the weird little gem of the south—the mountains, the beach and the vibes. We were never a part of any kind of scene, we just made what we made. There is an energy beneath it that is specific to the South. I feel it.
What influenced the drastic change in sound Love Hate Music Box reflects? I got kind of obsessed with the sound and that is the undercurrent of this record—not necessarily maximalist, but [a lot of instruments]. I’ve always had that in demos I’ve made, but with this one it was like, ‘let’s see how it goes.’ I think every record is a little bit different from the next one, and this one took six years to make. It’s a natural evolution of the band.
What artists have you been listening to recently? I haven’t been digging into much. I’ve been listening to that Mk.gee record, Two Star & The Dream Police. I just love his sound; his guitar is unbelievable. I get in a hole—especially when I’m writing—I just listen to what I’m working on because it feels like progress to figure out what I’m liking and what I’m not liking.
Are you already working on something new? It’s pretty much done with the last, on to the next. As soon as an album goes up for mastering I don’t really listen to it anymore and then I usually start [writing] right away.
Did Love Hate Music Box take six years to complete or was it a true hiatus? I don’t know how to not work. It’s a blessing and curse. But by the time we started really digging into what the tracks were to make this record, it took a year to complete. There were other versions of things that got [denied] over the years leading up to this record, and they may or may not see the light of day at some point. So yes, it took six years.
Tell us about the $50,000 Rainbow Kitten Surprise pledged to hurricane relief in Western North Carolina. We formed in Boone. We are from the mountains, lived there for seven or eight years and are [also] from other towns around Western North Carolina. Some of our friends and family just got power back a few days ago. Our hearts and thoughts are in North Carolina and I think about it every day. Pledging the $50K is just something we can do to help.
Answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity
Here’s everything you need to know to rock the vote.
Early voting is upon us—and Election Day is less than two weeks away. So whether you cast your ballot early or on election Tuesday, just be sure to cast your ballot. Here’s your quick cheat sheet to prep you for the polls because being an informed voter—and voting—is so in.
Countdown:
It’s (almost) time.
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
Who’s Running:
Check our 2024 City Council cheat sheet, including a run-down of how each candidate would vote, and where they stand, on the most critical issues facing Raleigh—in their own words.
Find My District:
Not sure which district you live in? We’ve got you covered. Type in your address here, where it says “Find Your Council Member and District.”
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5, 6:30am–7:30pm. Voters must vote at their assigned polling place. Any voter in line by 7:30pm at their designated polling site will be able to vote.
ID Requirements/How To’s:
Photo ID: driver’s license, student ID, state ID card, passport, tribal enrollment card or government ID. The address on the ID doesn’t have to match voter registration records.
No photo ID? No problem. NC registered voters can obtain one from the county board of elections or get a “no-fee ID card” from NCDMV.
Alternatively, voters without a valid photo ID can still vote, as long as they fill out an ID Exception Form.
Sample Ballot + More: Want to preview your ballot? Registered voters can input your name/birth year here to search voter details, including jurisdictions, polling place, sample ballot when available, absentee ballot information and voter history. See the sample ballot for District E below.
Stretching a swath from Glenwood Place to Pleasant Valley and a longtime hub for retail (s/o Crabtree Valley Mall!), the burgeoning district is a hotbed for development boasting an array of local stops to sip, shop and sample fare.
Dishing a fiesta of authentic flavors since 1991, this family-run resto serves up tasty Mexican fare and margs daily—and delivers your queso and guac via train (!). @dostaquitos_official
Look on the bright side and fuel your daily grind with coffee, espresso, tea and the like—and don’t sleep on the breakfast/lunch sandwiches. @theoptimistraleigh
Calling all ladies and gents. … An all-day a(fare) awaits via sandwiches, sliders, flatbreads and the like, plus gourmet frozen meals. Pro tip: The ham rolls are legendary. @ladyfingersnc
“Find your flow state” with high-intensity Pilates and low-impact cardio, headed by specialists coordinating powerful movement. Healthy body, happy body!@flowcorps
Your wish for fish has been granted. Meet the moody sushi joint rolling out flavors of Japan with colorful cuisine plated to perfection. … Meshiagare! sushimonraleigh.com
Chip golf balls at the Eiffel Tower while snacking on burgers, bar snacks and other grub via this tee-riffic virtual golf simulator-meets-bar experience. @the.iron.oaks
Satisfy all your funny + action + adventure book needs with an abundance of comics and cards depicting every hero—and creature—from aliens to Thor. Hammertime, anyone?capitolcomicsnc.com
Hiit it or quit it. Become the best version of you at this high-intensity gym offering a smattering of nutrition coaching and group training programs. @crossfitrdu
Vinyl records are all the rage in Raleigh. Here’s where to find them.
Step down, Spotify. Try as they may, digital music formats are never going to fully extinguish the analog experience. In fact, vinyl is vibing higher than ever—with a whopping $1.4 billion spent on records in 2023—thanks to immersive sound quality and that cool aesthetic (it’s giving Alexa Chung). Clearly, the modish medium easily tops Shazaming a song any day—never mind you can make a whole day out of picking out new albums.
So, channel your inner Tom Cruise a la Risky Business, take those old records off the shelf and spin up some freshly pressed wax tunes to your collection via these local selects.
Schoolkids Records Not just for kids, the iconic music house has garnered a strong following via its vast collection, artist meet-and-greets (hey, Noah Kahan!) and regular in-house local band performances. So you can jam out—or fangirl (or boy) if you’re lucky—and maybe even discover a new artist. schoolkidsrecords.com
Hunky Dory Everything is hunky-dory at this Triangle-based spin spot that doubles as a bar (so you can literally get the spins). Flip through the stacks—the classic rock and jazz sections are unmatched—while sipping on one of a dozen local beers on tap at the cozy Seaboard locale. hunkydoryvinyl.com
Nice Price Books & Records A music mainstay on Hillsborough Street, the album-book duo has been buzzing with local collectors and creatives for ~30 years. Fun fact: It also reps a popular book club series pairing reads with iconic records like Pixies and Radiohead for a deeper listening experience—“everything in its right place,” indeed. nicepriceboo.com
Sorry State Records Unapologetically punk? This hardcore vinyl shop is right up your alley. And if you consider your taste a little tamer, flip through the just-as-extensive indie rock and old-school jazz collections instead—you won’t be sorry. sorrystaterecords.com
