Love, Lies, and Survival: Inside Rainbow Kitten Surprise’s ‘Espionage’

Photo curtesy of Elektra Records by Jimmy Fontaine

Love is war. Espionage, Rainbow Kitten Surprise’s Valentine’s Day release, doesn’t whisper sweet nothings — it drags you straight into the battlefield of heartbreak, betrayal, and queer survival. Rainbow Kitten Surprise released their single “Espionage” on February 14th, 2025. It transcends everything you thought to be true of what it means to be multi-genre. RKS is not bound by label or box – Espionage, to me, is an ethereal tale of love turned heartbreak, spying, and deceit.

It alludes to the toxic habits of double-crossing and breaking trust or privacy within a relationship. This directly relates back to the feelings the lead writer was dealing with in her past due to her sexual identity.

Ela Melo, the lead singer and writer, is a transgender woman who has led this band since 2013. Rainbow Kitten Surprise was founded while the members were students at Appalachian State University, and Ela announced her transition in March of 2022. This song is not just simple or surface level — it refers to her feelings prior to transition and how it felt. She has also said in many interviews, such as the one with (blank), that she wrote this while “lying on the floor — so nauseous.”

The lyricism behind the song is nothing less than incredibly deep while being just as catchy. “Does he love me? He loves me, I don’t think that it’s a choice / I might flip a coin, I can’t hear you through the noise.” It’s more than lyrical; it also embodies a certain cinematic element, creating a story within our minds. The final verse — “Me, I burn out everything / Including where you at.” — shows a shift to accepting and letting go of this toxic past. She does a great job acknowledging the emotional complexity of it while ultimately reclaiming her own control over life and free will.

An original band member, Charlie Holt, was asked to leave in May of 2023 due to “interpersonal conflict between him and Ela Melo.” Fans have had mixed opinions on this separation, with many saying the band has lost its original “sound” or become arguably auto-tuned. While their sound may have changed over the years, I firmly believe that change = growth. Their new songs, such as Espionage, show a shift in Ela Melo’s overall mental health and newfound happiness.

As a fan for years, I have seen them perform twice, and their presence is unlike any other. The energy and acceptance that embody their crowd and stage presence are truly incredible. You can see happiness, sadness, anger, and every emotion through each song and each band member’s contribution.

Rainbow Kitten Surprise as a whole positively represents the LGBTQ+ community. The fact that Ela Melo shared her gender transition publicly and continued to grow within the music industry shows the resilience of the community. They stand as a positive symbol of acceptance in modern indie music. Through their journey, their level of self-expression and funkiness has only grown exponentially.

Written by Rylea Anacleto | August 19, 2025