Rainbow City Park: Valentine's Day 1999
Scheduled for release on actual Valentine's Day (2/14/2024), this song grapples with contemplating one's existence and fundamental questions of life. There's a longing for simpler times, reflected in reminiscing about childhood, symbolized by high school photos and the innocence associated with the past. The chorus, "Falling victim to my own demise, just another existential night," underscores a pervasive feeling of existential crisis and a struggle to find purpose or meaning. The plea for help in the bridge, "How will I find the words to say that I need help," coupled with the realization of personal responsibility highlights the internal conflict of needing support but feeling the weight of independence. The final line of the track alludes to singer Dani Judith's origin of existence; Valentine's Day in 1999.
Valentine's Day 1999 is set to captivate fans with its dreamy and introspective allure. Crafted at Earth Tone Studios with the adept direction of Pat Hills and mixed by Mike Davis, "Valentine's Day 1999" highlights the band's intricate guitar textures swirling around the emotionally resonant delivery of their vocalist, Dani Judith. The single was mastered by Ed Brooks, known for his exceptional work with Death Cab for Cutie and Fleet Foxes.
Rainbow City Park is a five-piece, female-fronted project that The Dirt Magazine has heralded as a "Sacramento-based indie band that is taking off…" The band draws inspiration from 90's alt-rock acts such as Third Eye Blind and The Smashing Pumpkins, infusing their music with a modern twist akin to the sounds of Boy Genius and Snail Mail. Band members reside in both San Francisco and the Central Valley, converging in Sacramento for rehearsals. Sonically, Rainbow City Park takes you on a journey through various soundscapes, from dance-inducing rhythmic sections to heavy breakdowns, to ethereal interludes where shimmering guitars blend seamlessly with the vocals. The lyrical content often delves into melancholic themes, offering a stark contrast to the buoyant musical atmosphere. This juxtaposition finds its resonance with artists they admire, such as Phoebe Bridgers, Frightened Rabbit, and Pinegrove. Valentine's Day 1999 is the seventh track the band has put out since its conception in 2022 and is following their previously released singles "Convince You" and "Broken Record / Dad Jeans." They have shows lined up in California to support the release and are heading back into the studio in early 2024 to work on tracking their next set of singles.
Tell us about your background. Where did you all grow up? How long has your band been together?
“Most of us grew up in Northern California (Bay Area, Rocklin, Grass Valley), and Ryan was raised in Florida. Chris, Dwight, and Ryan started jamming in 2021 and tried out a few other musicians before Nick and Dani both joined in early 2022. We recorded our first three singles (Be, Six Feet Over, and Run) after being a group for a little over a month then we played our first show shortly after that. In February 2024, we will be celebrating our two years of being in a band together.”
What is the story behind your band name, "Rainbow City Park"?
“In Davis, where two band members live, there's a playground called "Rainbow City Park." Chris drove past it fairly frequently and one day added it to the spreadsheet of different band names we had going. Every time we thought of a potential band name, we added it to our list. We eventually had a vote of the top 8 band names (playoff bracket style), and we landed on RCP. Some of the other contenders were Walter Walter, Head Game, Midday Bats, Shallow Dive, Pointless Arrow, and Young of the Year.”
How would you best describe the music you make?
“We draw inspiration from 90' alt-rock such as Third Eye Blind and the Smashing Pumpkins and add a modern twist akin to some of our favorites like Boy Genius, Snail Mail, and Turnover. “
“Inspirations aside, we spend a lot of time weaving guitar parts as we write. With 3 guitarists in the group, it's important that each of us finds our pocket in each tune. The best rehearsals are the ones where we have Nick come out from SF to test our new material and we get the chance to get all three guitars happening at the same time, akin to our live performance. “
Photo taken by @spencerwfields on IG
Tell us about your upcoming release, "Valentine's Day 1999." What is the story behind this song?
“Valentine's Day 1999 is coming out on February 14th, and we are supporting the release with several California runs in the spring. The song tells the story of the painful realization that some have in their 20s—that you're on your own, kid.”
“Judith had just moved out of her family home a few months prior to the beginning of the pandemic. Through the long nights at her new home and questioning existence and life's purposes, she remembers the small things she used to take for granted, like her mother telling her the weather for the day and reminding her not to stay up too late watching screens.”
What was the creative process behind this song?
“Like many Rainbow City Park songs, it started out with a guitar riff and a few chord progressions that Chris brought to the group. The composition and structure of the tune came together pretty quickly. In late 2022, we covered Grouplove's "Tongue Tied", which was a big inspiration for us to keep a short chorus for the track (~10 seconds). We spent some time demoing different vocal melodies and lyrics. Nick's guitar line in the chorus was finalized a few weeks before our studio time at EarthTone.”
What was your favorite and most challenging part of creating this song?
“My (Dani) favorite part of creating the track was the first time I had the guys listen to the vocal melody in the chorus. I had them singing it for weeks. It was definitely validation that I had found a hook that was catchy and memorable.”
Photo taken by @a1danharper on IG
Do you have a favorite lyric in the song? If so, please tell us about it.
I (Chris) personally love emotion and can relate to the uncertainty and vulnerability of the line in the bridge that says, ‘How will I find the words to say that I need help, need help. You're supposed to know these things, you're on your own now.’ I also like how the arrangement of the track drops dynamically in this part to emphasize the vocals.
Who are some artists or bands that influence your band?
“Some of our top influences would have to be Phoebe Bridgers, Pinegrove, Radiohead, Third Eye Blind, Bon Iver, and Frightened Rabbit, to name a few. Still, we love all sorts of different music and draw inspiration from our fairly eclectic palette. Some of our other favorites include Mastodon, Taylor Swift, The Shins, and Jeff Buckley. “
What can we expect from Rainbow City Park in 2024?
“We have ten or so shows lined up for the first part of the year all over CA. We would love to venture out of state and maybe make a run up to OR and WA. We have a bunch of songs written that we are excited to record and release.”
Upcoming shows
2/15 - The Naked Lounge, Chico
2/16 - Neck of the Woods, SF
2/17 - RBU, Davis
2/19 - Goldfields, Sacramento
2/23 - Band the Drum, SLO
2/24 - SubRosa, Santa Cruz
3/20 - Silverlake Lounge, LA
3/21 - The Vine, Long Beach
3/22 - Che Cafe, San Diego
For more information:
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Press inquiries: rainbowcitypark@gmail.com