Groundbreaking Global Girl Group KATSEYE Discuss Their Formation and First Single, ‘Debut’
Earlier this month, KATSEYE, the first-of-its-kind global girl group formed using K-pop methodologies, made history with the release of their first single, "Debut."
The six-member group consists of Daniela, Lara and Megan from the United States, Manon from Switzerland, Sophia from the Philippines and Yoonchae from South Korea, who each underwent a rigorous training and development program from HYBE and Geffen Records to get where they are today. They'll be performing during the pre-show at KCON in Los Angeles on July 28 ahead of the release of their upcoming EP, SIS (Soft Is Strong), releasing on Aug. 16 (with pre-orders available now HERE). The acronym SIS, also refers to the bond of sisterhood they've created together, bringing in their different cultures to create one powerful unit. They'll even be the stars of their own Netflix docuseries, Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE, arriving in late August to show us the story behind their formation. We got the opportunity to get to know the group and what's ahead in the interview below.
Sweety High: What does the name KATSEYE mean to the group?
KATSEYE: KATSEYE is sort of a dual meaning. actually. The first is that a semiprecious stone, the "cat's eye," shows off a variety of colors depending on its direction, much like all of us who come from all different cultures and backgrounds. When we come together as one under KATSEYE, we unify and glow powerfully together. Cat's eye gemstones are also used as a "lucky charm" bringing peace, success and good fortune for a lifetime.
(Photo credit: Rahul Bhatt)
Can you each introduce yourselves and your roles within KATSEYE?
Daniela: Hey, it's Daniela! My role in the group is to inspire others not just with my unapologetic, confident attitude, but also with how I balance my strength with my affectionate side. As a group, we aim to embody both strength and vulnerability, and it's humbling to be seen as an example of that.
(Photo credit: Rahul Bhatt)
Megan: Hey, I'm Megan and I'm an incredibly confident performer. I try to bring edginess and fierceness into everything I do, but I also have this silly side of me! I love making people laugh and lifting the mood! I love to bring the energy to anything that we are doing, whether it's rehearsals, performances, video shoots, anything!
(Photo credit: Rahul Bhatt)
Manon: What's up? My name is Manon and I would say I'm the older sister of KATSEYE, even though the girls say I give more of the cool aunty vibes!
(Photo credit: Rahul Bhatt)
Sophia: Hey, I'm Sophia! I care so deeply for my members and as the leader of KATSEYE, I feel like a big sister to them. I love to listen and give advice or even just care for them by cooking a meal. Even being there when they're feeling under the weather, it's all my love language.
(Photo credit: Rahul Bhatt)
Yoonchae: Hi I'm Yoonchae. I'm the youngest of the group. I may appear quiet and shy, but I'm truly extroverted and I always try the best I can on and off stage.
(Photo credit: Rahul Bhatt)
Lara: Hi, I'm Lara! I think my role in this group is def the DJ and hype girl! The girls are always handing me the aux! I love to put them onto new music and be creative with them. I also love to hype my girls up and make them feel confident and like the best, most powerful version of themselvesš¤
(Photo credit: Rahul Bhatt)
SH: Tell us about your debut single.
KATSEYE: So our debut single is called "Debut" which we think is pretty iconic. It's a really catchy, feel-good song. We worked on it with Ryan Tedder, which was a surreal experience because he's such an amazing songwriter/producer who really brought out the best in us. We shot the music video for it in Columbia, which was our first time traveling all together as KATSEYE. It was an unforgettable trip, and the director Gregory Ohrel went crazy with the video. If you watch closely, you can see us hanging off a building holding on to each other at one point! We're all really proud of it and we love seeing our fans interpretations of it.
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SH: What does the song mean to the group?
KATSEYE: The song means the world to us as KATSEYE. It's our debut track and the breakthrough moment we've all been dreaming of! We've eagerly awaited this opportunity to share our music with the world. The song celebrates sisterhood, unity, and we aimed to inspire everyone to embrace their authentic selves.
SH: How does it capture the sound you've developed together?
KATSEYE: "Debut" is super powerful and rhythmic within its production and sound, and lyrically it embodies this super bold vibe that resonates with us a lot! Ryan Tedder did an amazing job creating the song and helping us bring it to life. We are all so grateful that we had the chance to work with such an icon and legend! Each of our stories are reflected in the song. It's giving pop girl group anthem, and we were all gagged when we first heard it!
SH: What would you say is the dynamic right now between the members of KATSEYE?
KATSEYE: Our dynamic is very strong. We are all sisters and we always support and encourage each other. Living together in the same house and sharing our daily life, activities and work has brought us even closer. We keep a positive vibe that enhances our journey as a team. This experience has made us stronger and more united.
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SH: What can we expect from your upcoming EP?
KATSEYE: Be ready for an emotional rollercoasterš The true message of our EP, Soft is Strong, is really within the titleābeing soft and vulnerable can sometimes take an insane amount of strength. We really wanted to show our unity with each other through this first project and let our EYEKONS know that we see them and really are always here for them. Each song has very personal, real stories hidden within the lyrics and we hope that our listeners can interpret them in their own ways and lean into their own experiences within the music! The songs also all have this super nostalgic but fresh sound. We're just so excited to see what people think. This is something very new for all of us and we really don't know what will happen, but we're ready for the ride and hope we make our EYEKONS proud!
SH: What else can you tease about what's coming next?
KATSEYE: We've been working on a lot more that we are all extremely excited to share with you. We want to continue to showcase different sides of KATSEYE and sort of bring a different feeling every time. We wish we could say every single thing but you're just gonna have to wait hehe š¤.
(Photo credit: Rahul Bhatt)
SH: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
KATSEYE: This is only the beginning, and the journey ahead is so exciting for all of us! We wanna thank our EYEKONS for sticking around, this is all for you! ā¤ļø
To hear from some of our K-pop favorites, click HERE to read our interview with Candy Shop on Girls Don't Cry.