Katseye

Katseye
  • Katseye in May 2025
  • From left to right: Manon, Daniela, Sophia, Megan, Lara, Yoonchae
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, United States
Genres
Years active2024 (2024) – present
Labels
Members
Websitewww.katseye.world

Katseye (stylized in all capital letters) is a global girl group based in the United States. The group was formed through The Debut: Dream Academy, a reality competition created by HYBE and Geffen Records. KATSEYE consists of six members: Manon Bannerman, Sophia Laforteza, Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Megan Skiendiel, and Yoonchae Jeung. The group debuted in June 2024 with the single "Debut". Their first extended play (EP), SIS (Soft Is Strong), was released in August 2024.

History

Pre-debut activities and formation

In November 2021, Hybe Corporation and Geffen Records started taking applications for a new global girl group. In 2022, auditions were held in South Korea, the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Hybe Corporation and Geffen Records wanted to make a group that would "transcend national, cultural, and artistic boundaries". In an interview with Korea JoonAng Daily, Hybe founder Bang Si-hyuk said that he wanted to promote the new group in the United States.

From over 120,000 applicants, twenty contestants were selected to compete in the reality show Dream Academy. The show premiered on August 19, 2023, and the competition ended on November 18. Sophia Laforteza, Lara Raj, Yoonchae Jeong, Megan Skiendiel, Daniela Avanzini, and Manon Bannerman were selected to be in the girl group Katseye.

2024: SIS (Soft is Strong) and Pop Star Academy: Katseye

Katseye's formation and their preparations for their debut EP were in the documentary Pop Star Academy: Katseye [en]. The documentary was premiered on August 21, 2024. The documentary was distributed by Netflix. The movie was directed by Nadia Hallgreen [en]. For the EP, Katseye collaborated with several songwriters and producers, including Ryan Tedder and Omer Fedi [en].

The first of the two singles for the EP, "Debut", was released on June 28, with a music video recorded in Medellín, Colombia, directed by Gregory Ohrel. The single is a dance-pop song about confidence and the strong bond between the group members. After the single was released, Hybe and Geffen said that the group’s first EP, "SIS (Soft Is Strong)", would be released in August.

The second single, "Touch", was released on July 26. The single had a different sound from "Debut" and focuses on the vocals of the members. "Touch" was number 22 on the Billboard Bubbling Hot 100 after a viral TikTok dance.

The full EP, named SIS (Soft Is Strong), was released on August 16. The EP had five tracks. SIS was number 119 on the Billboard 200. To support the EP, the group went on a tour in Asia starting in South Korea on September 12. On November 14, Katseye released "Flame", the theme song for the Netflix animated series Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld.

2025 – present: Beautiful Chaos, Manon's hiatus, and Wild

Katseye released a new single, "Gnarly", on April 30. Gnarly was on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was released as the first single from their second EP, Beautiful Chaos. On June 6, Katseye released a remix of "Gnarly" featuring rapper Ice Spice.

On June 20, Katseye released "Gabriela", the second single of Beautiful Chaos. The track also had a music video styled as a telenovela and featured a cameo from actress Jessica Alba. British singer Charli XCX helped write the song Gabriela. The song was described as a modern take on Dolly Parton’s song, "Jolene".

On June 27, Beautiful Chaos was released, along with a music video for the third single of Beautiful Chaos, "Gameboy". The EP was fourth place on Billboard 200. "Beautiful Chaos" is Katseye's first EP to be in the top ten of the Billboard charts.

In November 2025, Katseye went on their first world tour. While they were still on the tour, Katseye released a new song called "Internet Girl".

On February 20, 2026, it was announced that Manon would be on a temporary break from the group to focus on her health.

From March 13 to March 22, 2026, with other members covering Manon’s lines, went to a Lollapalooza in Argentina, Chile, and Brazil. They also went to the Festival Estéreo Picnic.

On 9 April 2026, KATSEYE released the single "Pinky Up". The song was released as the group's first single following Manon's hiatus and was performed by the remaining members at Coachella in April. KATSEYE announced their third extended play, WILD, in April 2026. The EP was released on 14 August 2026 through HYBE and Geffen Records.

In August 2026, Sophia Laforteza announced that she would temporarily step back from group activities to focus on her mental health. HYBE and Geffen Records said that she would not participate in upcoming promotional activities during her break.

KATSEYE began their WILDWORLD Tour on 1 September 2026 in Dublin, Ireland. The tour includes dates in Europe, North America and other regions. Sophia did not participate in the opening European dates because of her temporary break.

As of September 2026, Manon remains on a temporary hiatus, while Sophia is also temporarily absent from group activities. KATSEYE continues to perform with the available members during the WILDWORLD Tour.

Public image

In an interview with the British magazine i-D [en], Daniela said that Katseye is the first American girl group "to make American pop music but trained to do the crazy choreography of K-pop". Lara, Sophia, and Daniela are the first Indian, Filipina, and Latina musical artists to be signed under Hybe.

Each member have symbols known as "Dream Charms," that represent their personalities and dreams. These symbols were revealed on June 17th, 2024. Manon's is the "Stellar Tiara", Sophia's is the "Dream Anchor", Daniela's is the "Guardian Shield", Lara's is the "Limitless Key", Megan's is the "Dual Cherry," and Yoonchae's is the "Soothing Shell."

Members

Discography

Extended plays

Songs

Promotional songs

Videography

Music videos

Dance practice videos

Other videos

Filmography

References

  1. ↑ "Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE". Netflix Tudum. 25 August 2025. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
  2. ↑ "Who are the Members of KATSEYE? Meet the Viral Girl Group". Netflix Tudum. 25 August 2025. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
  3. ↑ "HYBE x Geffen Records". HYBE. Retrieved 5 September 2026.[permanent dead link]
  4. ↑ "HYBE, Geffen Records to launch new girl group - The Korea Times". www.koreatimes.co.kr. 2023-08-29. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  5. ↑ Aniftos, Rania (2023-08-29). "Meet the 20 Finalists for HYBE x Geffen 'Dream Academy' Global Girl Group Contest". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  6. ↑ "Who are the Members of KATSEYE? Meet the Viral Girl Group". Netflix Tudum. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  7. 1 2 "Where Are The Other 'Popstar Academy: Katseye' Contestants Now? Adéla, Nayoung, and More". L'Officiel USA. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  8. ↑ Delgado, Sara (2024-06-28). "How New Girl Group KATSEYE Grew From Dream to Debut". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  9. ↑ "HYBE's global girl group Katseye launches with debut single - The Korea Times". www.koreatimes.co.kr. 2024-06-28. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  10. 1 2 "KATSEYE – 'SIS (Soft Is Strong)' review: short but oh so sweet". artistontherise.com. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  11. ↑ Asia, The Beat. "KATSEYE: The Newest Girl Group Taking the World by Storm". The Beat Asia. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  12. ↑ "K-pop's most diverse newcomers Katseye aim to push boundaries in the music scene". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. 2024-09-11. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  13. ↑ Martinez, Gavin; clopez (2024-09-03). "Global girl group Katseye to kick off Asia tour in September". INQUIRER.net USA. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  14. ↑ Aniftos, Rania (2024-11-14). "KATSEYE's New Single 'Flame' Soundtracks 'Jentry Chau vs the Underworld' Teaser". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  15. ↑ "Katseye to release new single 'Gnarly' on April 30". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. 2025-04-23. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  16. ↑ Mamo, Heran (2025-06-06). "KATSEYE Heats Up 'Gnarly' Summer with Ice Spice Remix: Stream It Now". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  17. ↑ "Jessica Alba Makes Surprise Music Video Cameo in Red Hot Suit". InStyle. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  18. ↑ Nesvig, Kara (2025-06-20). "KATSEYE Fans Are Having the Funniest Reactions to New 'Gabriela' Music Video". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  19. 1 2 3 Caulfield, Keith (2025-07-06). "Morgan Wallen's 'I'm the Problem' No. 1 for Seventh Week on Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  20. ↑ Saulog, Gabriel (17 November 2025). "KATSEYE Debut Brand New Song "Internet Girl" At 'Beautiful Chaos' Tour". billboardphilippines.com. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  21. ↑ InMusic (2026-02-21). "KATSEYE's Manon Announces Temporary Hiatus to Focus on Health". InMusic. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  22. 1 2 "Global Fandom Platform - Weverse". weverse.io. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
  23. ↑ "KATSEYE Put Their 'Pinky Up' on Techno Pop New Single". Billboard. 9 April 2026. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
  24. ↑ "WILD". KATSEYE Official Store. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
  25. 1 2 "Sophia to Take Hiatus From KATSEYE to Focus on Mental Health". Billboard. 7 August 2026. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
  26. ↑ "Tour Dates". KATSEYE Official Store. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
  27. ↑ "When is Sophia coming back to Katseye? Her hiatus and tour dates explained". Capital FM. 2026. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
  28. ↑ "KATSEYE are ready to be the next world-dominating girl band". Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  29. ↑ "Symbols of six members of global girl group KATSEYE (Cats Eye) of Hive and Geffen Records, who are a.. - MK". 매일경제. 2024-06-21. Retrieved 2026-01-30.

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