- Words Darcy Culverhouse
From a high-stakes reality show to chart-ready anthems, the six-member group are redefining what it means to be a pop girl band in 2025.
The moment KATSEYE’s lead single ‘Gnarly’ from their EP Beautiful Chaos plays, you get it. Heavy 808s rumble through your chest, the beat dares you to grab your girls, hit the club, and claim the dancefloor like it’s yours. It’s pure adrenaline, but more importantly, it’s the sound of a group channelling power, confidence, and an unshakable sisterhood.
Made up of Sophia, Lara, Manon, Daniela, Megan, and Yoonchae – six members from across the globe – KATSEYE burst onto the scene just last year with their aptly titled single, ‘Debut.’ Their sleek, genre-blurring sound hooked Gen Z pop lovers instantly, with the hyper-pop earworm ‘Touch’ going TikTok-viral soon after. The chemistry between them feels like years in the making, surprising, considering the group’s unconventional origin.
Formed through The Debut: Dream Academy, a reality competition co-created by K-pop giant HYBE (the powerhouse behind BTS) and Geffen Records, the six were chosen from thousands of hopefuls worldwide. After months of gruelling dance, vocal, and performance training, as well as fan-voted challenges, they emerged as the final line-up, ready to rewrite the rules of pop stardom.
Since then, their music has become a rallying cry for modern girlhood: flirty, fierce, and unapologetically global. On Beautiful Chaos, ‘Gabriela’ laces Latin flair into pop perfection, ‘Gameboy’ turns up the heat with R&B bite, ‘Mean Girls’ slows things down with glitchy, dreamy edges, and ‘M.I.A’ delivers pure girlboss energy. Each track is paired with high-octane dance visuals, proving that KATSEYE are as multifaceted as they are fearless.
Fuelled by instinct, unafraid to be their most “chaotic” selves, and armed with pop anthems that have the girlies dancing, we caught up with KATSEYE to talk Beautiful Chaos, global girl power, and why staying true to themselves will always be their way.
You’ve been killing it recently! How does it feel to be killing it all together as a girl group?
Megan: It feels amazing to be growing and succeeding together. There’s something really powerful about sharing those wins as a team, celebrating each other’s strengths and pushing one another to be better. Being a girl group means we lift each other up through every challenge and every success, and that makes the journey even more special.
A few of your dances have gone viral now. How important is choreography and dance to your performances?
Daniela: Dance is literally like breathing to me. It connects me to my roots, my culture, and myself. When it resonates, I’m always grateful. Sharing that connection and making others feel something means everything to me.
What was your favourite moment while making Beautiful Chaos?
Manon: There were honestly so many amazing moments while making Beautiful Chaos, but one that really stands out was filming the ‘Gabriela’ music video. That whole experience was just so cool. But also getting to travel around, see new places, and see such wild and beautiful settings. Everything about it felt surreal. I’m just super grateful the whole process has been insane in the best way.
Many of the songs explore navigating girlhood in the digital age. What drew you to those subjects?
Sophia: It felt like the most authentic direction that was naturally occurring between the six of us. With the journey we have been through, the sisterhood and girlhood are truly what have glued us together through all we have gone through.
You collaborate with a few people on the project. What do you KATSEYE look for in a collaborator?
Lara: I think we always just want to work with people who are extremely open-minded, warm, and fearless. We also always really appreciate it when people truly understand us individually and as a group. We are so grateful to every collaborator on Beautiful Chaos.
How do all of your differing heritages and backgrounds influence your sound as a group?
Lara: I think it gives us a beautiful opportunity to create a new sound by fusing every aspect of our cultures with Western music.
Who’s on KATSEYE’s summer playlists?
Yoonchae: KATSEYE – we have some good summer songs.
What’s one thing you’ve learnt about the band this year that you didn’t know about each other already?
Sophia: I’ve learnt that we all do better when we’re being ourselves. We tried to settle on a single character, mood, or vibe for all of us to portray, but ultimately, letting our authentic, chaotic selves shine through worked best for us.
What’s next for KATSEYE?
Megan: We’re excited to keep growing and exploring new opportunities together. There’s a lot on the horizon – whether it’s new music, performances, or projects – and we’re ready to keep sharing our journey with fans. For us, it’s all about staying true to ourselves and evolving as a group.