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Photo: Cody Critcheloe

Rising international girl group KATSEYE shines bright with the release of their debut EP, SIS (Soft Is Strong). For those new to the lore, in 2022, thousands of girls across the globe shared one dream: a spot in HYBE and Geffen Records' latest project, an unprecedented girl group that would bridge the West and K-pop. Now, after three months of competing in the YouTube reality series The Debut: Dream Academy, Daniela, Lara, Megan, Yoonchae, Sophia, and Manon emerged as the final line-up of the new girl group KATSEYE. 

The breakout group is making a bold statement with their beautiful five-track body of work that coincides with the release of their Netflix documentary Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE. The EP opens with the two previously released tracks, the bold and self-assured "Debut" and the dreamy, drum 'n' bass-infused "Touch." Both catchy and incredibly danceable, they ease the listener into a world much more profound than it may initially appear to untrained eyes.

In "My Way," the girls show that behind the glitter and glossy production is a group that wears their hearts on their sleeves and isn't afraid to detail the complexities of womanhood. Passionately singing, "Even if I mess it all up and make a million mistakes / At least I can say that I did it my way," they eternalize the importance of "staying soft" in a brutal, heart-hardening world.

"I'm Pretty," a personal favorite, opens with a shimmery, plucky intro that immediately transports listeners back to pop staples from the late-2000s. "Just when I think it's too much, I dry my tears with makeup / Things I could do with this brush, you'd never know that I hurt," they emphatically sing, highlighting the group's vocal prowess. "But I'm pretty, pretty / Pretty sure that I'm still breathing," affirming that they are stronger than they think with gliding harmonies that masterfully weave through the breezy and delicate instrumental arrangement.

The mini album's closer, "Tonight I Might," juxtaposes their hesitation to break free from a cycle of overthinking with an instrumental that dials up the dance-pop hype to the max. The finale acts as the perfect closing for the EP, with the girls deciding to "Do all of the shit I know I didn't do when I was a kid / Get high on life for somebody's kiss, Tonight I might," playfully letting go of their inhibitions and bouncing off a gleeful electronic dance beat, invoking the image of the end credit scene from a coming-of-age movie as it sails through its final climatic chorus.

KATSEYE comes out of the gate swinging with SIS (Soft Is Strong), a surprisingly cohesive release capturing the group's enormous international promise and ambition. Short and sweet, the record proves they've got all the makings of the next big girl group, embellished with the polish and glitter of K-pop. Their potential is undeniable, and it's exciting to see where they'll go from here.

Listen to SIS (Soft Is Strong) below: