Meet KATSEYE, the Global Girl Group Making a "Debut" For the History Books
KATSEYE is rapidly making a name for themselves, having already made history before releasing any music. KATSEYE is the first global girl group created from K-Pop artist development methodologies. Signed to the prestigious HYBE x Geffen Records, KATSEYE was born from the label’s pilot talent competition, The Debut: Dream Academy. Said competition had over 120,000 applicants and a Netflix docuseries following the intense years-long process. Thus, KATSEYE was created, as the six winners have been transformed from unknowns to polished idols.
A part of what makes KATSEYE so unique is the wide range of backgrounds from which the girls originate. Spanning from ages 16-22, members include DANIELA (Atlanta, GA USA); LARA (Los Angeles, CA USA); MANON (Zurich, Switzerland); MEGAN (Honolulu, HI USA); SOPHIA (Manila, Philippines); and YOONCHAE (Seoul, South Korea).
Aptly named KATSEYE, the group is named after the cat’s eye gemstone, a luminous type of gem that is distinguished by its single bright band caused by light reflecting off of parallel clusters of crystals and minerals. The poetry of their namesake is no coincidence, the girls act as the uniquely bound crystals that, together, create a radiant and singular brilliance.
Their premiere song, “Debut” is a fizzy whirlwind of colors, femininity, and spirit. Written by Ryan Tedder, Omer Fedi, Tyler Spry, and Grant Boudin and produced by Tedder, Spry, and Boudin, the song has a confidence that matches the girls’ personalities. The girls flawlessly support each other vocally, melding and mixing their voices to make the choruses sound singular all the while allowing for each member to have a shining solo moment. Each solo showcases the girls’ immense talent and individual star power. The music video, directed by Gregory Ohrel, is as sparkling as the song, with sweeping visuals and tight choreography. The song is an anthem of feminine power, setting the tone for their highly anticipated EP, SIS (Soft Is Strong).
It’s safe to say that KATSEYE’s debut has been polished, model, perfect, even. Yet they have an undeniable quality about them that makes them human, authentic, and relatable, setting them apart from other girl groups the industry has seen in the past. Whatever it is, whether it be je ne sais quoi or plain “it factor”, their chemistry with one another is nothing short of serendipitous, marking the beginnings of a new era of girl groups.
Watch the "Debut" music video below:
