ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: KATSEYE

There’s something almost magical about groups of six. Think about it -- would "Friends" have been the same without all six cast members? Would the Avengers really have beaten Loki in New York City without the full team? Or the Power Rangers without the Blue Ranger? Well, it appears there are six new sheriffs in town, and they just might be the most captivating girl group we’ve seen since BLACKPINK. 

I’m talking, of course, about KATSEYE!

Before they were taking over our For You pages or performing at Lollapalooza, they were simply dreamers – dreamers with the talent and drive to chase that dangling carrot until, at last, they caught it and turned their dreams into reality.

It all began when Hybe, the South Korean entertainment powerhouse, set out to create the next It group, a journey captured in the wildly addictive Netflix series "Pop Star Academy". The show revealed just how grueling the process really is, from the intense casting to nearly two years of relentless training. And what started with twenty incredibly talented singers, dancers, and performers was ultimately narrowed down to six -- the six we now know as KATSEYE.

In alphabetical order, there’s Daniela, Lara, Manon, Megan, Sophia, and Yoonchae, and together, they work about as well as hot honey and pepperoni pizza.

According to fans, each member has a designated role. For example, Sophie is considered the leader, based largely on her personality and natural leadership qualities. Lara takes the spotlight as vocalist, Daniela shines as the dancer, Megan is the all-rounder, Manon is the visual, and Yoonchae holds the title of maknae (a Korean term that means "youngest sibling"). That said, every member is capable in all of the previously mentioned areas; these roles were simply the criteria Hybe used to shape the group.

Perhaps most interestingly, the group was formed with the goal of creating a K-Pop act that feels more international and, therefore, more diverse and representative of different cultures. For instance, Yoonchae is from South Korea, Lara is Tamil-American, and Manon, from Switzerland, is biracial, with a Ghanaian father and a Swiss-Italian mother.

So far, they’ve proven to be everything we hoped for, and then some. Their debut track did well, but it wasn’t until “Touch” dropped that they truly started breaking into the mainstream. The infectious choreography struck a chord with TikTok users, which matters because, for KATSEYE, the dance is often just as important as the music itself. 

This is especially true for their hit single “Gnarly”. When it first came out in April 2025, fans weren’t quite sure what to make of it. The opening lyrics – singing about fried chicken and boba tea – were rather unorthodox. However, once fans saw the full performance, with the six girls moving in perfect sync, the song became a massive hit. Daniela, the group’s dancer, even reflected on it at the Teen Vogue Summit, saying, “When we first heard ‘Gnarly’, we were like, ‘Oh…’ But then we learned the choreo, and then we put it all together, and it came alive.”

With their impressive debut, strong camaraderie, and undeniable star power, it’s clear this group is here to stay. Boasting nearly 20 million followers across Instagram and TikTok and over 30 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone, these girls have the power to influence an ever-evolving music industry, leaving fans inspired and eager for more. 

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to rehearsing my solo choreography in front of the bathroom mirror. I really can’t cancel that again.