Katseye (pronounced "cat's eye"; stylized in all caps) is a girl group based in Los Angeles, California. Described as a "global girl group", the sextet was formed through the reality show Dream Academy, a collaboration between Hybe and Geffen Records. The group consists of Sophia, Manon, Daniela, Lara, Megan, and Yoonchae.
They debuted on June 28, 2024, with the single "Debut" from their first extended play (EP) SIS (Soft Is Strong).[1] The EP came out on August 16, 2024.
In November 2021, Hybe and Geffen Records opened their applications for a girl group with "contestants from around the world" as part of the joint venture Hybe x Geffen Records.[2] With auditions held across South Korea, the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom in 2022, the partnership aimed to create a group that will "transcend national, cultural, and artistic boundaries".[3][4] In an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily, Hybe founder Bang Si-hyuk expressed his intentions to promote the resultant group to the American market.[5]
From over 120,000 applicants, twenty contestants were selected to compete in the reality show Dream Academy, which determined the six-member lineup of the girl group through a series of "missions".[6] Prior to the series premiere, the contestants were trained for a year in Los Angeles, California, through methods prevalent in the Korean idol trainee system.[7] Premiering on August 19, 2023, the competition concluded on November 18, with Sophia Laforteza, Lara Raj, Yoonchae Jeong, Megan Skiendiel, Daniela Avanzini, and Manon Bannerman being selected to form the girl group Katseye.[8]
2024–present: SIS (Soft is Strong) and Pop Star Academy: Katseye
Katseye's formation and their preparations for their debut EP were serialized in the documentary Pop Star Academy: Katseye, which premiered on August 21, 2024.[9][10][11] Distributed by Netflix, the documentary was directed by Nadia Hallgreen.[12][13] Hybe and Geffen unveiled the timeframe of the group's debut on June 14, 2024, setting the release of the group's first extended play (EP) for August 2024,[14][15] following the release of two singles in June and July.[16][17] For the EP, Katseye collaborated with several songwriters and producers, including Ryan Tedder and Omer Fedi.[18][19]
The first of the two singles for the EP, "Debut", was released on June 28, with a music video filmed in Medellín, Colombia, directed by Gregory Ohrel.[1][20] The single is a pop track that explores themes of confidence and sisterhood in reference to the members' bond as a group.[18] Following the release of the single, Hybe and Geffen announced that the group's first EP, titled SIS (Soft Is Strong), will be released on August 16.[21][22] The second single, "Touch", was released on July 26.[23] The single deviates from the sound of "Debut" and emphasizes the members' vocals.[24]
Public image
In an interview with the British magazine i-D, member Daniela described Katseye as the first American girl group "to make American pop music but trained to do the crazy choreography of K-pop". Manon also noted the diversity of the group's line-up, with Lara, Sophia, Daniela, and herself as the first Indian, Filipino, Latina, and Black artists respectively to be signed under Hybe.[25] Prior to the group's debut, Teen Vogue named Katseye as one of twelve "Girl Groups to Watch in 2024".[26]
^Ahn, Tae-hyun (June 14, 2024). '하이브 美 걸그룹' 캣츠아이, 28일 데뷔 확정...글로벌 팬심 정조준 ['Hybe American girl group' Katseye confirms debut on the 28th...Aiming at global fans]. News1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
^Lee, Jae-hoon (June 14, 2024). 하이브 글로벌 걸그룹 '캣츠아이', 28일 데뷔...첫 싱글 발매 [Hybe global girl group 'Katseye' debuts on the 28th...First single released]. Newsis (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024.