Final yr, Ok-pop large Hybe and Geffen Data introduced the six members chosen to be a part of their first world woman group KATSEYE.
Billed as a global group, with ultimate members hailing from America, the Philippines, South Korea and Switzerland, the group was created utilizing Ok-pop artist improvement methodologies by way of the audition program The Debut: Dream Academy.
Now, 9 months after it was introduced that Daniela, Lara, Manon, Megan, Sophia and Yoonchae had been chosen for the worldwide group, KATSEYE has launched their first EP SIS (Tender Is Sturdy) and is the main target of recent Netflix docuseries Popstar Academy: KATSEYE.
It’s been a whirlwind few months for the members of KATSEYE, who vary in age from 16 to 22. The group launched their first single in June, fittingly titled “Debut,” a strong and youthful pop monitor, earlier than releasing their second single “Contact,” a catchy but chill pop track, in July.
“Our debut was completely superb. It couldn’t have gone higher,” Daniela tells The Hollywood Reporter. “We had been so excited to lastly come out with music and present the world who we’re as KATSEYE, and we’ve simply been working so, so laborious on this album.”
KATSEYE gave their first stay efficiency as a bunch final month throughout KCON L.A.’s third-night live performance. The woman group, who already carried out like seasoned veterans, is seemingly nonetheless in disbelief over the efficiency. “We are going to actually always remember [that moment],” Sophia gushes.
“It’s actually probably the greatest days of our lives as a result of that was our first stay efficiency as KATSEYE,” the 21-year-old continues, explaining that the group labored laborious to get into the appropriate headspace for the efficiency by making an attempt issues rehearsing with faux cheering sounds.
“All of us felt actually current. We had been capable of focus, and we might see the faces of all of the followers” Sophia says. “All of us labored so laborious that we had been capable of benefit from the second. I really feel prefer it was actually revealing [as] to why we work so laborious, and why we do all of those hours, in order that we might actually, we had been very current.”
KATSEYE acting on stage at their El Rey Theatre fan occasion in Los Angeles.
Rahul Bhatt
“We actually needed to present the perfect first impression and the perfect efficiency that we might have probably given,” Lara provides. “We needed to indicate folks, with even the documentary, all of the coaching that we did, all the things that has led as much as this second, that we imply enterprise, and we’re right here to remain.”
The group carried out for his or her followers at their first fan occasion on Tuesday. That they had the possibility to see their supporters in a extra intimate setting, which was a giant milestone for them. “It was actually significant for us,” Yoonchae, the youngest of the group at 16, explains.
The docuseries, which was launched on Wednesday, provides a behind-the-scenes take a look at the coaching the members went by way of, even earlier than Dream Academy. “[The documentary] could be very intense. It’s very emotional. I feel I cried each single episode, however it’s a nice documentary,” Daniela says.
When requested if reliving the moments of Popstar Academy made them see moments in a brand new life, the group exhibits a behind-the-scenes take a look at how their teamwork goes. Sophia emphasizes that KATSEYE is so shut and communicates with each other.
“Coming into this, figuring out {that a} documentary is popping out, and even earlier than we noticed it, all of us instructed one another, ‘That was us two, three years in the past. We had been infants going by way of this insanely intense, insane, intense course of,’” she provides. “We’ve grown a lot as members of KATSEYE and as sisters that nothing goes to shake how we’re proper now.”
Their debut EP SIS (Tender Is Sturdy) options 5 songs, together with “Debut” and “Contact.” Nonetheless, the slower, candy monitor, “My Approach,” becoming for an end-of-movie montage. The lyrics, “Like a firework showin’ up over your city / Even when all of it burns out / I did it my approach,” appear to be a favourite amongst the group.
Sophia, Lara, Yoonchae, Megan, Daniela, and Manon hug onstage as HYBE X Geffen Data reveal ultimate members of KATSEYE.
ivien Killilea/Getty Photographs for HYBE x Geffen Data
Daniela emphasizes that she relates closely with the track, notably her lyrics “Thick hair / Large curls they usually all stare / Yeah, I attempted to slot in your field of pink Barbie dolls / Discovered I nonetheless couldn’t win all of them.”
“I used to be at all times a brand new woman, and I used to be at all times making an attempt to slot in. I by no means had a bunch of girlfriends ever, and no one actually accepted me for the way in which I used to be, so I did attempt to change up my seems and the way I acted,” the 20-year-old says. “Wanting again, I’ve realized that that shouldn’t be the case and that I have to be myself and embrace myself, embrace my pure curly hair. I feel I made the group due to who I’m, and I would like to really embrace that.”
Megan can be drawn to the track. “The lyrics inform all of our tales collectively so superbly and particularly. ‘By no means wish to do what I’m instructed / Even when I mess all of it up and make one million errors,’ I really feel like that’s at all times been my life motto,” the 18-year-old says, saying she has at all times needed to study her personal classes. “Simply rising up and being a lady, you simply wish to study your individual errors and study your individual lifestyle,” she provides.
KATSEYE has a number of musical inspirations together with Beyoncé (Manon) and M.I.A. (Lara). “My dad used to name me Beyoncé. I used to be so obsessed,” Manon laughs, saying she loves to observe the Grammy-winning artist’s Netflix documentary Homecoming. “As a brand new artist, it’s so inspiring, and it provides me plenty of motivation. Her work ethic is unmatched, and she or he does nice issues. That’s why she’s been related within the business for thus lengthy.”
Lara cites M.I.A’s impression on music as why she counts the singer as an affect. “As a brown woman, she was sort of the primary South Asian artist within the media that was capable of actually make an affect,” the 18-year-old provides. “She actually helped me discover my confidence and to be unapologetically myself and never at all times must be fairly, simply being myself and being uncooked.”
Wanting in the direction of the longer term, KATSEYE has a transparent imaginative and prescient for themselves and the way they need the world to see the woman group. “One in all our large, large issues is that we wish to present our variety,” Manon explains. “I feel it’s such a gorgeous factor about our group that each younger woman can take a look at our group and see herself in us as a result of we’re so numerous and totally different.”
The 22-year-old provides: “We at all times needed to have that rising up, so it simply looks like a dream dwelling that out.”