KATSEYE on ‘Beautiful Chaos,’ Putting Popstar Academy in the Past

Lovely Chaos isn’t solely the title of KATSEYE’s sophomore EP, however maybe an ideal method to describe the final yr within the lives of the woman group.

In June 2024, KATSEYE — shaped by Ok-pop big Hybe and Geffen Data by means of a music competitors sequence, Dream Academy — launched their aptly named first single, “Debut.” Now, a yr later, the worldwide woman group has returned with their follow-up EP, Lovely Chaos, touchdown their first Billboard 200 prime 10 (No. 4) and two spots on the Sizzling 100 chart. Additionally they introduced their first tour Tuesday morning, with stops throughout North America.

It’s been a yr of progress for the group — comprising members Daniela, Lara, Manon, Megan, Sophia and Yoonchae — who gained early recognition from a Netflix documentary, Popstar Academy, that chronicled their journey from pop hopefuls to world stars. It’s additionally been a yr of adjustment. “There’s been occasions the place I simply went out and didn’t do my make-up, didn’t do my hair, and I’m similar to, nobody’s going to acknowledge me,” Megan tells The Hollywood Reporter on a Zoom.

“I completely neglect that I’ve pink hair and also you’re going to see [me],” she jokingly provides. “These are simply issues that you simply understand over time and simply work out.”

Under, KATSEYE speaks with THR about their new singles “Gnarly” and “Gabriella,” how their music “Imply Ladies” tells the story you didn’t get to see on TV and why they’re making an attempt to log out.

“Gnarly” has been gaining a number of traction, which is actually thrilling. Have been you anticipating that? Do you suppose folks obtained it instantly?

LARA To be trustworthy, I really feel like after we heard “Gnarly” … we couldn’t predict if folks would like it or hate it. You by no means know and you may by no means predict that, however I believe we knew and had a sense that it might be very widespread and there could be a number of eyes and ears on it as a result of it’s simply so jarring and so totally different. I believe we knew that it might make some type of actions and make waves in a approach. The love that we’re receiving… You possibly can by no means predict if persons are actually going to love one thing, so I believe as a result of they do, we’re so honored and so grateful for that. It’s been loopy to see how a lot it’s blown up, and the brand new eyes on KATSEYE and the love that persons are giving us.

Why was it essential for the primary observe to be launched from this EP to be so totally different than the music you made earlier than?

SOPHIA One in every of our targets as KATSEYE is to continuously evolve and present totally different sides of us, and we by no means wish to stick to 1 factor. I believe the one factor we wish to stick with is our uniqueness. The particular factor about KATSEYE is our range, and it’s not nearly our cultures, nevertheless it’s additionally about our artistry and our personalities and even our sound. We wish the Eyekons [KATSEYE’s fanbase] to count on totally different variations of KATSEYE, and every model is at all times going to be very true to ourselves, the six of us individually, which is why I do know that as a lot as “Gnarly” was very jarring, it is part of us and also you simply haven’t seen that aspect of us. Particularly as a result of we’re so new.

Are you able to inform me a bit about Lovely Chaos and the way you’re feeling about it?

LARA I might say Lovely Chaos is darker than SIS, melodically, visually, [in its] choreography, every thing. It’s just a bit bit extra mature, I might say. Each single music may be very totally different from each other [but] we’re cohesive throughout the Lovely Chaos world. There’s type of a journey by means of the EP, the order, every thing about it. There’s a journey. The lyrics are very a lot acknowledging the place we’re at proper now as KATSEYE, and the way it feels to be us, our perspective with the followers. I believe we’re all tremendous, tremendous, tremendous excited. It is extremely chaotic.

It appeared such as you all have been actually enthusiastic about “Gabriela” popping out. Are you able to inform me in regards to the music?

DANIELA We’re tremendous excited. I particularly am as a result of I get to be extra in contact with my Latin American folks, nevertheless it’s simply one thing that we’ve by no means finished earlier than. It’s a distinct vibe. It’s a distinct type of dance too that individuals haven’t seen. It’s positively sexier, sassier than something we’ve ever finished, and I believe folks will like it. Sonically and the choreography. I’m hoping folks will prefer it.

MEGAN Particularly with it being an extended music too. Individuals have been asking for that for some time, so lastly we’re giving them an extended music.

“Imply Ladies” is perhaps my favourite music on the EP. I do know you’re all fairly on-line, and there have been many conversations about your relationships with each other after Popstar Academy got here out. Are you able to inform me in regards to the music? How does “Imply Ladies” match into that?

SOPHIA I’d say that this music is what you mentioned, it’s virtually our response to the journey that we’ve had to date, particularly with being within the public eye, and having an entire documentary come out about us and exhibiting a narrative that may be a glimpse of what we went by means of. Emphasis on glimpse. As a lot as it’s a entire storytelling expertise, it isn’t every thing. That led to lots of people pondering that they noticed every thing and having all these misconceptions and [there was] a lot chatter on social media and [people were] simply saying all of these items with out really realizing who we’re. As a lot as they do know such an enormous a part of us, it’s nonetheless not every thing. You actually simply noticed eight hours of a complete three-year-long journey. That’s one night time’s sleep. You possibly can’t say you realize every thing about us. [The song] is type of us simply saying, no matter you consider us, no matter you consider anyone, it is rather like, woman, bless you. Simply letting or not it’s and realizing how we’re and virtually acknowledging every thing, however type of acknowledging it with grace and kindness. Simply being like, properly, if that’s what you suppose, then that’s what you suppose. However that’s the fantastic thing about that music and all of our different songs within the EP is that it may be interpreted in any approach that you really want.

MANON What I believe is so stunning about “Imply Ladies” is that it’s a music that uplifts and helps women in each model of themselves. Being a woman or a lady might be actually powerful at occasions. We’re continuously navigating expectations, judgments and double requirements. There’s a lot stress to suit into containers that have been by no means made for us within the first place, so making a music like “Imply Ladies” felt essential as a result of it reminds women that they’re not alone and that there’s power in selecting kindness over competitors. It’s about constructing one another up and never tearing one another down.

Final time we spoke, it was the day the documentary got here out, so issues have been contemporary. Within the yr since, do you are feeling you’ve been capable of put a few of what you have been battling or had been figuring out to mattress? Can you shut that chapter of your life or do you continue to really feel that it suits into your journey as a gaggle now?

LARA I really feel we’ve understood deal with issues like that significantly better. This yr — as we develop as KATSEYE, we’re doing increasingly and extra issues collectively — I believe we’ve began to turn into one. We act the identical approach. We deal with issues the identical approach. I really feel like we’ve began to lean on one another much more after we’re in conditions like that. No one else understands us the way in which the six of us will [understand] one another. I really feel like we’ve really turn into one another’s help system, 100%, relating to dealing with issues like that and feelings like that and what folks say on-line. One thing that I’ve personally realized lately, there was a lot chatter on-line that I have to create extra and never devour a lot of it.

I’ve realized what these folks say — A, it’s not actual. B, it’s not for my eyes, and it’s not for me to see. It’s not regular to have so many individuals having so many loopy opinions about you. I really feel like all six of us have skilled that in our personal approach. Then as a gaggle, we’ve skilled a number of chatter and a number of hate, so we’re studying take a step again and never devour it as a lot and allow them to speak amongst themselves. Then we [can] create every thing in the way in which that we wish to do it, and other people can suppose no matter they wish to suppose.

That’s a really wholesome method. In a approach that many teams don’t get to, you’ve been capable of take a really world method. Along with your American promotions, you’ve carried out on Korean music exhibits and within the Philippines. You’ve actually been capable of spotlight your particular person cultures in a particular approach. What has that have been like?

SOPHIA I might say that we’re really grateful that we get to learn from the world just about, with the ability to promote in all places. I believe probably the most stunning factor about it’s that — primarily based on what we’ve finished to date and the locations that we’ve been to, as a result of all of us have totally different items of us all over the world — we get to attach otherwise, in a really particular approach. Similar to you mentioned, we promote right here in America. Quite a lot of us have our lives right here in America, and so we get to attach with them. Once we went to the Philippines, I obtained to attach with my hometown and the entire folks there. Once we go to Korea. … Every individual has a connection to anyplace we’re going to the touch on this planet, and I believe that creates a particular bond between us and the followers, which makes it much more enjoyable to do our job and to advertise our music. I believe that’s one thing that’s so stunning. That’s actually the entire level of this.

We needed to make a gaggle that was so enthusiastic about music, and on the identical time, you get to see your self in us within the group. It’s not nearly that, it’s additionally about how we join with the followers. I believe that’s the very best half about it, and that’s why we wish to contact totally different areas of the world all through our profession. We wish to promote in all places, and we’re so grateful to have promoted in so many locations already. I actually simply noticed… Have you learnt that development on TikTok that’s like, “Dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun?” I see folks [saying] KATSEYE come to Europe. KATSEYE come to… I actually noticed that, it was simply on my ‘For You’ web page. Persons are like, come right here, come right here. Why are you not coming right here?

LARA And we are going to.

SOPHIA We’ll, belief me. We’ll, we’ve to. Manon is from Europe. We’ve got to go, and we are going to. I believe that’s one thing that makes us actually excited for lots of issues.

You’ve spent a lot time collectively and have been working so intently with each other. How has the final yr been for you when it comes to constructing teamwork with each other and discovering your groove because the six of you?

DANIELA I positively suppose that we’ve gotten a lot, a lot, a lot nearer all year long. The years really. We reside with one another, so we’ve realized rather a lot about one another and talk and simply work with one another. We’re all so, so totally different. However we’re sisters and we love one another. We’ll bicker right here and there, however we determine it out as a result of we all know that we’ve to as a result of we’re one group. Whether or not it’s work-related or not work-related, we at all times determine issues out and are at all times tremendous trustworthy and open with one another as a result of we love one another. However I believe our dynamic is tremendous, tremendous robust, and it simply retains getting stronger all through the years. We maintain discovering out issues about one another.

SOPHIA So as to add to that too, one of many largest [pieces of] recommendation that we get from virtually all artists which were in teams is communication. So simple as it’s, it really is a posh factor. It’s one thing that we’re continuously making an attempt to determine. We discovered talk with one another, however we’re additionally continuously looking for higher methods to speak. That’s our fundamental objective. It’s the proper answer to something. Each single time we’re like, uh, you realize what? Let’s simply not acknowledge [it], sweep it beneath the rug. We’re at all times going to encourage one another to speak as a result of we at all times really feel so significantly better after that. I believe that basically is the very best recommendation, and the very best factor that you are able to do for a group, any group.

LARA I really feel prefer it’s having a built-in neighborhood. I really feel like lots of people should not fortunate sufficient to have that and lots of people seek for that and lengthy for it. Like a good friend group or some type of neighborhood and group round them that makes them really feel secure, and we simply type of mechanically have that. I believe we obtained actually fortunate that we genuinely vibe with one another, and we’re really pals and one another. I’ve additionally observed lately, each little factor that occurs in my life exterior of KATSEYE, [in my] private life, these women are the primary folks I’ve to inform. I’m at all times blowing up the group chat [sharing] simply each little factor that occurs, each element. They’re the folks that should know and really my bestest pals. This yr we’ve actually, actually developed that.

How do you make time for self-care amidst busy schedules? What does that appear to be for you?

MEGAN Throughout our private time, or a minimum of for me personally, I like surrounding myself with folks that carry me up and produce positivity into my life. I at all times encompass myself with pals and even us, as one another. All of us hang around and don’t have anything to do with work, simply enjoyable. Or if we’ve private time and we’ve simply labored a lot, lengthy hours, I attempt to sleep as a lot as I can. I do a face masks or take an extended bathe and simply take the day for myself. I really feel like these are the very best days, after which the following day I really feel so rejuvenated and contemporary and have vitality.

YOONCHAE When we’ve off day, I flip each mild off, [pull the] curtains closed and simply sleep at midnight.

SOPHIA She hibernates. (Laughs).

YOONCHAE I get up actually late, eat actually good meals and watch Netflix exhibits. That’s good.

Do you guys discover it onerous to show work off if you’re with each other or spending time in non-work hours?

ALL Sure!

LARA It feels not possible typically.

SOPHIA It’s really not possible. I believe with this job that we’ve, it’s actually our way of life. I believe that simply explains it. It’s a job that you may’t simply come dwelling and simply be capable of flip off. That is really our life and each single a part of that is associated to what we do. Actually in my downtime, what Yoonchae mentioned, we like to be in mattress and watch exhibits, however on the identical time I’m speaking to followers on Weverse. It’s only a way of life.

MEGAN And even after we exit, I can’t simply exit trying ugly. (Laughs). I wish to be cute… Quite a lot of the occasions we get acknowledged, and I wish to be cute for the photographs. (Laughs). It really takes time.

There’s positively a stage of anonymity you lose if you’re within the public eye. Have you ever discovered that tough to regulate to?

MANON Adjusting to fame has positively had its challenges. As a Black lady, I do really feel like I’m held to a distinct normal at occasions, like there’s this stress to be good or to hold extra than simply my very own story and that may really feel actually heavy. On prime of that, I’m nonetheless studying how a lot of my life I wish to maintain non-public and the way a lot I’m comfy sharing with the world, which has been a tough stability to determine. However even with all of that, the love I obtain makes it so price it. When followers come as much as me in public and say the kindest issues… it actually hits me. I’ve a lot deep love for the individuals who help me and the women. They don’t even understand how a lot they provide me again.

How would you like the world to see KATSEYE?

LARA Iconic and legendary. However once I say that, I don’t imply to be obscure. I really feel like we simply need folks to see us as a gaggle that has a really, very robust influence and [who] really made waves inside popular culture, music, style, every thing. We wish to be the one. The one.

SOPHIA She actually mentioned the phrase that got here to my head: influence. I believe that that’s what we wish to do. We actually wish to make a mark.