Courtesy of Hybe Entertainment/Geffen Records
Who is KATSEYE?
KATSEYE are the first global group to come out of K-pop powerhouse HYBE Entertainment in collaboration with US label, Geffen Records. HYBE is home to some of the most popular Korean groups. This includes BTS, NewJeans, LE SSERAFIM, Tomorrow x Together and Fromis_9. Geffen Records includes a large catalog of popular American acts including Olivia Rodrigo, Nirvana and Guns N’ Roses. In 2021, the two powerhouse record companies came together to propose a global girl group with full English tracks using K-pop methodologies. Thus, the companies created the competition show Dream Academy.
Instead of releasing episodes, 24 girls would compete in different missions performing and dancing to multiple songs in Korean or English. There would be voting after each mission from around the world to pick six members to debut as KATSEYE. The members show diversity with their multiple ethnic backgrounds. Lara Rajj is the first Indian HYBE artist and Meret Manon is the first African American HYBE musician. The concept of KATSEYE includes confident girls who come together as a sisterhood. They have been training and working hard for months to deliver music to the EYEKONS fandom. The group released their fierce first single, “Debut,” on June 28 with help from Ryan Tedder.
“Touch” Review
On July 26, KATSEYE released their second single, “Touch,” in which they show a softer side after the confident, in-your-face “Debut.” “”Touch” has a calmer vibe to it with very silky, dreamy vocals as the girls rediscover their self-worth. The message of this song is about the hard parts of relationships and their partner not being present enough, deeming him out of touch. This is the best song out of the singles they have released as it feels natural and catchy. The chorus gets stuck in your head instantly and can be relatable to the dating scene in young adults’ lives. “Touch” is the second pre-release song before their first-ever EP, SIS (Soft Is Strong). This track had incredible producers and writers on it, including Cashmere Cat, who previously worked closely with Ariana Grande.
In the official music video for “TOUCH,” YOONCHAE, the maknae (youngest member) of the group, goes missing in a citywide search. The video is filled with incredible synchronized dance moves and incredible visuals. It elevated the music, feeling very pretty and ethereal, and embracing the track’s aura.
KATSEYE have been preparing for this moment for a total of three years. A few days after the release of “Touch,” the girls had their debut performance and it was incredibly special. KATSEYE performed at KCON, which is a three-day K-pop concert at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. The group performed on Sunday as special guests and they did not disappoint. They looked like they had been performing for three years, making an impressive and positive impression on the Los Angeles audience.
KATSEYE Documentary Gets Release Date
HYBE Entertainment and Geffen Records have been teasing the release of a documentary about making the global girl group since before their debut. Finally, they have a release date and title. Pop Star: Dream Academy will drop on August 21 on Netflix worldwide. The docuseries is said to include behind-the-scenes of forming the group and show the members’ journeys to debuting as rarities of their kind. Be sure to check out the documentary when it comes out and KATSEYE’s debut EP dropping August 16.
