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Despite their different backgrounds and nationalities, the members of KATSEYE consider themselves sisters. After all, no one other than the six of them understand just what it truly means to be part of a groundbreaking global girl group.
Formed through a collaboration with Geffen Records and K-pop label HYBE (home to groups like BTS and LE SSERAFIM), KATSEYE is the result of the survival reality series The Debut: Dream Academy.
Utilizing methods seen in the K-pop trainee system, 20 contestants from around the world trained in dance, vocal, visuals and performance and underwent evaluations. But ultimately, only six were chosen to be part of the band now known as KATSEYE: Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Manon Bannerman, Megan Skiendiel, Sophia Laforteza, and Yoonchae Jeong.
KATSEYE is a play on the gemstone cat’s eye, which shows off a variety of colours depending on its direction. It’s a fitting name to describe a group where its members come from different places. Sophia hails from Manila, Philippines, while Yoonchae was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. Manon is from Switzerland but has Ghanian and Swiss-Italian roots. And while there are three American members, Daniela is Cuban-Venezuelan, Lara is Indian-American and Megan is Chinese-Singaporean.
“It’s been such an amazing journey. I spent so much time with these girls and it’s so cool that we are constantly reminding each other that we’re literally living our dream!” Sophia, the group’s leader, tells RepresentASIAN Project over a Zoom call from Los Angeles.
“My sisters are literally from all over the world. I never would have thought I would be in this kind of situation.”
The ‘Debut’
Since The Dream Academy ended in November 2023, KATSEYE has been keeping busy preparing for its debut. The result is the group’s EP SIS (Soft is Strong), released on August 16. Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE, a Netflix docuseries chronicling the making of the band, was released days later on August 21.
Despite its short 11-minute runtime, the six tracks that make up SIS (Soft is Strong) revolve around the theme of empowerment. The project also features a stacked line-up of producers such as Ryan Tedder (known for hits by the likes of One Direction, Taylor Swift, and Jonas Brothers) and Slow Rabbit (producer for K-pop groups like BTS and TOMORROW X TOGETHER).
“I think our whole EP really does showcase our sisterhood, our duality as KATSEYE and as individuals. Kind of like porcelain dolls, how it’s very soft but it’s also very strong and durable,” said Daniela who’s from Atlanta, Georgia.
KATSEYE’s first single, the aptly-named “Debut”, is a rhythmic pop anthem meant to highlight the bolder, more confident side of the group. While its second single, “Touch” has a more delicate, dreamy and melodic vibe. According to Lara, who grew up in Los Angeles and New York, the latter track was love-at-first listen for the whole group.
“We were GAGGED,” she said. “I also feel like the production is so fun. It’s so fresh and inspired by PinkPantheress. She’s such a big inspiration to us.”
“It’s so relatable and very girl power,” added Manon, noting that “Touch” tells the story of rediscovering one’s self worth following a broken heart.
Finding Sisterhood
Becoming KATSEYE has meant making big sacrifices, such as moving away from home.
Following The Dream Academy, the girls have since moved in together in Los Angeles. And for members like 16-year-old Yoonchae, the youngest of the six, it has meant navigating milestones like high school graduation without her family back in Korea.
Despite this, Yoonchae’s KATSEYE members hosted a surprise party to celebrate her. In a vlog uploaded by the band, Megan is seen distracting Yoonchae with a day out on the town while the rest of KATSEYE quickly try to decorate for the celebration.
“I think it was so cute. I was so touched because we got to be together. It was also a surprise,” Yoonchae said.
But like any chaotic family situation, Yoonchae’s members were bad at hiding the secret.
“We were all being so suss!” Sophia laughed. “She knew something was up. She was laughing at us and we thought we were doing so good!”
The sacrifice of moving far away to achieve their dreams has also meant that members like Yoonchae, Sophia and Manon have also been welcomed into the homes of their American members. Megan recalls another moment when she and her mom took the band out for a Singaporean meal of laksa and Hainan chicken rice, giving her an opportunity to share her culture with them.
“I think all of us understood that we were going through that, and so stepping in for each other and really being there for each other was one of the things that made us get through this a little easier,” said Sophia.
Making the band
The group lists a mix of western and K-pop groups as its influences, naming acts like Destiny’s Child, The Pussycat Dolls, Blackpink and LE SSERAFIM as inspirations.
But nothing could have prepared the members for what it would take to throw themselves into the rigorous world of the K-pop trainee system. The Netflix series Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE, gives an honest look at how taxing it can be. Manon acknowledges it was tough for her to take the criticism early on in her training.
“I was very new to this process, like I didn’t know anything about K-pop,” she said. “I think one of the main things I’ve learned is that you can prove people wrong. If you get criticism, work harder and fix it.”
Megan also saw the growth in herself watching the docuseries, and said it helped the group prepare for what to expect going into the music industry.
“I think getting criticism really built up our thick skin,” she said. “Everything that we kind of experienced through the program, really just prepared us for what was gonna come when we made KATSEYE.”
While KATSEYE is still a very young group, the members say they have big hopes for the future, such as winning awards and meeting their fans—known as EYEKONS—around the world.
But most of all, KATSEYE also wants to be a symbol of representation for young girls—especially as each of them didn’t really see themselves reflected in the entertainment industry growing up.
“I think that as an Indian girl and just as a South Asian in general, there hasn’t really been any South Asian pop stars in the media,” Lara said.
“I felt like because I was brown, I couldn’t do this, and it would hold me back. As I’ve grown up, I’ve learned it’s my superpower.”
For Sophia, the enormity of being HYBE’s first Filipina idol only stuck with her when she saw other Filipino fans reaching out and commenting on her posts. One particular moment came while she was competing on The Dream Academy. During the show’s promotions, each contestant was asked to say the word “dream” in their language.
“I remember when people heard ‘pangarap’, which is ‘dream’ in Tagalog…that’s what made me cry,” she said. “I never thought it was going to hit that far.”
“I think [representation] means everything to us,” Manon added.
“I feel like it’s such a beautiful thing to know that young girls can look at us, at our group, and see themselves in us and really know that anything is possible.”
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