Rosa Gulliver of TINYGMUSIC | 16th August 2024
KATSEYE the first-ever global girl group formed using KPOP artist development methodologies, released its debut EP, SIS (Soft Is Strong), today via HYBE x Geffen Records. Reflecting one of KATSEYE’s core beliefs, Soft Is Strong, the EP’s title also nods to the sisterhood they’ve forged, despite coming from immensely different cultures. The six members of KATSEYE are: DANIELA (USA); LARA (USA); MANON (Switzerland); MEGAN (USA); SOPHIA (Philippines); and YOONCHAE (South Korea). Download / stream SIS (Soft Is Strong) HERE.
Premiering August 21, the Netflix docuseries “Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE” is a compelling portrayal of the members’ journey to global stardom, including insight into the unique training and development program from HYBE and Geffen Records. The series was directed by Nadia Hallgren (Becoming) and produced by HYBE, Interscope Films and Boardwalk Pictures. PEOPLE, which premiered the trailer for the series, observed, “Popstar Academy: KATSEYE pulls back the curtain on one of the most fascinating phenomenons in the music industry.”
The group will perform its aptly titled first single, “Debut” – which Rolling Stone hailed as one of the “Songs You Need to Know” – on “GMA3” on Thursday, August 22. Teen Vogue , which published the first interview with KATSEYE’s six members, observed, “[‘Debut’] sees the group taking mainstream pop head-on.” Earlier this month, the group performed “Touch” on “Good Morning America.” View HERE. The dreamy “Touch,” which was produced by Blake Slatkin, Cashmere Cat, Omer Fedi and Taka Perry, finds KATSEYE pondering the complexities of love, wounded feelings and rediscovering one’s self-worth.
The five-song EP also includes the beautiful piano ballad “My Way,” which captures the authentic stories of KATSEYE’s members and how they’ve confidently blazed their own paths in life with resilience and strength. The track was produced by HYBE founder “hitman” bang, Slow Rabbit and Federico Vindver.
The uplifting “I’m Pretty” juxtaposes heavy 808 drums and angelic harmonies as KATSEYE celebrates the transformative power of self-healing. “Tonight I Might,” a vibrant pop track with electro-dance flair infused with a rebellious, adventurous spirit, closes out the EP.
Earlier this month, KATSEYE emailed assorted images to fans, challenging them to work with one another to uncover the titles of the songs on the EP ahead of the tracklist reveal on Instagram. Fans quickly began “claiming” their favourite titles.
About HYBE x Geffen Records
In February 2021, HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment) and UMG’s Geffen Records officially announced their strategic joint venture partnership, an unprecedented collaboration between an esteemed U.S. record label and the leading K-pop and entertainment lifestyle platform company, brought together to create the world's first U.S. based, global girl group modeled on the world-renowned K-pop training & development system. This marked the first time a U.S. record label and a K-pop entertainment company were uniting to combine their expertise in artist discovery and development, and music production to assemble, develop, and introduce a group from ground zero. The November 2021 announcement of the first-ever HYBE x Geffen Global Girl Group Audition that followed kicked off the historic JV. Combining HYBE’s global expertise to lead the discovery, training, and development of the group, fan content production processes, and engagement with fans around the world, with Geffen Records' extensive industry network and partners to oversee the music production, marketing, and global distribution operations, the JV aims to debut a new girl group that will transcend national, cultural, and artistic boundaries.
About HYBE
HYBE, rebranded from Big Hit Entertainment in March 2021, is a global entertainment lifestyle platform company that seeks boundless expansion in order to innovate the music industry. Ever since, HYBE has been expanding its multi-label system including BIGHIT MUSIC, BELIFT LAB, SOURCE MUSIC, PLEDIS Entertainment, KOZ ENTERTAINMENT, ADOR, HYBE LABELS JAPAN, NAECO, while HYBE AMERICA also manages its affiliate labels including Big Machine Label Group. In addition to the label business, HYBE established an integrated structure with its solution business that creates concert, video content, game, original story, and retail, as well as a platform business through Weverse, a global fandom platform. Composed of its headquarters based in Korea, Japan, Mexico and the US, the company works towards bringing innovative change throughout the global music industry.
About Interscope Geffen A&M
Combining the legacies of three of the most influential record labels in modern music history, Interscope Geffen A&M embarked on a new tradition of musical achievement with its unification on January 1, 1999. Headed by Chairman & CEO John Janick, Interscope Geffen A&M is a major force in global music, developing chart-topping artists across a wide range of musical genres including rock, rap, pop and alternative. Interscope Geffen A&M is part of Universal Music Group, the world’s largest music company.
About Netflix
Netflix is one of the world's leading entertainment services with over 238 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.
About Boardwalk Pictures
Boardwalk Pictures is an award-winning production company that creates non-fiction, character-driven entertainment for audiences across the globe. As creators and producers of some of today’s most recognisable premium television shows and feature films, Boardwalk Pictures continues to push the boundaries of unscripted entertainment.
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