On the afternoon of September 11th, a media day event was held at HYBE’s Yongsan office in Seoul to commemorate KATSEYE’s debut and their Asia promotion tour. KATSEYE is a multinational girl group formed by HYBE and Geffen Records, featuring six members: Daniella (American), Lara (Indian-American), Manon (Swiss), Megan (Chinese-Singaporean-American), Sofia (Filipina), and Yoonchae (Korean). They were selected through the survival audition project “The Debut: Dream Academy”, which saw 120,000 applicants.
Starting on September 12th, KATSEYE will kick off their Asia promotion tour, with Korea being the first stop. Ahead of the tour, Lara expressed her excitement, saying, “I have been waiting for this moment. We will be performing and doing interviews, and I’m really looking forward to it. Yoonchae also shared her joy, saying, “I’m so happy to be promoting in Asia, especially in Korea, where I’ve dreamed of participating in music shows and promotions.“
Daniella expressed similar enthusiasm: “We are all so excited and honored to finally be able to perform in Korea.” Manon added, “I have high expectations, and I’m thrilled to be back in my favorite city, Seoul. I’m really looking forward to our performances.” Megan mentioned, “We have worked hard for this tour, and I’m excited to show you our performances,” while Sofia added, “I’m really excited about the Asia tour. I’m happy to visit my home country, the Philippines, and also Korea and Japan.“
The members also highlighted their plans for the Asia promotion tour. Sofia teased, “We have prepared something special, including translated versions of our song ‘Touch’ for each country,” and Yoonchae performed the Korean version of “Touch’“.
KATSEYE’s first EP “SIS (Soft Is Strong)”, which promotes the message that “softness is strength,” entered the US Billboard 200 at No. 119 and remained on the chart for two consecutive weeks, marking their rise as global stars. Lara explained, “’SIS’ showcases KATSEYE’s contrasting charm and features five tracks.” She added that the title track “Touch” emphasizes their softer side and explores the complexities of love.
Daniella described their Billboard 200 debut as “unbelievable and surreal,” expressing her hope that their efforts will continue to keep them on the charts. Manon shared similar sentiments, calling it an “unexpected and honorable achievement” and noting that the group’s hard work is paying off, motivating them even further.
KATSEYE also emphasized their strengths. Manon mentioned, “We represent many countries, which gives us our unique diversity. We hope to inspire girls around the world who look like us.” Daniella added that each member has a “dream charm” that represents their individuality, and together they complement one another.
When asked about what sets them apart from existing K-pop idols and pop stars, Sofia explained, “Because we come from diverse cultural backgrounds, we can reach a wider audience and overcome limitations. Our synchronized choreography and teamwork are also key differentiators.“
The group’s mashup of “Touch” with Girls’ Generation’s hit song “Gee” also gained attention. Yoonchae said, “It was an honor to do a mashup with ‘Gee,’ such a legendary song from an iconic girl group. I was thrilled when Sooyoung sunbaenim mentioned us on her Instagram and praised us.“
When asked about artists they would like to collaborate with, KATSEYE expressed interest in working with HYBE artists, Ariana Grande, Pharrell Williams, and Beyoncé. As for their role models, they named The Pussycat Dolls, Spice Girls, LE SSERAFIM, and HYBE artists.
As for the titles they want to be known by, KATSEYE mentioned “global girl group” and “CATS.” Manon said, “Our ultimate goal is to become the world’s number one global girl group. We want to tour the world and meet our fans, the ICONS.” Yoonchae added, “It would be fun and an honor to hold concerts in each member’s home country one day.” Lara also expressed a desire to perform on stages like Coachella and Lollapalooza.
Source: Naver
