If you are in touch with K-Pop music at all or even if you are in tune with popular music on TikTok, there’s a good chance you have come across KATSEYE over the last couple of months. They have been all over TikTok and Instagram of late, not only due to the success of their extremely catchy single ‘Touch,’ but also due to their many viral dance covers. KATSEYE is an interesting group with a composition and style that stands out uniquely. They are not technically a K-Pop group but are associated as formed with K-Pop principles. KATSEYE is a 6 member group that came together on the reality show Dream Academy, which was a collaboration between K-Pop titans HYBE Records and the iconic American label Geffen Records. KATSEYE is comprised of 6 members, all of whom come from very different backgrounds. Sophia is Filipina and grew up in the Philippines. Manon is Swiss, Italian, and Ghanaian, and grew up in Switzerland. Daniela is Venezuelan and Cuban and grew up in the United States. Lara is Indian and grew up in the United States. Megan is Chinese, Singaporean, and Caucasian, and grew up in Hawaii. Yoonchae is Korean and grew up in South Korea. Because this group is so diverse, they incorporate a ton of different styles and personalities into the art that Katseye makes. It is rare that a music group can be so ethnically varied in this way, and it makes for potentially very eclectic music. KATSEYE recently released their debut EP SIS(Soft Is Strong), of which the aforementioned ‘Touch’ is the lead single. Below, I wanted to talk about KATSEYE’s SIS, as it has become one of the new hot projects in the K-Pop/Girl Group world. Please let me know in the comments below what your favorite songs are from SIS(Soft Is Strong), and also comment on how you feel about the EP as a whole!
The EP gets started with the group’s first-ever single, ‘Debut.’ This song has an unmistakable funky late 2000s R&B feel to it that is so catchy. When I first heard this track, I immediately thought of another very possible girl group(who was big in the 2000s), The Pussycat Dolls. The groove that drives the melody for ‘Debut’ is so reminiscent of songs like ‘Don’t Cha’ or ‘Buttons.’ This song has a hard-hitting and fun R&B Pop that will get any dance floor jumping when it comes on. As cool as this instrumental is, the vocals on ‘Debut’ are even more engaging. I especially like the rapping that we get from Lara, Megan, and Manon, as these verses give the song a bit of attitude that stands out. ‘Debut’ starts things off with a bit of sass, which I dig. ‘Touch,’ the single that has been sweeping TikTok as of late, comes next. As I mentioned above, if you are active on Instagram or TikTok and have anything related to new music, K-Pop, or dancing come up on your feed frequently, I would imagine that you have at least heard this one. It is not difficult to see why so many people are digging this track. It has a light and cute sound that is so inviting. The beat for this one has a bit of a 1990s Garage music feeling that is impossible to not want to move around to when it comes on. It is undeniable that the hook for ‘Touch’ is insanely catchy. This is the kind of track that can end up getting stuck in the back of your mind for hours. Yoonchae and Manon absolutely kill it on this chorus, as it is ultimately the reason that this track is so engaging. ‘Touch’ is a song that seems to keep getting bigger and bigger by the week, and I do not see its momentum fading anytime soon. KATSEYE slows things down a bit on ‘My Way.’ This one is a lot more easygoing than the first couple of tracks on the project. There is something that feels melancholy about the melody for this one. Even though its tone is pretty bright and is actually not super different from the one we get on ‘Touch,’ there is something about the way it is pitched that makes it feel a bit more dejected. The sad feeling that comes from the melody is certainly reflected in the lyricism on this track; on ‘My Way,’ KATSEYE gets sentimental on how far they have come and how they always stick out from the crowd. The emotion of the lyrics and the instrumental also comes through in the vocals on ‘My Way.’ ‘Sophia and Lara especially kill it on the hook of this track, as this hook gives the track a level of power. ‘My Way’ is a more laid-back track that shows a more solemn side to KATSEYE that I can appreciate.
KATSEYE brings back the zest a bit on ‘I’m Pretty.’ This one is not as lively as the first two tracks, though. Its energy sort of feels like a crossover between what we get on ‘Touch’ and what we get on ‘My Way.’ I really like the melody for this track. It has a warm, atmospheric tone that makes me feel like I am floating when I listen to it. The beat on this track is very intricate and a bit quirky; the way that it sits on the melody is very interesting. ‘Im Pretty’ has the best vocals on the project to this point. Every member of KATSEYE stands out on this one. The way that the vocals are layered throughout the song gives it emphasis. ‘I’m Pretty’ is a powerful track where KATSEYE shows their vocal chops. KATSEYE closes out the EP with ‘Tonight I Might.’ This one is the most energetic and bold song of the project besides maybe the opener. Everything about this one hits hard. The melody on this track is huge and luscious. I like the way the piano riff that drives this one gets washed over with more and more synths as the song progresses, as it gives this one a great climax. Like ‘Debut,’ the beat on ‘Tonight I Might’ is one that will fill up the dance floor when it comes on. This track is impossible to not want to jump around my apartment as I sit here listening to it. Like the preceding song, the vocals on ‘Tonight I Might’ are great, and my favorite thing about the vocals is the harmonies. When KATSEYE sings together on this one, it gives the track an extra layer of prominence that takes it over the top. ‘Tonight I Might’ is probably the most momentous song of the project, and it brings this to an end on a joyous and enthralling note.
As someone who has become more and more into K-Pop music over the last couple of years, KATSEYE was a group I could not ignore. They are quickly rising as one of the most popular artists on the rise that is associated with the genre, and more and more people seem to be gravitating towards them. After listening to SIS(Soft Is Strong), it is not tough to see why fans are being drawn toward the music that KATSEYE makes. Now, I will not say that this is the most inventive or eclectic project I have heard; in fact, I would say that it is fairly vanilla. The instrumentals on SIS(Soft Is Strong) have a pretty cookie-cutter Pop and R&B theme; it does feel a bit inspired by the late 1990s and early 2000s, which I appreciate. The melodies in this project are light and breezy, and all of them have a very welcoming tone. The members of KATSEYE do exhibit some vocal chops on SIS(Soft Is Strong). There are moments on this EP where each member exhibits their range or shows something about their vocal prowess that sets them apart. SIS(Soft Is Strong) is not a groundbreaking project, but that is okay. It plants the seeds for what may be to come from KATSEYE and puts them on the map as someone who needs to be paid attention to. All five of these songs are enjoyable for what they are, and that is enough. SIS(Soft Is Strong) is a solid initial EP for KATSEYE, and will certainly be paying attention to what they do in the future.
EAST SIDE VIBES 