Katseye spent years training for this moment. Is it everything they dreamed of?

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Katseye concerts usually start with a familiar energy. The opening bassline of their song “Debut” fills the space, the stage lights come up, and the crowd’s enthusiastic cheers almost overpower the music.

I remember when they were getting ready for their first big tour, they played their opening song for a small group, and honestly, the reaction was pretty quiet – just a few scattered claps. It was a little discouraging, but they didn’t let it get them down.

Last month, the group had their final practice session inside the Hollywood Palladium. It was the first time they’d performed the entire show on a stage, and also their last chance to rehearse before kicking off their sold-out Beautiful Chaos tour. They looked energetic and excited, all wearing matching outfits.

The band will finish their North American tour with shows in Los Angeles on December 12th and 13th at the YouTube Theater and the Palladium.

The international girl group, featuring Megan Skiendiel, Sophia Laforteza, Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Yoonchae Jeung, and Manon Bannerman, is quickly becoming famous. Since releasing their second EP, “Beautiful Chaos,” in June, they’ve achieved several milestones, including a popular Gap ad campaign, a massive crowd at Lollapalooza, and two Grammy nominations, bringing their pop star ambitions to life.

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The group behind the hit “Gnarly” captivated everyone at their dress rehearsal with energetic dancing, clever lyrics, and a lively performance. They performed almost all of their songs, including their TikTok sensation “Touch” from their debut EP “SIS (Soft is Strong)” and “Gabriela,” the Grammy-nominated track known for its impressive dance sequence. With all members present except for Bannerman, who was unwell, they also premiered a new song called “Internet Girl,” a pop-punk track that playfully explores their increasing online popularity, and featured an ‘army’ of backup dancers and lots of confetti.

The girl group Katseye formed after a 2023 reality competition show called “The Debut: Dream Academy.” Inspired by the K-pop system, over 120,000 people auditioned for a chance to join the group. The show was a collaboration between Hybe, the South Korean entertainment company known for BTS and Le Sserafim, and Geffen Records, a part of Universal Music. Their shared aim was to create a diverse girl group, and the final members reflect that: Avanzini is Venezuelan-Cuban, Raj is Indian, Skiendiel is Chinese-Singaporean, Laforteza is Filipina, Bannerman is Swiss-Ghanian, and Jeung is Korean.

Their experiences were also documented in the Netflix docuseries, “Popstar Academy: Katseye,” giving viewers a look at their demanding training and how they were judged.

Two years after first appearing on the scene, Katseye finds themselves in a new position. The pressure hasn’t gone away, but it’s shifted. Now, instead of trying to earn their place, they’re learning to handle their quick climb to fame.

Raj, relaxing in the Palladium’s green room after rehearsal, shared a feeling many of them likely had. “It’s amazing that everything we’ve hoped for is happening,” he said, “but it feels like we’re constantly playing catch-up. As soon as one thing happens, something else does, and I don’t have time to really absorb it all.”

After finishing a show at a mostly empty venue, the band Katseye changed out of their early 2000s-inspired outfits and relaxed with snacks around a coffee table. They were all laughing and excitedly finishing each other’s thoughts as they explained they’d just returned from a European press trip and only had a week to prepare their tour performance.

The following interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

It sounds like you’ve been really rushed getting ready for these shows. Is it usually this tight of a turnaround for you?

Raj explained that their performances usually involve a lot of rehearsal, sometimes even more than necessary. They always aim for perfect timing and a polished look, but this time they had to create something much more quickly than usual.

We’re growing quickly, and while we’re putting our training to good use, we’re still learning to adapt and prepare effectively with limited time. We’re expanding our presence everywhere – all over the internet and at numerous events – which means we have less time for detailed preparation.

Katseye is having a remarkably successful year. We spoke with someone on the team to find out what it’s like to be part of such a fast-moving, exciting time for the company.

I’m still trying to fully realize what happened with Katseye. We were nominated for two Grammys a few days ago, which was amazing, but I’ve been so caught up in tour rehearsals that it hasn’t really sunk in yet.

It was amazing news, but I had to rush to rehearsal only half an hour after finding out. It’s not that I’m not thrilled that our dreams are finally happening—it’s just that everything is happening so fast! I feel like I’m constantly playing catch-up, and I don’t even have time to fully absorb one thing before the next thing happens.

It’s amazing to look back – we were talking about our goals in an old interview, saying we wanted to win a VMA, get Grammy nominations, play Coachella, and go on tour. And now, it’s all happening! We’ve already won a VMA, been nominated for Grammys, we’re playing Coachella next year, and we’re about to start touring.

It’s amazing to see how quickly your careers have taken off! It’s almost like you made this happen – how does it feel to be living this pop star life and seeing it all come together so fast?

When we all started as trainees, we shared the same ambitions. Looking back over the last three years, it’s clear how much we’ve grown and how capable we are of overcoming challenges. Now that we’re achieving those initial goals, it inspires us to set even bigger ones for the future.

You know, as someone who really loves film, I often think about how easy it is to get completely absorbed in the day-to-day. When you’re constantly on the move – traveling, prepping, performing – it’s like life just becomes a whirlwind of appointments and commitments. It’s easy to lose sight of everything else when you’re that caught up.

Raj mentioned that it’s easy to get caught up in life and forget to appreciate the present moment. He finds he’s most aware of what’s truly happening when he’s performing on stage, connecting with every person in the audience.

What happens when this mindfulness takes over?

I always get incredibly nervous before a performance. When I was starting out, I used to get so anxious that I’d essentially lose track of everything while on stage. Afterwards, I wouldn’t even remember what I had done.

Now that we’ve performed together for a while, being on stage feels comfortable and familiar, like a second home. It’s much less intimidating than performing alone, and it’s great to share smiles with each other up there. It really helps me feel centered and calm.

You seemed to be really enjoying yourselves on stage just moments ago, even though the venue was empty. What motivates you to keep performing, especially after a long day of rehearsals?

Laforteza: Passion!

Each member audibly agrees, between bites of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Doritos.

Avanzini: We just turn on. We want to give a show because we truly enjoy it.

Raj: I absolutely love performing! There’s nothing better than being on stage in a great outfit, with the energy of the crowd and the lights. It feels like a dream come true – it’s incredibly exciting. That’s why we’re staying out so late – we’ve been dreaming about this moment since we were kids. This performance is what it’s all about for us.

Jeung shared that when she was training to become a K-pop star and facing difficulties, she’d imagine herself performing on stage with her group, seeing all the fans cheering. She’d visualize that moment and use it as motivation to keep going, believing that passion is what ultimately helps you succeed.

Even before you became Katseye, people were already fans from your time on reality TV. You’ve evolved a lot since then, experimenting with different styles, looks, and music. How do you feel about change and how does it influence your work?

As a music fan, I really connect with what Avanzini says about growth. They believe you have to push yourself outside your comfort zone to really develop as an artist, and that’s something I admire. They’re super adaptable, still exploring their sound, and aren’t afraid to change things up. In fact, they hint that their next EP will be a real departure from “Beautiful Chaos,” and they’re excited about that – they see it as a fun challenge, not something to be worried about. I love that willingness to evolve!

Raj explained that being an artist means constantly evolving. He feels a natural need to grow and change, and is always looking for something new, no matter what he’s working on.

As we evolve as a band, we’re collecting more and more experiences and stories that inspire our music. While fans love songs like ‘Touch’ and ‘Gnarly,’ we’re not going to limit ourselves to that sound. Our next EP will reflect everything we’ve been through recently and the new things we’ve learned.

For the past three years, my partner and I really put our lives on hold. Honestly, it felt like we didn’t have a personal life – no parties, barely seeing friends. But this year, we made a conscious effort to actually live a little, to experience things like normal 19- and 20-year-olds. I truly believe that if we don’t go out there and have real-life experiences, our work will end up feeling flat and artificial. It’s important to be a person living life, not just creating art about it.

Our future work will be much more heartfelt and genuine, focusing on real emotions and experiences. We’re moving towards creating art that truly feels like art, not just a show. As a group, we’ve matured, and that growth will be reflected in the deeper meaning and substance of our creations.

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2025-12-09 14:02