“KATSEYE” is a global girl group that debuted under HYBE and Geffen records through a reality series, The Debut: Dream Academy. They went through a K-Pop style of training during the duration, competing with a number of girls with diverse backgrounds. After online fan voting and many evaluations of the girls’ dance, singing, visual, and star qualities, 6 girls were chosen to officially be in the group we know today as “KATSEYE”. They made their debut on June 28, 2024, and continue to grow in popularity with every new comeback. 

The 6 members are: Sophia Laforteza (leader and lead vocalist), Manon Bannerman (visual and center), Daniela Avanzini (main dancer), Lara Raj (main vocalist), Megan Skiendiel (lead dancer), and Yoonchae Jeung (lead dancer). They each proudly represent the countries that they’re from. Sophia is Filipina representing the Philippines, Manon is Swiss-Italian and Ghanaian representing Switzerland, and Yoonchase is South Korean, representing South Korea. The remaining 3 girls represent the United States, Daniela being Venezuelan and Cuban, Lara being Indian-American, and Megan being Chinese-Singaporean and Swedish. 

They’re best known for their songs, “Touch”, “Gabriela”, and  “Gnarly”, and now most recently, “PINKY UP”. Western pop, R&B, and dance-pop are blended to form these addictive and trendy songs. They’re also pretty well known for the choreographies to these songs, which consist of hip-hip, street jazz, and commercial dance. Many fans take the time to fully learn these dances and post covers on social media, gaining lots of attention and sometimes recognition from KATSEYE themselves.

The group’s latest single, “PINKY UP” was released on April 9, 2026, and focuses on rebellion, confidence, having fun, and friendship. The lyrics are about living in the moment and not worrying about what others think. The main message to take away from this song is to have fun while being yourself, since life is too short not to. The song’s hyperpop sound and catchy chorus allowed it to stand out from typical pop releases, which is the reason why it has become extremely memorable in such a short amount of time.

Although KATSEYE is loved by many around the world, lots of negative feedback, pressure and allegations surround the girls and their careers. Manon’s hiatus from the group was a major event that occurred this year within the KATSEYE community. Their company released that Manon went on a temporary leave to “focus on mental health and wellbeing”, but fans suspect the reason is more malicious and premeditated than put out to be. As of now, Manon is no longer considered a part of KATSEYE, which has enraged many fans. 

PINKY UP

Rating: 9/10

I’ve been a huge fan of KATSEYE ever since they first debuted, so I was kind of biased when “PINKY UP” was released. I was automatically hooked and loved the chaotic and hyperpop aspects of it, as well as the unique choreography. They always surprise me with their new comebacks as it’s always something fun and different each time. It’s hard to ever get bored when listening to their music.

The reason why the song lost one point from me was because Manon was not a part of this comeback at all. I understand she has been on hiatus from the group, but they even removed her voice from the official recording and replaced it with other members. I don’t believe this was necessary since at the time “PINKY UP” was being produced, she was still a part of the group. Overall, if you’re looking for something refreshing, fun, and unique to listen to, “PINKY UP” should be a top option to consider!