Since the formation of their global girl group, KATSEYE has experienced tremendous success. While the group’s journey started in a training camp, documented in the Netflix documentary series, The Debut: Dream Academy, their established presence began in July 2024 with their aptly-named single “Debut.”
KATSEYE has stepped out with bold performances, fun outfits, and a level of relatability that has been lacking in media recently. The journey from their debut hasn’t been easy, and the girls definitely weren’t selected for the group based on luck. Their career trajectory reflects their hard work and genuine love for music. From their start in Dream Academy to their recent Coachella debut, the KATSEYE girls have been proving to the world that they are artists worthy of respect and high praise.
establishing sisterhood
The KATSEYE girls are bonded by their shared training experience and their passion for music. When they are on stage together, it’s clear that they not only enjoy dancing with each other, but that they have established a true sisterhood.
The girls are often seen in TikTok videos dancing and laughing together, proving they have a palpable off-stage chemistry. The videos where the members participate in silly trends together serve as a reminder of the bonds they have created — all of which appear to be fun, authentic, and meaningful.
However, with the sudden announcement of Manon Bannerman’s hiatus from group activities, KATSEYE’s image of genuine sisterhood has been carefully dissected online. Fans have criticized the authenticity of the members’ friendships with Bannerman due to their extended time apart from her. Additionally, the active members have been receiving backlash because of their silence about Bannerman’s indefinite hiatus.
genre exploration
KATSEYE is still trying to define their group sound as they continue to experiment with various dance-pop influences in their music. Songs like “Pinky Up” and “Gnarly” are maximalist and theatrical, experimenting with trap and electronic sonic elements to create funky (and polarizing) tracks. These songs have received a lot of criticism online based on the simplicity of their “one-word choruses.” KATSEYE fans are craving more intentionality with the group’s lyrical production.
However, songs like “My Way” and “Tonight I Might” from the group’s debut EP, SIS (Soft Is Strong), showcase the members’ softer, intentional vocals. These songs are praised for the girls’ refreshing harmonies and satisfying notes. Despite this, fans remain upset about how small the group’s discography is (approximately 10 songs).
KATSEYE received the 2026 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist as well as the 2025 MTV Video Music Award for Push Performance of the Year, proving that their music breakthrough has had a significant impact since their debut, despite the criticism they have received.
live performances
KATSEYE has had an impressive performance career despite being new artists on the music scene. In just two years, the group has drawn massive crowds with their performances at Lollapalooza, iHeartRadio Jingle Ball, Wango Tango, the Grammy Awards, and Coachella. KATSEYE made their rounds during their 16-show tour, The Beautiful Chaos Tour, in November and December 2025. The group sold out venues across the country as they performed their fan-favorite hits in major U.S. cities.
Impressed with their live performances, fans are begging for another KATSEYE tour following the release of new music — hopefully in larger venues to give more fans a chance to see the girls perform live.
group promotions
Beyond music, the group has been actively involved in brand advertisements to promote themselves alongside reputable products. The members have been brand ambassadors for Gap, State Farm, Pandora, and Matrix, among others. The presence of KATSEYE across television screens and social media apps has boosted their visibility by familiarizing viewers with their faces and talent.
solo work
While KATSEYE has been working hard to promote their group image, the girls have also been participating in individual projects to establish themselves as entertainment creatives. From pursuing minor acting opportunities to music production, the members have been dipping their toes into a multitude of creative experiences as they are available.
Lara Raj has been experimenting with her music production skills by sharing her own songs with fans through social media platforms. KATSEYE’s fans have shared their love for Raj’s music by encouraging her continued production work and involvement in the group’s discography.
In April, Megan Skiendiel was featured in Laufey’s newest music video for “Madwoman” alongside Hudson Williams, Alysa Liu, and Lola Tung. A project created to celebrate Asian American representation turned into a short-term acting opportunity for Skiendiel to show off her skills.
Although her involvement received mixed feedback, Bannerman was featured as the main character in a short film titled “NOT BAD.” Since the short film was released one month before the announcement of Bannerman’s hiatus from the group, many fans have speculated that the two are somehow connected because of a potential breach of her contract. While this theory is entirely speculative, fans have decided to show their support for Bannerman during her hiatus by interacting with this short film and existing KATSEYE projects she has been involved in. Fans continue to wonder if (and when) Bannerman plans to return to group activities and promotions.
what’s next for katseye?
KATSEYE has made consistent appearances, on and off stage, to promote their songs, but what can KATSEYE do from here to continue establishing themselves as artists?
What KATSEYE desperately needs to do is release a full-length album in order to solidify their group brand and promote songs that represent their collective artistic expression. With the release of their two EPs, fans haven’t been satisfied with the amount of music they are receiving, and are frustrated by the wait time between music releases. Returning to their preferred music promotion, KATSEYE plans to release a new EP titled WILD on Aug. 14, 2026.
While their journey since debut hasn’t been simple, KATSEYE’s efforts reflect their motivation to become better performers and willingness to be vulnerable with their audiences who are invested in their success. Fans are excited for the group’s future which holds new music, bigger opportunities, and more exposure as the girls continue to establish their artistic identity and take on exciting projects.