On the afternoon of September 11th, a media day event was hosted at HYBE’s Yongsan office in Seoul to celebrate the debut of KATSEYE and their Asia promotion tour. KATSEYE is a multinational girl group formed by HYBE and Geffen Records, featuring six diverse members: Daniella (American), Lara (Indian-American), Manon (Swiss), Megan (Chinese-Singaporean-American), Sofia (Filipina), and Yoonchae (Korean). They were chosen through the survival audition project “The Debut: Dream Academy,” which attracted 120,000 applicants.
KATSEYE will commence their Asia promotion tour starting on September 12th, with Korea being the initial destination. Ahead of the tour, Lara expressed her eagerness, stating, “I have been waiting for this moment. We will be performing and doing interviews, and I’m really looking forward to it.” Yoonchae also expressed her delight, 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 shared her excitement: “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 outlined their plans for the Asia promotion tour, with Sofia teasing, “We have prepared something special, including translated versions of our song ‘Touch’ for each country,” and Yoonchae performing the Korean version of “Touch.”
KATSEYE’s debut EP “SIS (Soft Is Strong)” conveys the message that “softness is strength” and debuted on the US Billboard 200 at No. 119, maintaining its position for two consecutive weeks, showcasing their emergence as global stars. Lara explained, “‘SIS’ showcases KATSEYE’s contrasting charm and features five tracks.” She noted that the title track “Touch”highlights their softer side and explores the complexities of love.
Daniella described their Billboard 200 debut as “unbelievable and surreal,” expressing hope that their efforts will continue to resonate with audiences. Manon echoed her feelings, calling it an “unexpected and honorable achievement” and remarked on how the group’s hard work is yielding results, further motivating them.
KATSEYE also emphasized their unique strengths. Manon pointed out, “We represent many countries, which gives us our unique diversity. We hope to inspire girls around the world who look like us.” Daniella mentioned that each member embodies a “dream charm” that reflects their individuality, complementing each other as a group.
When asked what distinguishes them from existing K-pop idols and pop stars, Sofia noted, “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” has garnered attention. Yoonchae stated, “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.”
KATSEYE expressed their desire to collaborate with HYBE artists, along with Ariana Grande, Pharrell Williams, and Beyoncé. They also cited The Pussycat Dolls, Spice Girls, LE SSERAFIM, and HYBE artists as their role models.
Regarding the titles they aspire to be known by, KATSEYE mentioned “global girl group” and “CATS.” Manon stated, “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 prestigious stages like Coachella and Lollapalooza.
Source: Naver
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