short but oh so sweet

Again in 2022, 1000’s of women throughout the globe shared one dream – for a spot in HYBE and Geffen Data’ newest undertaking: an unprecedented woman group that will bridge the West and Ok-pop. Quick ahead two years, and after three months of competing within the YouTube actuality collection The Debut: Dream Academy, Daniela, Lara, Megan, Yoonchae, Sophia and Manon would emerge as the ultimate line-up of the brand new woman group KATSEYE.

There’s an unmistakable bond between the members, the type that transcends borders regardless of every coming from various cultural backgrounds – together with the US, Switzerland, the Philippines and South Korea. In any case, these have been bonds cast via sweat and grit as they survived mission after mission that emulated the notoriously laborious Ok-idol coaching construction. Alongside them have been 14 different contestants, handpicked from a pool of greater than 120,000 hopefuls.

It’s exactly from this shared sisterhood that ‘SIS (Gentle Is Sturdy)’ finds its core. As one listens via the EP, its peculiar identify begins unravelling itself. From getting over a crush melodramatically in ‘Contact’ – a dreamy dance-pop salute to independence that’s tinged with drum ’n’ bass influences – to brashly singing “Even when I mess all of it up and make one million errors / At the least I can say that I did it my approach” on the emotive ballad, ‘My Method’, KATSEYE navigate the complexity of girlhood and all its ups and downs whereas staying comfortable in a tough world.

“Ohh We-ee-ee ain’t flexin’ babe we do what we do,” the group boldly declare of their aptly named debut single, ‘Debut’. Starting their journey in discovering that power is available in extra types than one, this high-energy pop anthem balances its thrilling refrain with sing-talk verses that ooze perspective. Although the slick manufacturing manages to seize KATSEYE’s self-assurance regardless of being newcomers, it falls quick as a totally realised arrival of the group – although, follow-up single ‘Contact’ greater than makes up for it.

The shimmery, plucky intro of ‘I’m Fairly’ – the EP’s fourth observe and standout – instantly transports us again to pop staples from the late-2000s. “Simply once I assume it’s an excessive amount of I dry my tears with make-up / Issues I may do with this brush, you’d by no means know that I harm,” they sing stuffed with emotion, because the group’s vocal prowess begins to shine via. “However I’m fairly (fairly) fairly (fairly) / Fairly certain that I’m nonetheless respiration,” KATSEYE affirm they’re stronger than they assume with easy harmonies that masterfully glide via the ethereal instrumental.

Juxtaposing their hesitation to interrupt free from a cycle of overthinking with an instrumental that dials up the ‘dance’ in dance-pop to an eleven, ‘Tonight I Would possibly’ acts as the proper closing for the EP. “Do the entire shit I do know I didn’t do once I was a child / Get excessive on life for anyone’s kiss, Tonight I would,” determine the ladies as they playfully let go of their inhibitions, bouncing off a gleeful digital dance beat that completely conjures the picture of the tip credit score scene from a coming-of-age film – particularly in the course of the explosive last refrain.

KATSEYE come out of the gate swinging with ‘SIS (Gentle Is Sturdy)’, a surprisingly cohesive launch that largely captures the group’s huge potential. Nevertheless, with not one of the songs crossing three minutes – actually, solely two barely attain two-and-a-half minutes – it’s arduous to shake off the itch you get when a music ends just a little bit too early or the sensation that it was only one last refrain away from perfection. Nonetheless, this EP proves that they’ve acquired all of the makings of the following large woman group, embellished with the polish and glitter of Ok-pop.