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Photo Credit: Rahul Bhatt |
After debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Emerging Artists charts with their 2024 debut EP SIS (Soft Is Strong), KATSEYE are ready to bring the party back with their new single Gnarly. A hard-hitting club track fuelled by thunderous 808s, gritty rave synths and a youthful carefree attitude. In a digital world that’s fast-moving, slightly chaotic, and lived largely online for all to see. KATSEYE are embracing this chaos and channelling the experience of growing up in the digital age and simultaneously being thrust into the limelight – resulting in a heady blend of excitement, vulnerability and overstimulation. If life had to be summed up in one word, for them it’s simple: gnarly.
The chorus brims with self-assurance as they boldly declare, I’m the sh*t, I’m the sh*t.” Offering a boost of confidence to carry them through the day, as we should all move through life with a mantra such as this. The song itself is a whirlwind of sound that hits hard and ends all too quickly, leaving listeners wanting more. Produced by Pink Slip, Tim Randolph, HYBE founder "hitman" Bang, and Slow Rabbit, Gnarly marks a shift in direction for the group – and it’s one worth embracing. Allowing them to embark on an artistic journey wearing many colourful hats and exploring a new side to them.
This is certainly that; it’s loud and echoed throughout the stylistic music video, which is sky-high in production. Each member's personality is reflected in the bold stylistic choices, with the choreography once again proving to be a strength of theirs, dripping in a certain coolness. The video made its broadcast premiere on MTV Live, MTVU, MTV Biggest Pop and on the Paramount Times Square billboards.
KATSEYE says, “We want people to feel the vibes, to really connect with our music. Gnarly feels true to us — it’s bold, it’s fun, and it shows a different side of what we’re about. It feels good to share more of that as we grow alongside the EYEKONS,” referring to the group’s dedicated fandom.
VEVO DSCVR and TIDAL both named KATSEYE artists to watch for 2025, and rightly so, as these girls are out on a mission. Not content with just breaking the mould — they’re making and shaping their own. Born from HYBE and Geffen Records' ambitious global project, Dream Academy was brought to life on Netflix with the docuseries Pop Star Academy. The global girl group is the first of its kind, forged within the high standards of the K-pop system but armed with the explicit goal of smashing through boundaries both cultural and creative.
The six members are Daniela (Cuban/Venezuelan-American, from Atlanta, GA), Lara (Indian, from New York, NY), Manon (Ghanaian-Italian, from Zurich, Switzerland), Megan (Chinese-American, from Honolulu, HI), Sophia (Manila, Philippines), and Yoonchae (Seoul, South Korea). All represent a diverse range of backgrounds and perspectives. Together they’ve quickly made their mark. Their first single debut was featured on Rolling Stone's Songs You Need to Know, and their follow-up second single, the incredibly catchy and popular Touch, landed them a spot on Billboard's Staff List of The 100 Best Songs of 2024. Their chart-topping debut EP, Sis (soft is strong), included both singles plus three new songs.
In early 2025, the group was nominated for two 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards and gave a stunning performance at the MAMA Awards. The Los Angeles Times observed, “They blew everyone away with their commanding stage presence and on-point, intricate and athletic prowess.” Billboard said, “KATSEYE slayed a high-flying rendition of their tracks Debut and Touch in a special collaboration with the Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders squad.”
With Gnarly KATSEYE continues to create a prismatic, mercurial and potent pop sound that thrives in the tension between softness and strength, polish and raw power. Always dynamic, always daring – KATSEYE are just getting started.