Exclusive: KATSEYE Is Ready for ‘Beautiful Chaos’

Ahead of the release of their second EP, KATSEYE talks to Vogue Philippines about embracing the beautiful, chaotic process of coming into their own, both as global stars and young women.

It’s 6 PM in Los Angeles and KATSEYE is wrapping up a long day, flitting between album preparations and interviews. Across the world, it’s early morning in Manila. Over a Zoom call, the six members speak with the same energy that has carried them from hopeful trainees to rising stars, an energy that continues to build ahead of their second EP Beautiful Chaos set to release on the 27th of June. 

Almost a year ago, the members of the global girl group, namely Sophia Laforteza, Manon Bannerman, Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Megan Skiendiel, and Yoonchae Jeung, stepped foot in Manila for the first time to promote their debut EP SIS (Soft Is Strong). It was a homecoming, most especially for leader Sophia Laforteza, who was raised in the Philippines and is the daughter of veteran stage actress Carla Guevara-Laforteza. 

The group performed at a packed mall show, met by an overwhelming (and, according to them, unexpected) sea of fans. They remember the screaming, the tears, and Sophia’s mother in the audience, crying as her daughter stood center stage. Looking back on the moment, the girls reminisce the way close friends naturally do, talking over one another, finishing each other’s sentences. They all agree, “It was definitely an ‘I made it’ moment.”

“I started fully crying on stage in front of all those people,” laughs Daniela Avanzini. “We thought it was just going to be like, 200 people or something. But so many people showed up to see us. It was one of the most fun, best times I’ve had performing.”

Fast forward a few months, and KATSEYE has charged into a new era. Their follow-up single “Gnarly,” a hyperpop twist that couldn’t be more sonically different from their debut, became a viral hit. Naturally, the track faced a wave of criticism online following its release. Think pieces dissecting the concept and song flooded social media. While the initial reaction was mixed, some dismissing it outright, it didn’t take long for the tide to turn. The track became an earworm, and soon, the internet shifted from “this is not it” to “oh my god, we’re obsessed.” Luckily, the group saw it coming.

“At first I was like, oh my god, this sounds so different from anything we’ve ever done,” says Manon Bannerman. “But once we started the choreography, that really sold ‘Gnarly’ to me.”

Daniela adds, “We were kind of expecting that reaction from fans, so we prepared ourselves. But it gave us even more motivation to kill our first performance in Korea. After that, people started to get it.”

“Gnarly” became a sleeper hit, climbing into global conversations and landing on Billboard’s Hot Trending Songs chart. The single didn’t just mark a change in sound; it helped define KATSEYE’s evolving identity as genre-shifters. It was loud, experimental, and unexpected. “That’s us,” they seem to suggest. A little chaotic, but cohesive. It’s the exact energy they’re now pouring into their second EP.

With Beautiful Chaos, they’re doubling down on that identity. “We’re definitely putting so much of ourselves, a lot of our time, a lot of our passion into this,” says Sophia. “It’s definitely an EP that we’re extremely proud of. And when we’re really proud of something, we become fans of it, especially if it’s our own work.”

The EP features five tracks, including the single “Gabriela,” out today. Contrary to the heavily produced “Gnarly,” this second single is a smooth, bold Latin-tinged R&B pop track, which has garnered nearly half a million views on YouTube in less than an hour. Perhaps a nod to the group’s multicultural makeup, its accompanying music video is an homage to the classic telenovela. The track also features a verse in Spanish, sung by none other than Latina member Daniela. The stark difference between the two singles hints at the upcoming EP’s diverse musical range.

“What I will say is that each song is quite different from one another,” explains Lara Raj, when asked about the rest of the tracks. “Yet it’s very cohesive and makes sense for them all to be in one project. Some are more about the lyrics, some are more about the dance. Some are more about like the production and like how hard it hits. So each one is quite different.” Among the five tracks, the members say they are all particularly excited for fans to feel the energy of “M.I.A.”

The EP, they share, is heavily influenced by their journey thus far, from Dream Academy to the present, and was intentionally crafted to reflect who they have grown to become. “We played quite a big part in the creation of the concept for the EP,” Lara continues. “We had a really strong idea and vision for this EP, that it would show our maturity, our rawness, our power and grit as Katseye. So we just really wanted to embrace that side of ourselves; the messy, very, very, very chaotic side of Katseye.”

Behind the scenes, that chaos is anything but disorganized. The girl group, often teased by fans for “performing like they’re still in a survival show,” trains hard to make each performance look effortless. “You wouldn’t expect how much work goes into singing and dancing at the same time,” reveals Megan Skiendiel. “You need to have a really strong diaphragm and core to just keep those vocals intact. We have a whole workout routine that we do: a whole three minute ab routine, then we plank for like four minutes straight, and then we do back exercises. And then we rehearse so much, and we kind of do it back to back, so our stamina’s up. So by the time to hit the stage, it’s second nature.”

“We have really high standards for ourselves,” Sophia adds. “We want the best for ourselves, to overachieve in the best way. I think that’s the coolest thing about working with these girls: when we lock in, we lock in. And we need it to be the best it can be.”

“I’ve seen tremendous growth from DA to now. KATSEYE has been working incredibly hard,” shares Mitra Darab, president of HYBE x Geffen at HYBE America. “The dynamics change when you live and work together. There’s an undeniable bond that forms. They are the only ones that truly understand each other and can relate to their growth as artists and as individuals. During SIS era we were all figuring out the dynamics of the group, as were the members. In a sense, we all grew together. Taking risks on understanding what we feel is KATSEYE for Beautiful Chaos was a mutual process.  That can only come from trusting one another. ”

For the members, that bond is visible in small moments too, like when the older girls help Yoonchae Jeung, the group’s youngest, articulate her thoughts. “I remember when I was young, I really wanted to be a K-pop idol,” Yoonchae muses, reflecting on how far they’ve come from where they began. “I never thought about being in a global girl group. But I’m really grateful. So I want to tell my younger self: you can’t expect anything. Expect the unexpected.”

Each member carries their own version of that story. Megan admits she often thinks about the little girl she once was. “I think about the seven, four year old Megan that always wanted to be on stage. I remember having a little toy microphone, and putting on concerts for my mom, forcing her to watch me perform,” she recalls. “So it’s just crazy now that I continue to do that, and it’s my passion to this day. It’s so crazy to think that I’m actually pursuing my dreams that I had since I was literally three years old. I literally want to, tell my little self, like, girl you did it.”

Daniela, too, sees this moment as the culmination of a lifelong dream. “Ever since I was two years old, all I wanted to do was sing and dance. Especially coming from a family full of artists, I just grew up in a household full of it. I looked up to Hannah Montana; she was my icon. So the fact that I was able to actually pursue my dream is insane, and I’m so so grateful, especially for my mom, because she’s the one that taught me how to dance, and then she put me in singing lessons too.”

“I wish I could go back to my three year old self, and tell her you did it. Good job,” She continues. “Good job for being so disciplined and for working so so hard, because it didn’t come easy. It did take many, many, many years of training, motivation, and discipline.

As the anticipation builds around Beautiful Chaos, KATSEYE is aware that they’re still early in their journey. But they’re also more sure of themselves than ever.

“This EP is our way of responding to everything we’ve experienced,” Sophia says. “The documentary, Dream Academy, everything that brought us here. We’re telling our side of it, how we feel, in a very playful, chaotic way.”

That growth, personal and artistic, hasn’t gone unnoticed by those who’ve been with them since the beginning. Missy Paramo, Artist Operations Manager of HYBE x Geffen, reflects on their evolution: from six individuals finding their voices to a group shaping a collective one. In training, she says, the focus was on developing their individual confidence and craft. Now, their mission is shared: “KATSEYE has the combined goal of becoming a timeless global girl group. They’ve learned to lean on each other, lift each other up, talk through issues and most importantly, celebrate the journey.” 

“Their sisterhood and bond is more than friendship,” Missy posits. “It’s their core, inspiration, and the soul of who they are as KATSEYE. It’s not just what holds them together. It’s the key to their success, and they are well aware of that.”

And if Beautiful Chaos is any indication, they’re just getting started.