Photo courtesy of Universal Music Group
Each member of Katseye brings a piece of home into their dynamic as a global girl group. Here, the girls share the artists they dream of collaborating with from back home.
To step into the beautiful, chaotic world of Katseye is to appreciate the mosaic of cultures and backgrounds that shape its six members. The global girl group is, quite literally, global. Sophia Laforteza is from the Philippines, Yoonchae Jeung was born in Korea, and Manon Bannerman was raised in Switzerland by Swiss-Italian and Ghanaian parents. The three American members also have international roots: Daniela Avanzini is of Venezuelan and Cuban descent, Lara Raj is of Indian and Sri Lankan descent, and Megan Skiendiel is of Chinese and Singaporean descent.
It’s this diversity that inspired their name: Katseye is a stylized take on cat’s eye, the gemstone chrysoberyl, known for reflecting different colors at various angles. It’s a symbol of the members’ unique personalities, talents, and multinational backgrounds.
“All of us individually have always been very proud of where we come from. A lot of our lives are very deeply connected to that and our upbringing,” shares Sophia. Speaking for the group, the leader says that their position as members of a global girl group, where they represent their backgrounds publicly, is a responsibility, but one that doesn’t come with too much pressure. “It really naturally comes from the pride and the passion we have for our cultures. It’s something that’s almost easy to do because of how much we genuinely want to share this and connect with people all around the world.”
Few girl groups can claim a cultural makeup as globally diverse as Katseye’s. A big part of their identity as rising artists lies in how proudly they carry their respective roots, not just in who they are, but in the music they love. The girls aren’t just dedicated performers; they’re true music enthusiasts, each shaped by the sounds and artists from home.
As part of Vogue Philippines’ series Vogue Playlists, KATSEYE reveals the artists from their home countries they’d love to collaborate with.
SOPHIA: The Philippines’ G22
Among the many rising artists in the Philippines, Sophia found it hard to pick just one. “There are so many artists that I want to collaborate with,” she shares. “But there’s this one girl group, G22, that I am so obsessed with. These girls, they’re like my sisters, and I love their songs.”
She reveals that they had the chance to meet the girls of G22 during their last trip to the Philippines. “I feel like we would just be on the same wavelength if we were to share the stage together. I feel like they have so much of that, excuse my language, like the cuntiness and just that girl power.”
Known for their edgy sound, G22 is a rising Filipino pop girl group comprising members AJ Yape, Alfea Zulueta, and Jaz Henry.
MANON: Switzerland’s Nemo
When asked about artists from back home, Manon was the first to chime in. “Nemo,” she asserts. “They just won the Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland last year, and so I think it will be amazing to collaborate with them.”
The Swiss non-binary singer and rapper made history in 2024 as the first non-binary artist to win the Eurovision Song Contest. Their genre-blending track “The Code” earned Switzerland its first win since Celine Dion in 1988, sparking international acclaim for both its bold sound and for amplifying visibility and advocacy for non-binary rights.
LARA: India’s Hanumankind
“I would say Hanumankind,” Lara jumps in. “He’s so, so, so awesome and good, and like, reps brown people in ways that make us look so cool. So I would be obsessed with that.”
Born in India and raised in Houston, Texas, Hanumankind (real name Sooraj Cherukat) has become one of the most sought-after voices in Indian hip-hop. His breakout hit “Big Dawgs” has amassed over 400 million Spotify streams.
LARA: Sri Lanka’s M.I.A
One more artist on Lara’s list is British-born Sri Lankan rapper M.I.A. “My dad’s from Sri Lanka, so I would love to collaborate with her,” Lara muses. “Oh my god. Yes,” Sophia chimes. “That would be insane.”
Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam, also known as M.I.A., rose to global fame with hits like “Paper Planes,” which peaked at No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2008. Having spent part of her childhood in war-torn Sri Lanka before returning to the UK as a refugee, the artist is known for her genre-defying sound and outspoken political voice.
DANIELA: Cuba’s Camila Cabello
When it was her turn to speak, Daniela took a beat to think. “I have so many!” she laughs. “Okay, I’d say the first one would be Camila Cabello. I think she is from Havana, Cuba, and my mom is also from there.”
Like the girls of Katseye, Camila Cabello also got her start in a girl group, Fifth Harmony. Born in Havana and raised between Cuba and Mexico before moving to the U.S., the singer-songwriter went on to launch a successful solo career with hits like “Havana” and “Señorita.”
“I met her a couple times, and she’s so so sweet,” Daniela shares. “She has an incredible voice, so I think she’d be really cool to do something with.”
DANIELA: Cuba’s Pitbull
“And then a fun one would be Pitbull,” Daniela continues. “Because I grew up listening to Pitbull.” The other girls ooh and ahh in agreement. The Cuban-American artist Pitbull, also known as “Mr. Worldwide,” is recognized for his high-energy anthems and numerous global collaborations.
DANIELA: Cuba’s Gloria Estefan
Another honorable mention to add to the playlist, Daniela says, is “Queen of Latin Pop”, Gloria Estefan. “She’s just such an icon,” she marvels. The Grammy-winning artist is an influential figure in the Latin American music scene, bringing Latin rhythm into the mainstream with genre-defining hits like “Conga.” With Katseye’s recent Latin-tinged R&B release “Gabriela,” which features Daniela singing in Spanish, a collaboration with Estefan might be right up their alley.
MEGAN: China’s Lexie Liu
“For me, I would love to collaborate with Lexie Liu,” Megan jumps in. “She’s so, so, so cool.” Merging Mandarin and English across pop, R&B, and electronic influences, Chinese pop singer Lexie Liu first gained attention as a finalist on The Rap of China in 2018, later releasing albums like 2030 and The Happy Star which showcase her evolving sound.
YOONCHAE: South Korea’s IU
“I’m from Korea,” the group’s youngest, Yoonchae, introduces herself. “And I have so many that I would love to collaborate [with].”
The first name she mentions is IU. “For chill music,” she remarks. A staple in South Korea’s music and entertainment scene, IU has released a string of commercially successful albums since her debut in 2008.
YOONCHAE: South Korea’s wave to earth
Merging dreamy lo-fi guitar riffs and subtle jazz rhythms, wave to earth is a Seoul-based indie rock trio formed in 2019 by childhood friends Kim Daniel, Shin Dongkyu, and bassist Cha Soon-jong. In 2023, the band released their debut album 0.1 Flaws and All and sold out a North American tour, earning millions of streams with tracks like “bad” and “seasons.”
“I love Wave to Earth songs,” Yoonchae enthuses. “I get, like, so much inspiration from them. I would really want to sing with them.”
YOONCHAE: South Korea’s Jennie Kim
But if dance is on the table, Yoonchae’s top pick would definitely be Blackpink’s Jennie Kim. A core member of the global K-pop phenomenon since 2016, the rapper and vocalist has since catapulted into international stardom with her debut solo album, Ruby.
Katseye will release their second EP ‘Beautiful Chaos’ on June 27. It will include the chart-topping hyperpop track “Gnarly” and the recently released single “Gabriela.”
