quick however oh so candy

Again in 2022, hundreds of women throughout the globe shared one dream – for a spot in HYBE and Geffen Data’ newest challenge: an unprecedented woman group that may bridge the West and Okay-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 numerous cultural backgrounds – together with the US, Switzerland, the Philippines and South Korea. In spite of everything, these had been bonds solid by sweat and grit as they survived mission after mission that emulated the notoriously laborious Okay-idol coaching construction. Alongside them had been 14 different contestants, handpicked from a pool of greater than 120,000 hopefuls.

It’s exactly from this shared sisterhood that ‘SIS (Tender Is Sturdy)’ finds its core. As one listens by the EP, its peculiar title 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 1,000,000 errors / Not less than I can say that I did it my approach” on the emotive ballad, ‘My Means’, KATSEYE navigate the complexity of girlhood and all its ups and downs whereas staying delicate 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 energy is available in extra kinds 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 completely 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 monitor and standout – instantly transports us again to pop staples from the late-2000s. “Simply after I suppose it’s an excessive amount of I dry my tears with make-up / Issues I might do with this brush, you’d by no means know that I damage,” they sing stuffed with emotion, because the group’s vocal prowess begins to shine by. “However I’m fairly (fairly) fairly (fairly) / Fairly positive that I’m nonetheless respiratory,” KATSEYE affirm they’re stronger than they suppose with easy harmonies that masterfully glide by 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 right closing for the EP. “Do the entire shit I do know I didn’t do after I was a child / Get excessive on life for anyone’s kiss, Tonight I would,” determine the women as they playfully let go of their inhibitions, bouncing off a gleeful digital dance beat that completely conjures the picture of the top 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 (Tender Is Sturdy)’, a surprisingly cohesive launch that largely captures the group’s monumental potential. Nevertheless, with not one of the songs crossing three minutes – the truth is, solely two barely attain two-and-a-half minutes – it’s onerous to shake off the itch you get when a tune 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 received all of the makings of the subsequent huge woman group, embellished with the polish and glitter of Okay-pop.

Particulars

• Document label: HYBE / UMG
• Launch date: August 12, 2024