KATSEYE ushers in a new generation of girl groups in the west
In Toronto, the global girl group KATSEYE showed why they're appealing to all ages. But what comes next?
(Photo credit: katseyeworld/Instagram)
“I have been so in touch with my girlhood since KATSEYE.”
That’s what I heard as I settled into my seat at the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto on Tuesday, as KATSEYE were set to play a show in front of a sold out 5,000 seat theatre.
I couldn’t agree with the statement more. As I looked around, moms and daughters took their seats decked out in matching jerseys and KATSEYE T-shirts. Young women and their besties wore red dresses inspired by KATSEYE’s “Gabriela” music video. And couples around me dressed in matching Canadian tuxedos, in line with KATSEYE’s viral Gap Jeans ad from this past summer.
As a kid of the ‘90s, I remember the sheer excitement I felt over the girl group Spice Girls, who took over the world with their spunk, sass and catchy songs. While girl groups like Fifth Harmony and Little Mix filled a need in my pop girl group-loving heart in the 2010s, it’s been too long since another girl group has dominated the western music scene.
These days though, KATSEYE is filling void. And given the enthusiasm around me, I think others would say the same.
(Photo credit: katseyeworld/Instagram)
Since KATSEYE announced their tour in early July, tickets to their shows sold out quickly, with seats reselling upwards to $500 to $1500 CAD. It’s not hard to see why demand has been so hot for KATSEYE.
Readers of this newsletter will be familiar with KATSEYE, who I have followed since the group’s formation through the HYBE and Geffen Records reality competition series The Debut: Dream Academy back in 2023. They’re a global girl group, formed under the K-pop trainee system. But while this system has given the KATSEYE members the tools to deliver tight choreography, serve looks and carry tough notes, the selling point of this group has always been their ability to tell their story and celebrate diversity.
2025 has been a breakout year for KATSEYE, from viral songs to iconic brand endorsements. Now they have two Grammy nominations under their belt: Best New Artist and Best Pop Group/Duo Performance.
“I think KATSEYE might be this generation’s Spice Girls,” a friend messaged me on Instagram.
(Photo credit: katseyeworld/Instagram)
From Destiny’s Child to Little Mix, girl groups are not just vehicles for pop music. They’re cultural mirrors. They represent women’s thoughts and feelings, but also serve as a symbol of unity, diversity and cultural pride.
KATSEYE represents a generation of women unafraid to be themselves. They swear, they’re silly and celebrate individuality. These six young women (Sophia, Manon, Lara, Daniela, Megan and Yoonchae) hail from different backgrounds, with roots from South Korea, Philippines, Switzerland and the United States (Lara is Indian-American, Daniela is Cuban-American and Megan has Singaporean and Swedish roots). Lara and Megan also came out as members of the LGBTQ+ community earlier this year, a rarity in the K-pop idol space they were formed under. The group even markets itself like the pop bands of the past, with viral ads with Gap and performances and fan signings at malls.
As a group, KATSEYE also caters well to their wide base, ranging from tween, teen to women in their 20s and 30s. They poke fun at meme culture (“Eat zucchini!” they chant in a new unreleased song called “Internet Girl”) and sing about the ups and downs of girlhood and growing up in tracks like “Mean Girls” and “My Way.”
(Photo credit: katseyeworld/Instagram)
But while KATSEYE has found tons of momentum in the last year, the group still has me wondering about what their musical growth and maturity looks like down the road.
No one denies their live performances are brilliant. Yet a common critique lingers: the music is good, but not GREAT. Some have criticized the group’s songs as not feeling genuine, but more of a trend or a vibe. With songs like “Gnarly” and “Internet Girl”, fans have also described their lyrics (eat a zucchini and Hottie, hottie, like a bag of Takis) as “deeply unserious” and “cringe.”
From the archives: KATSEYE on the importance of sisterhood and representation
(Photo credit: Julian Song)
Vocally, many fans have shared a desire to hear more of Lara and Sophia’s wide vocal range, particularly in ballads and R&B songs. (Luckily for fans who did attend KATSEYE’s Toronto concert, Lara stunned with her vocal riffs and ad libs during tracks like “My Way” and “Time Lapse”)
Many also want the KATSEYE members to contribute more of a personal touch to their music, getting involved in production and song writing.
While “Gnarly”—a noisy hyperpop track that received mixed reviews but won praise for KATSEYE’s performances—proved to give the band virality, I am a bit wary of the group trying to replicate that success with a track like “Internet Girl.” While the latter is more pop-rock in tone and more approachable to the ears, it at times feels like KATSEYE’s music was made simply to create memes and moments.
I am mindful that these girls are still very early in their careers, and hopefully they’ll have many more years to show who they are to the world. Lots of money has been pooled into forming such a group in the first place by HYBE and Geffen. If I were to make any critical notes, I want just a bit more depth in the music! It’s one thing to have fun, make jokes and giggle with each other. But what about the more serious and emotional sides we saw displayed during their trainee eras? If we’re witnessing their journey from the beginning, we want to be let into some of the more vulnerable moments showcased through song!
Still, as a lover of pop groups, the reason why I’ve turned to K-pop is because it’s long filled the void of not having one present in the western music scene…until now. While KATSEYE’s association with the K-pop world has been debated (I consider them adjacent), I was still heartened to see so many fans unfamiliar with the K-pop system attending the KATSEYE concert and showing love to the girls.
I for one, am ready for a resurgence of girl groups in the west. I think KATSEYE marks the beginning of a new era.
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