KATSEYE BIOGRAPHY - MEMBERS, CAREER, SONGS & FACTS

Explore the music: read the lyrics to "Animal" — their biggest hit, co-written by Ed Sheeran — plus "Hootie Frutti", which they performed on SNL, and Ed Sheeran's own "Sapphire".

KATSEYE is the six-member global girl group born from HYBE and Geffen Records' The Debut: Dream Academy — now one of pop's fastest-rising acts, with a Billboard 200 No. 1 EP (Wild), the Ed Sheeran co-written hit "Animal", and a Saturday Night Live debut on 26 September 2026.

Image: Still from the official Animal music video (HYBE LABELS, 2026)

Formation

KATSEYE was formed in 2023 through the reality competition The Debut: Dream Academy, a joint venture between HYBE and Geffen Records that recruited young talent from around the world. Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Manon Bannerman, Megan Skiendiel, Sophia Laforteza and Yoonchae Jeung were selected as the final lineup. Netflix's documentary series Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE documented the members' intensive training in the lead-up to their debut.

Career

The group made its official debut in 2024 with the single "Debut", followed by the EP SIS (Soft Is Strong) and the single "Touch". In 2025, Beautiful Chaos marked a breakthrough: "Gnarly" became the group's first Billboard Hot 100 entry, while "Gabriela" went on to spend 28 weeks on the chart. KATSEYE won three American Music Awards in 2026, and their EP Wild, released in August 2026, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — their first chart-topper. Its lead single "Animal", co-written by Ed Sheeran, reached No. 24 on the Hot 100 and crossed 100 million views within 54 days. The group has described its own sound as "not K-pop, but heavily inspired by it".

Recent News

KATSEYE made their Saturday Night Live debut on 26 September 2026, performing on the Season 52 premiere hosted by Jalen Brunson. Appearing as a four-piece — Manon Bannerman and Sophia Laforteza are currently on hiatus — the group performed "Animal" and "Hootie Frutti". The 31-date Wildworld Tour is now underway, opening across Europe before moving on to North America. The group has reportedly secured Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

FAQ

Who are the members of KATSEYE?

The six members are Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Manon Bannerman, Megan Skiendiel, Sophia Laforteza and Yoonchae Jeung.

How was KATSEYE formed?

The group was formed through the 2023 reality competition The Debut: Dream Academy, a joint venture between HYBE and Geffen Records.

What is KATSEYE's biggest song?

"Animal" is their biggest hit — it reached No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was co-written by Ed Sheeran. "Gabriela" also spent 28 weeks on the Hot 100.

Why are two KATSEYE members missing?

Manon Bannerman and Sophia Laforteza are currently on hiatus to focus on their mental health.