KATSEYE interview with BBC | BBC News

Key Concepts

• Global Girl Group: A musical group composed of members from diverse cultural and national backgrounds.
• K-Pop Training System: A rigorous and demanding system of training for aspiring K-pop artists, focusing on singing, dancing, and performance.
• Dream Academy: A competition that served as the selection process for the group, narrowing down from 20 contestants to the final six members.
• "Beautiful Chaos": A descriptor for the group's unique blend of K-pop's structured strategy and Western pop's familiar elements, creating a dynamic and unpredictable identity.
• "Gnarly": The group's debut song, characterized by its unique sound and requiring significant character and commitment from the performers.
• Accountability and Self-Care: The group's strategy for managing the intense scrutiny and negative feedback from social media by supporting each other and taking breaks from online platforms.
• Representation and Diversity: The group's commitment to showcasing a wide range of cultural backgrounds and allowing fans to see themselves reflected in the members.
• Self-Written Music: A future goal for the group, aiming to express their personal experiences and perspectives through their own lyrics and compositions.

The Genesis and Identity of KATSEYE

Formation and Training

The formation of the global girl group KATSEYE is rooted in the rigorous K-pop training system, which the members describe as "very rigorous, very demanding." This intensive training equipped them for their current careers. The selection process involved a competition called "Dream Academy," where contestants progressed through various missions and global voting. This process narrowed down the initial 20 participants to the final six members. The journey through Dream Academy was described as "more than a year of training," and at times "quite emotional" and "punishing."

The Moment of Formation

Upon the conclusion of the competition and the official formation of the band, the members experienced a profound sense of relief. One member stated, "It felt like a big like like we could finally like take a deep breath." The constant anxiety of vying for a spot was replaced by a feeling of a "new beginning." Another member recalled being able to "finally get a good night's sleep without like worrying," highlighting the immense pressure they had been under. The executives' goal of creating "the biggest girl band in the world" is shared by the members, who rehearse with this objective daily, starting "at very early hours" and sometimes ending "super late." This demanding schedule necessitates deep passion and a relentless drive.

Achieving Cohesion and Identity

The group's ability to perform cohesively, as if "reading each other's minds," is a result of dedicated practice. Initially, achieving this synchronicity required extensive rehearsals, but as the group has spent more time together, the time needed to perfect choreography has significantly decreased. After a year together, they can achieve a high level of synchronization within "one day of rehearsals." This cohesion is further strengthened by their shared understanding of their collective identity as "KATSEYE," moving beyond being "six individuals." They have established "a shared goal and what our standards are," which facilitates their ability to sync.

Blending K-Pop Strategy with Pop Sensibility

"Beautiful Chaos" as a Descriptor

KATSEYE navigates a unique space between the structured world of K-pop and the broader pop music landscape. They describe their social media presence as "controlled chaos," which they find to be a "beautiful thing." This concept of "beautiful chaos" is seen as the perfect explanation for their identity, embodying the best of both worlds. They leverage the "controlled side" of K-pop, acknowledging its proven strategies for global success, while also incorporating the familiar elements of Western pop music that many grew up with. This fusion is an ongoing "process" that involves "culture shock and compromise and conversations."

Choreography and Practice

The precision in their performances, particularly in choreography, is a testament to their dedication. Learning a full choreography can take as little as "one or two days," but this is followed by extensive practice. They dedicate "four hour rehearsals every single day" to refine the movements. While learning the steps might be relatively quick, "to perfect it, it takes takes a while," or rather, they "like to take our time" to ensure it is executed flawlessly.

Navigating the Music and Scrutiny

The Debut Song "Gnarly"

The debut song, "Gnarly," elicited strong initial reactions. While some members "loved it" immediately, there were "mixed opinions." The song was recognized as "so different" and possessing a unique appeal, with the members seeing a "vision" for it. They anticipated that fans might find it "shocking" due to its unconventional nature. The recording process for "Gnarly" was extensive, requiring multiple takes to capture its "special song" quality and the necessary "character." The members emphasize the need to be fully "in it" and not "shy away" from its intensity.

Managing Social Media and Scrutiny

The group acknowledges the intense scrutiny and constant feedback they receive on social media. They have developed a strategy of "holding each other accountable," calling each other out when necessary and encouraging breaks from social media if someone is "feeling a bit down or reading too many comments online." They recognize that "no human is supposed to receive that much feedback on something that they've created." Their approach is to focus on their own work, knowing they have done their best, and to avoid seeking validation solely from external opinions.

The Weight of Public Life

The pressure of their public careers can be "really heavy," with stakes continually rising and pressure mounting from "360 all sides." Despite attempts to dismiss negative comments, the impact of "death threats" can be "jarring," even if they are not acted upon. The members have experienced significant negative attention, including comments directed at their families, acknowledging that this is a part of being "so public" and the "spotlight." However, they stress that despite the public persona, they remain "human" and are not immune to the emotional toll. They find solace in the fact that they are not alone in experiencing these pressures, as "nobody else on this earth will understand" their unique situation.

Future Aspirations and Representation

Self-Written Music

A significant future goal for KATSEYE is to release self-written music. This is seen as a crucial aspect of their artistic expression within the "Hive" (presumably their agency or management). They are eager to share their personal stories and perspectives through their own lyrics.

Thematic Focus: The Internet and Comparison

One proposed theme for a self-written song is the internet and its impact, particularly the universal experience of women being constantly compared to each other. The members find the practice of ranking women based on appearance, singing, and dancing skills, often with "letter grading" or percentages, to be "dystopian." They observe this phenomenon extensively on platforms like TikTok, where videos ranking KATSEYE members are prevalent. While acknowledging the fun of having a "bias," they also find the constant comparison and pitting of women against each other to be a "weird" and "interesting concept" to explore in their music.

The Power of Global Representation

Representation is a cornerstone of KATSEYE's identity. With members from diverse backgrounds including the Philippines, Korea, Swiss German, Ghanaian heritage, and Tamil Indian heritage, they are pioneers in this regard. They express pride in their diversity, believing that "everyone can look at us and see themselves in us." This inclusivity makes fans "feel really seen," an emotional realization that deeply affects the members. They view their "skin color, our culture is our power" and encourage embracing it. One member shared a personal journey of overcoming the feeling that their background might be a hindrance, resolving to "be that person that changes that."

Universal Appeal

The interviewer, despite not being the target demographic, expresses admiration for their music, to which the group responds that "everybody is" the target market. They emphasize their commitment to inclusivity and representation, stating, "We're all about concerts, right? All about representative. Everybody is."