featuring @katseyeworld @geffenrecords @sophia_laforteza @lararajj @daniela_avanzini @meganskiendiel @yoonchae
KATSEYE have officially entered their WILD era. The multinational group’s third EP arrived via HYBE x Geffen Records just two days after the theatrical premiere of their documentary KATSEYE: WILD HEARTS, completing a carefully orchestrated rollout that has defined one of the most closely watched releases of the year.
Formed through the 2023 HYBE and Geffen collaboration The Debut: Dream Academy, KATSEYE—Sophia Laforteza, Lara Raj, Daniela Avanzini, Megan Skiendiel, Yoonchae Jeung, and Manon Bannerman—quickly evolved from reality-show contestants into a genuine global force. Their 2024 debut EP SIS (Soft Is Strong) introduced them to the world. 2025’s Beautiful Chaos elevated them further, debuting at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and earning Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Gabriela.” That project proved the group could deliver both viral, algorithm-friendly tracks like “Gnarly” and more radio-ready hits. WILD aims to push the evolution further.
The five-track standard edition (plus a retailer-exclusive bonus) opens with the previously released “Pinky Up,” a sleek techno-pop single that peaked at No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 and served as the unofficial launch of this new chapter during the group’s Coachella debut. It is followed by the lead single “Animal,” co-written by Ed Sheeran (alongside Johnny McDaid, Blake Slatkin, and Omer Fedi). The track debuted strongly on global charts and explores the tension between polished public personas and the uninhibited energy that surfaces when the spotlight dims. Its music video, directed by longtime collaborator Cody Critcheloe, features a memorable cameo from Demi Moore as a sharp-tongued authority figure who ultimately gives the members permission to “get wild.”
The remaining tracks expand the sonic palette. “Hootie Frutti” leans into playful, flirtatious energy with Brazilian funk-inspired grooves and cheeky temptation metaphors. “Bel Air,” co-written by Charli XCX, shifts into a smoother, synth-driven breakup space. “That Way” channels Y2K-inspired nostalgia and vocal flourishes. Physical editions at Target (and select international retailers) include the bonus track “Unloveu,” co-written and co-produced by member Lara Raj with Amy Allen and Ross Golan—the first song on a KATSEYE project with significant creative input from a member herself.
Across the project, the group frames WILD as a statement of growth and self-determination. Official descriptions and member comments emphasize moving beyond the “beautiful chaos” of their previous chapter into something more euphoric, open, and unbound. Themes of freedom, desire, heartbreak, and embracing every version of oneself run through the short but purposeful set. In interviews around the release, the members have spoken about maturity and the desire to keep listeners on their toes while still delivering music they genuinely want to dance and connect to.
The timing of the release is complicated by real-life circumstances. Manon Bannerman has been on a temporary hiatus since February 2026 for health and wellbeing reasons. Sophia Laforteza announced her own temporary step back in early August to focus on mental health and wellness, just days before the documentary premiere and EP drop. The remaining four members—Lara, Daniela, Megan, and Yoonchae—have continued promotional activities, including performances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and the Today show’s Citi Concert Series, while consistently emphasizing support for their bandmates. “We ride for them,” Lara said simply. Both members remain part of the group, and the door stays open.
The accompanying documentary KATSEYE: WILD HEARTS, directed by Nadia Hallgren (who previously documented the group’s formation in Netflix’s Pop Star Academy), offers an intimate look at the journey so far. It mixes never-before-seen footage, member interviews, and fan-submitted clips from EYEKONS, positioning the film as both a celebration of the fandom and a more raw portrait of the pressures that come with rapid global success.
WILD arrives as KATSEYE prepares to take the next major step: their first arena run, the Wildworld Tour, which begins in September across Europe and North America. In just over two years, the group has gone from a reality competition experiment to Grammy nominees with Hot 100 hits, festival main stages, and a growing live following. The new EP does not attempt to reinvent them completely. Instead, it captures a group in transition—still playful and online-fluent, but increasingly interested in claiming space as mature, self-directed artists.
Whether WILD ultimately solidifies a singular sonic identity or continues the exploratory approach that has defined their early career remains to be seen. What is clear is that KATSEYE is no longer simply promising. With this release, the pre-saves, the chart momentum, the documentary, and the tour on the horizon, they are fully in the arena—and they are not asking for permission to be wild.
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