“I feel like sometimes even we don’t know what we’re doing,” says Lara, laughing. She’s speaking to me – along with fellow Katseye members Megan, Daniela and Yoon Chae (Sophia is off sick*, Manon is on “hiatus”) – over video call from LA, and I’ve just asked them about whether they sometimes feel like they’re navigating uncharted pop waters. 

This idea forms a big part of their new documentary, Katseye: Wild Hearts, releasing August 12. Following the newly-formed sixpiece as they are thrown from the frying pan of intensive K-Pop-style idol training into the fire of online scrutiny, the documentary pays particular attention to the seemingly endless gossiping that has followed Katseye over the last two years. There’s the maximalist single “Gnarly” which was criticised for its perceived ‘messiness’; the infamous live stream in which the group, not knowing they were recording, swore on camera; and, of course, the ongoing hiatus of group member Manon earlier this year. 

Still, while Lara admits that many of these mishaps stem from the group’s naïvety, the story of Katseye is, in many ways, about learning that messiness can be one of their greatest strengths. “With ‘Gnarly’ especially, it was just such an out-there sound for a girl group like us to do, but it also somehow felt correct and really exciting,” Lara continues, referencing the track’s maximalist, EDM-pop production. “It gave something to the world that we hadn’t really heard before. We’re happy to continue to do that, but being in music and making new stuff is also confusing sometimes. It’s tough having to stand behind it while the world is coming at you, but I think it’s a beautiful responsibility.”

Megan chimes in: “Looking back at the 00s and 90s, celebrities definitely had to deal with tabloids, too, but the internet is just so accessible and in your face – especially because we’re on there, too. We get a lot of advice on how to deal with it, and how to not let it affect you. We say it all the time, but the internet is just not real; most of the time it’s just people wanting to have something to say.” 

These are relatively new challenges for a girl group – and Katseye, whose members are aged between 18 and 24, and whose final lineup was decided by online voting on competition show Dream Academy, have faced them particularly intensely. Still, as the documentary points out, this proximity to digital fandoms has also had unforeseen benefits. Recalling their viral, expletive-filled livestream of 2025, Daniela and Lara admit that they thought they “were going to be cancelled,” but instead found themselves widely praised for being relatable. “Thank you Eyekons,” Lara concludes in the film. “You really saved us.”

Leaning into Katseye’s unique, youthful messiness has since become a cornerstone of the group’s branding. Later on in the documentary, it is revealed that Lara has written a track titled “Unlove Me” on the group’s upcoming EP, Wild, releasing August 14**. “I think it’s really important that we [pursue our separate interests], individuality is what gives Katseye its sparkle and charm,” says Lara, who regularly records solo music in her home studio. “Even in ‘Unlove Me’, or in the music we add to our Instagram posts, you can hear each of our own influences and tastes. Hopefully as we continue, you’ll hear more of that from each of the girls. It’s what makes a group fiery and exciting to watch.” 

“For me personally, it’s pop, but I really lean into more EDM and techno,” adds Megan, whose face lit up when I mentioned Australian EDM-pop artist Ninajirachi earlier in the call. “Me and Lara have had sessions together as well. We all enjoy getting in the studio and throwing ideas out there. Hopefully, like Lara, I get to write something for Katseye one day.” Daniela, the group’s star dancer, echoes these thoughts: “Be it writing or choreographing, each and every one of us goes home and keeps progressing. It’s good to experiment on your own.” 

This individuality, on the surface at least, is also reflected in the ‘new chapter’ that the upcoming documentary and EP are intended to mark in Katseye’s career. “We’ve experienced really formative years of our lives, from our late teens to early 20s, still figuring out who we are as people,” explains Lara. “Our music, our sense of styling, even the way we perform – all of it has changed a lot. With this third EP coming out, it was like, ‘OK, if Katseye was one human being, who would she be? It feels a lot more convicted in who we are and what we have to say.” Megan interjects: “But that’s not to say this is the final chapter! There’s always going to be new chapters of Katseye; this is just the EP-three chapter.” 

As the conversation winds to a close, I address the elephant in the room: Manon appears regularly throughout the film’s early footage, but her ongoing absence from the group’s recent singles and public appearances is only given passing mention. What’s going on here? “This movie captures the whole essence of Katseye and the journey from debut to now,” comes Lara’s response. “She is a very beautiful, integral and strong part of that journey and all of those memories. I think it’s awesome that every piece of the puzzle is in the movie, and everyone’s going to see that. It’s beautiful for us to see how everything has come together, including with her.”

At the end of the day, Katseye are the product of a highly engineered corporate partnership between American mega-label Geffen (Nirvana, Celeste, Anne Marie) and K-Pop giants Hybe (BTS, NewJeans, ENHYPEN), which adds an asterisk to all this talk of messy individuality. In fact, since interviewing the girls two weeks ago, Sophia has announced a month-long break to “prioritise her mental health and wellness”, while Lara’s “Unlove Me” has been relegated to a US-exclusive bonus track. Both are reminders that, however spontaneous Katseye may appear on screen, their career is still unfolding inside a tightly managed pop machine.

*This interview was recorded on July 29. It has since been revealed that Sophia will take a month-long break to focus on her mental health. 

**“Unlove Me” is a US-exclusive single.