{"id":2094689,"date":"2026-08-14T10:00:06","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T07:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2094689"},"modified":"2026-08-14T10:00:06","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T07:00:06","slug":"katseye-wild-ep-review-global-girl-group-struggle-to-find-the-sweet-spot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2094689","title":{"rendered":"KATSEYE \u2013 \u2018Wild\u2019 EP review: global girl group struggle to find the sweet spot"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/KATSEYE-Credit-Julian-Song.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-3332206\" class=\"post-3332206 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_71 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/KATSEYE-Credit-Julian-Song-696x442.jpg\" alt=\"katseye wild review\" title=\"KATSEYE Credit Julian Song\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">KATSEYE. Credit: Julian Song<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_72\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_73  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_75  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>Reviews<\/span><span>Album Reviews<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_77 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_77\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">KATSEYE \u2013 \u2018Wild\u2019 EP review: global girl group struggle to find the sweet spot<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_78 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_78\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Two years, three EPs and multiple hit songs in, and it\u2019s still no clearer where the global girl group are taking their music<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_review_overall tdi_79 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_79\">\n<table class=\"td-review td-fix-index\">\n<tr class=\"td-review-footer rate_stars\">\n<td class=\"td-review-score\">\n<div class=\"td-review-overall\">\n<div class=\"td-review-final-score\">3<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_80 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_80\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Rhian Daly<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_81 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-08-14T11:00:06+01:00\">14th August 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_82\" class=\"tdc-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_83  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>KATSEYE, the global girl group launched by HYBE x Geffen, are in an interesting spot. This year has been their biggest yet, with their first Grammy nominations, landmark live performances and a sold-out tour on the horizon. But between the achievements, there\u2019s also been strife \u2013 member Manon has been on a much-talked-about hiatus since February, while leader Sophia announced last week she was also taking a break to focus on her mental health.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: Meet KatzPascale, the chamber music duo putting audiences in a trance<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u2018Wild\u2019, the group\u2019s third EP, is similarly conflicted. At this point, it should be a release that solidifies KATSEYE\u2019s sound and direction ahead of an eventual album \u2013 an indicator of who this group are and what they\u2019re saying. Instead, it feels remarkably uncertain, as if it\u2019s wary of going too far one way, so hedges its bets instead and plays things safe.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>At times, KATSEYE push into experimental dance-pop, following 2025 track \u2018Gnarly\u2019\u2019s lead with extremely online references and brain-shaking electronic beats. \u2018Pinky Up\u2019, released as a single in April, is less obnoxious than \u2018Gnarly\u2019, but curiously that feels like its downfall, lacking anything interesting or impactful. <i>\u201cI love you, you love me \/ We batshit, oui, oui\u201d<\/i>, Sophia declares over deep bass, but there\u2019s nothing in the song that feels particularly bold. \u2018Hootie Fruitti\u2019 makes a stronger impression, the five members purring over a Brazilian phonk and hyperpop hybrid about <i>\u201c$20 smoothies in LA\u201d<\/i> and <i>\u201cmochi drenched in chocolata\u201d<\/i>. It\u2019s clearly designed to expand KATSEYE\u2019s global culture canon with occasional Portuguese lyrics, but most importantly, it\u2019s a fun, infectious piece of pop.<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"KATSEYE (\ucea3\uce20\uc544\uc774) 'Hootie Frutti' Official MV\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/is8UDe2PhKQ?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p>At other times, though, it feels like the EP overcorrects for venturing into territory that might be divisive by driving back into sounds that are incredibly safe. Recent single \u2018Animal\u2019, co-written by the king of safe pop Ed Sheeran, falls back on retro-pop that\u2019s pretty but bland. \u2018That Way\u2019 fares marginally better, KATSEYE using a slinking groove as the foundation to take control with a partner and set boundaries that reflect their worth (<i>\u201cIf you wanna dance, you better get your hands, and put them in the right spot\u201d<\/i>). \u2018Bel Air\u2019, meanwhile, is a pleasant if lightweight ballad, propelled by a buzzing bassline and gently marching drum beat as the members reflect on being stuck on a relationship that you know won\u2019t work out and finding the strength to move on \u2013 not the most memorable of tracks, but a nice enough detour while it lasts.<\/p>\n<p>By the end of it all, though, where KATSEYE go next is no clearer. You\u2019d hope by the time their eventual debut album comes around, they\u2019ll have found the sweet spot between chart-friendly and boundary-pushing without compromising on quality or edge. Only time will tell, though, if they can get there.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Details<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3782516 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/KATSEYE-Wild-Artwork.jpg\" alt=\"katseye wild ep review\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Record label:<\/strong> HYBE x Geffen<\/li>\n<li><strong>Release date:<\/strong> August 14, 2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_tags tdi_87 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_87\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<ul class=\"tdb-tags\">\n<li><span>Related Topics<\/span><\/li>\n<li>KATSEYE<\/li>\n<li>Pop<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_88\" class=\"tdc-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_89  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_91  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_93  vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_95  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_97 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>More Stories<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap td_flex_block_1 tdi_98 td-pb-border-top td_module_flex_1--card td_module_flex_1--card--highlight td_block_template_2 tdc-no-posts td_flex_block\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_98\">\n<div id=\"tdi_98\" class=\"td_block_inner td-mc1-wrap\">\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">These were Spotify\u2019s most-played songs during the solar 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class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>KATSEYE, the global girl group launched by HYBE x Geffen, are in an interesting spot. This year has been their biggest yet, with their first Grammy nominations, landmark live performances and a sold-out tour on the horizon. But between the achievements, there\u2019s also been strife \u2013 member Manon has been on a much-talked-about hiatus since February, while leader Sophia announced last week she was also taking a break to focus on her mental health.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: Meet KatzPascale, the chamber music duo putting audiences in a trance<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u2018Wild\u2019, the group\u2019s third EP, is similarly conflicted. At this point, it should be a release that solidifies KATSEYE\u2019s sound and direction ahead of an eventual album \u2013 an indicator of who this group are and what they\u2019re saying. Instead, it feels remarkably uncertain, as if it\u2019s wary of going too far one way, so hedges its bets instead and plays things safe.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>At times, KATSEYE push into experimental dance-pop, following 2025 track \u2018Gnarly\u2019\u2019s lead with extremely online references and brain-shaking electronic beats. \u2018Pinky Up\u2019, released as a single in April, is less obnoxious than \u2018Gnarly\u2019, but curiously that feels like its downfall, lacking anything interesting or impactful. <i>\u201cI love you, you love me \/ We batshit, oui, oui\u201d<\/i>, Sophia declares over deep bass, but there\u2019s nothing in the song that feels particularly bold. \u2018Hootie Fruitti\u2019 makes a stronger impression, the five members purring over a Brazilian phonk and hyperpop hybrid about <i>\u201c$20 smoothies in LA\u201d<\/i> and <i>\u201cmochi drenched in chocolata\u201d<\/i>. It\u2019s clearly designed to expand KATSEYE\u2019s global culture canon with occasional Portuguese lyrics, but most importantly, it\u2019s a fun, infectious piece of pop.<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"KATSEYE (\ucea3\uce20\uc544\uc774) 'Hootie Frutti' Official MV\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/is8UDe2PhKQ?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p>At other times, though, it feels like the EP overcorrects for venturing into territory that might be divisive by driving back into sounds that are incredibly safe. Recent single \u2018Animal\u2019, co-written by the king of safe pop Ed Sheeran, falls back on retro-pop that\u2019s pretty but bland. \u2018That Way\u2019 fares marginally better, KATSEYE using a slinking groove as the foundation to take control with a partner and set boundaries that reflect their worth (<i>\u201cIf you wanna dance, you better get your hands, and put them in the right spot\u201d<\/i>). \u2018Bel Air\u2019, meanwhile, is a pleasant if lightweight ballad, propelled by a buzzing bassline and gently marching drum beat as the members reflect on being stuck on a relationship that you know won\u2019t work out and finding the strength to move on \u2013 not the most memorable of tracks, but a nice enough detour while it lasts.<\/p>\n<p>By the end of it all, though, where KATSEYE go next is no clearer. You\u2019d hope by the time their eventual debut album comes around, they\u2019ll have found the sweet spot between chart-friendly and boundary-pushing without compromising on quality or edge. Only time will tell, though, if they can get there.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Details<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3782516 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/KATSEYE-Wild-Artwork.jpg\" alt=\"katseye wild ep review\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Record label:<\/strong> HYBE x Geffen<\/li>\n<li><strong>Release date:<\/strong> August 14, 2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/reviews\/album\/katseye-wild-ep-review-3962561&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/KATSEYE-Credit-Julian-Song.jpg&#8221;] KATSEYE. Credit: Julian Song ReviewsAlbum Reviews KATSEYE \u2013 \u2018Wild\u2019 EP review: global girl group struggle to find the sweet spot Two years, three EPs and multiple hit songs in, and it\u2019s still no clearer where the global girl group are taking their music 3 By Rhian Daly 14th August 2026 KATSEYE, the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-2094689","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2094689","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2094689"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2094689\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2094689"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2094689"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2094689"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}