Cat’s Eye isn’t just a new girl group. They are the internet’s latest obsession engineered for virality and moving at a very fast speed. They are really the algorithm’s chosen ones with every clip becoming a hit and every song becoming a trend. But riding the algorithm just isn’t enough if Cat’s Eye wants to become the biggest girl group of their generation.
So, the question is, after dominating online, what should Cat’s Eye do next? We’re going to get into Cat’s Eye in this episode of the Bot Bible and how exactly they were able to grow a following so quickly and become such a big girl group only a year into their debut. And I’m so excited for this episode because I am a Cat’s Eye stan and I want them to become the biggest girl group of their generation.
I’m also going to get into some fun segments at the end, so I’ll be talking about Cat’s Eye’s most underrated song, if I had to remove a song what it would be, and their best performance. Before I get into this episode, hello Floppianas. Thank you so much to join in on this episode today.
If you are new here, welcome. I really appreciate you deciding to listen to a new podcast. And if you are not new, welcome back. So, if you’re unfamiliar with how Cat’s Eye was formed, I’m going to run through the process of the Dream Academy. So, in late 2021, Hybe and Geffen Records launch a joint venture to create a global girl group.
Hybe’s roster includes groups like BTS, Le Sserafim, and Seventeen. And Geffen Records is under Universal Music Group, which is the largest major record label. So, this partnership between Hybe and Universal Music was just bound to be successful. Auditions started for the group in 2022, and this was a massive audition process.
I mean, there were 120,000 people who auditioned to be in this girl group. And only 20 people out of those 120,000 people were chosen to compete in the debut Dream Academy. This was a reality competition show that showed the training of these 20 contestants. And it was pretty intense. I mean, for the training, they used K-pop methodologies and trained them in vocals, dance, and performance.
And it wasn’t just like any sort of training. I mean, those K-pop girlies train hard. And it was pretty fast, too. I mean, a lot of K-pop artists train for years under their K-pop labels, but this was kind of a quick process. I mean, the debut Dream Academy only lasted about a year. During this competition, the 20 candidates competed in missions to test their artistry, and after each mission, there were eliminations.
The competition was very fan-driven, too. Like, they would upload clips of the contestants performing online on Weverse and YouTube, and fans would have to vote for who they liked the best. And the fan voting was very important because there were certain contestants who were ranked low by the judges, but the fans were obsessed with them.
For example, when Manon came in, she was ranked low by the judges, but the fans were obsessed with her, so they consistently had her ranked towards the top of the list. This allowed the judges to be like, “Okay, we might not see the scale in her right now, but clearly the fans love her, and that’s what we need.
We need a group that is going to be loved by fans and could eventually sell out shows.” The fans riding for Manon as hard as they did is what eventually got her into the group. This also just allowed fans to develop more of a connection with these girls from the very beginning. Like, they hadn’t even announced their final members yet, but already had a core fan base.
Once they got to the final 10 contestants, those 10 girls competed live on the finale, where they announced the final six members of Cat’s Eye. Lara, Manon, Megan, Daniela, Yoonchae, and Sophia. >> First member making their dream into a reality is from the Philippines. It’s Sophia! [cheering and screaming] The next finalist whose dream is about to become a reality is from the USA. It’s Laura.
>> [screaming] [cheering] >> And now the third member to make her dream into a reality, Yunche. >> [cheering] >> The fourth member whose dream is about to become a reality is from the USA. Megan >> [cheering] >> The debuting member is from the USA. Daniella >> [cheering] >> The member to fulfill her dream today and gain fans all over the world is Noa from Switzerland.
This was such a fun process to watch. I mean, this is as close as we will get to how exciting American Idol felt in like the early 2000s. And it’s crazy like I remember going to a press event when they had the final 20 contestants and it was at the Universal Music office and the contestants introduced themselves and I was in the audience and I would have never thought that this group would just turn into the massive success that they became.
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And when they announced the final group members, they already had fans from around the world who were going to support them once they debuted. And that’s because of the the that the members come from different backgrounds. Sophia is Filipino-American, Lara is Indian-American, Daniela is Cuban-Venezuelan-American, Megan is Chinese-American, Manon is Swiss-Ghanaian, and Yoonchae is Korean.
And after the group formed, their next goal was to conquer the internet. I feel like the strategy with Cat’s Eye’s content on social media was to make them look like less polished idols and more like relatable friends. They did dances and posted content to kind of introduce each member of the group.
They started posting very consistently, and some videos had all of the group members, some had two members, some had one member, and this just really helped fans develop more of a connection with them. I feel like their team really understood the internet from the very beginning, and there was even a time where they kind of played into a feud rumor between Manon and Lara.
In the reality show, it seemed like there was some sort of conflict going on between Manon and Lara because Manon would frequently not show up to rehearsals, and people like Lara and Sophia were upset by this. I feel like a lot of our frustration, it’s just being present Mhm. in what this whole program requires, which is a lot of discipline and a lot of hard work and like paying attention and doing your part.
I told her like I’m genuinely I’m willing to forget everything. Like I just want to move forward and be cool with you as long as like you do your part, show up, and I’ll do my part, too. So, after the show came out, fans were like they do not like each other, and they were quick to debunk those rumors.
One of the early posts on the Cat’s Eye TikTok account was a photo of Lara and Manon that said, “We’re literally fine. lol.” And this post was a part of their strategy. I mean, it just showed that they knew what was going on, knew what the fans were saying, and obviously they’re a brand new girl group.
They don’t want it to seem like two of the girls are feuding, so they were just really quick to debunk that. But, that gave them a lot of attention. Like I remember Pop Crave posting about that, all these news outlets posting about it. And yeah, it just helped their content grow even further. Cat Eye officially debuted with the song Debut in June of 2024.
And by August of 2024, they already had 1 million followers on TikTok. That is absolutely insane. And it was just a sign that people were loving them, the content was working, and they were about to get even bigger. A large reason they were able to grow this big following so quickly was because of the song Touch, which became a big dance trend on TikTok.
But that again was due to the girls consistently posting the dance online. I feel like Cat Eye definitely played it safe with Touch and their first EP Soft is Strong because they kind of just sound like traditional K-pop songs that we could hear sung by like any K-pop group. But the music was good. I mean, Touch is such a cute internet girl song.
And while they definitely played it safe with their first EP, they decided to take a big risk with the lead single of their second EP, Narly. Narly was definitely a move to get people to talk about them. Like they knew the reaction to the song would be very mixed. When the song dropped, I remember seeing so many negative comments on YouTube on the music video, which is crazy because I feel like YouTube audiences are always so positive, especially with K-pop groups.
Like the comment section is just filled with positivity and praise. But that is not what we saw when Narly first came out. The video definitely ate, but the song was just confusing. Like those lyrics were definitely questionable when it first came out. Not going to lie, the song did grow on me. And that’s because of the live performances of Narly.
Like whenever I see a video of Cat Eye performing it, I have to stream it afterwards. Narly was such a great buzz single leading into the Beautiful Chaos EP because it got so many people talking about them online. And people who weren’t even familiar with them before from their first EP. Like the virality of Narly and the mixed reception of it definitely got more people interested because they were like, wait, who is this group? Why is everybody talking about them? After taking this risk with Narlie, they decided to play it safe
again with the song Gabriella. Gabriella is a fun, cute pop song with more of a western style hook and the song was actually recorded by multiple artists before. Artists like Anitta, Rita Ora, and Little Mix have all recorded demos of Gabriella. So, that just goes to show that it was kind of a song that multiple artists could pursue, like not just Cat’s Eye.
But, it was a great song for the summer and it became their second song to chart on the Hot 100 after Narlie. So, they were already having a great year with Narlie and Gabriella and The Beautiful Chaos EP. And then, what happens after this? The iconic Gap ad. This ad took them to a whole new level. If you haven’t seen the ad for some reason, Cat’s Eye dances to Kelis’ song Milkshake in their Gap denim.
The choreo is just so good in it and they genuinely look like it girls, which is why this ad went so viral. Some fans online thought that they should have been dancing to the song Gabriella, which could have definitely made Gabriella the song bigger, but I think part of what made this ad so special and so iconic was them dancing to Kelis’ song Milkshake.
I think using a song like Milkshake by Kelis helped bring in an even older audience. Like, this got millennials interested in Cat’s Eye and the Gap ad because they loved the song Milkshake growing up. They genuinely made Gap jeans look cool and comfortable, which was clearly the goal of the campaign. Cat’s Eye having so much viral success with Narlie, Gabriella, and the Gap ad is ultimately what led them to now the Grammy nominations.
I was genuinely so gagged to see Cat’s Eye nominated for Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo Group Performance with Gabriella so early on in their career. Like, it’s only been a little over a year since their debut and they already have all this viral success, 15 million followers on TikTok, Grammy nominations. So clearly Cat Eye succeeded in taking over the internet.
But that is just not enough if they do want to become the biggest global girl group of their generation. They’re on a world tour right now, they have Coachella coming up. Like they have to be really strategic about their next move. So what should they do? I personally think that with their next era these girls need to have more creative control in the studio.
I don’t think they should just be taking these scrapped demos from artists when they have so much talent that goes beyond vocals. For example, Lara and Megan can produce and write. Manon said that she’s been songwriting since she was 15 years old. Like I want to see this with their debut album. And we know that they’re good at this. I mean both Lara and Megan have shared some songs that they’ve created and they’re genuinely good songs.
Lara is a vocal powerhouse, a songwriter, a producer. Like I know if she’s in the studio creating these songs, then they could be huge. There’s a song she created called Homegirls that’s really good. It’s more of like an R&B vibe. She’s kind of serving like Loriana Grande. >> [singing] >> And Megan has a song called Out of Control that she created and that’s also more of an R&B vibe.
>> >> And it’s just so cool to hear these girls experiment with their sound. The more K-pop style songs are fun, don’t get me wrong, but there’s just so much more they can offer. They did have Lara produce a remix of Narley and hopefully that’s just a sign that we’ll see her produce more in the future for the group.
These girls know the internet better than older executives and I also feel like they know what people want when it comes to music. They have the star quality locked down, and now I think it’s just time to see them experiment more. Like I mentioned, they have a lot going on right now with their world tour and Coachella, and I think Coachella will be a massive moment for them.
Like their crowd is going to be insane. We saw how big their crowd was at Lollapalooza, and now they’re even bigger than they were before. So Coachella will really be the perfect time for them to debut a new song. That’s not internet girl, by the way. Like personally, I just don’t think that sound should be the direction they pursue with their debut album.
So now I’m going to get into some fun segments on Cat’s Eye. I’m going to talk about their most underrated song, if I had to remove a song what it would be, and their best performance. Let’s start with their most underrated song. Their most underrated song, I believe, is MIA. I just love the energy of that song, and also the girls love that song, too.
So I wish it would have had a bigger moment with the release of the Beautiful Chaos EP, but that’s when Gabriella was taking off and Narlie had already taken off, so it makes sense why it didn’t. But yeah, I just love MIA. I feel like it perfectly captures the independent, carefree energy you experience when you’re in your early 20s, and I would have loved to see like a full, Narlie-level budget music video for this song.
So now, if I had to remove a song from Cat’s Eye’s discography, what would it be? Can I say internet girl? With all the songs that they have out right now, like I don’t know if I would remove any of them because even Narlie, like that song has grown on me a lot, and I feel like it’s turned into kind of like an iconic moment for them.
So I wouldn’t want to remove it from their discography, you know? Okay, I guess if I had to choose one, I would say I’m pretty from their first EP. I genuinely forgot that this song existed because I just never really cared for it, to be honest, but yeah, it’s just not my vibe. So now, what has been Cat’s Eye’s best performance? I think Lollapalooza was definitely their best performance because just seeing them own that festival stage, and also pull a massive crowd, like that was so insane.
That performance was just full of iconic moments, like the Gabriela choreography, that cute little moment between Manon and Lara that they said was unplanned. Like it was just such a great performance from start to finish. I had so much FOMO when I wasn’t there. But it really just made me so excited for Coachella.
Like that crowd is going to be crazy. I’m going to have to like camp out for the Cat’s Eye girls to get a good spot. Cat’s Eye has been a huge success for HYBE and Geffen, and a big reason for that is that they were able to take over the internet so quickly. With only two EPs out, they’ve already accomplished so much, like their upcoming Coachella performance and their Grammy nominations.
They already have the big fan base, but I think if they want to get even bigger, they need to start showcasing more of their talent in the studio with songwriting and production. I think this will allow the songs to just chart beyond the top 30. Like if Lara is in that studio producing and writing for the group, top 10 hits secured.
Thank you all so much for tuning into this episode of The Bop Bible. I really hope you enjoyed it, and again, if you are new here, I would love for you to check out other episodes of this podcast, and let me know what you think in the comments. Also, let me know what topics you guys would like me to discuss in the future.
But thank you so much, and I will see you in the next episode.
The Secret Strategy Behind Katseye’s Meteoric Rise: Can They Stay at the Top Forever?
Article:
The Algorithm’s Chosen Ones: The Unprecedented Rise of Katseye
In the high-stakes world of modern pop music, success is often fleeting. A song goes viral on a Friday, and by Monday, it has been replaced by a new trend, a new dance, or a new sound. Yet, every so often, a phenomenon emerges that defies the standard trajectory. It doesn’t just ride the wave of the internet; it dictates the rhythm of the tide. Enter Katseye.
To call them a “new girl group” feels like a drastic understatement. They are the internet’s latest obsession, an entity engineered for virality and moving at a velocity that has left industry veterans scrambling to take notes. With every clip hitting millions of views and every track sparking a new digital craze, they are, for all intents and purposes, the algorithm’s chosen ones. But while the internet loves a quick success story, history is littered with acts that burned bright and faded just as fast. The real challenge, the one that defines icons rather than mere trends, is what comes after the initial explosion.
If Katseye wants to cement their legacy as the biggest girl group of their generation, they are currently standing at a crossroads. How exactly did a group that didn’t exist a few years ago manage to dominate the digital landscape with such surgical precision? And more importantly, as they prepare for world tours and major festival appearances, what is the next strategic move that will determine if they are just a moment in time or the future of global pop? To understand where they are going, we first have to look at the meticulously crafted machinery that brought them to this point.
The Anatomy of a Global Experiment
The story of Katseye is not a traditional tale of friends forming a band in a garage. It is a story of corporate synergy, K-pop methodology, and a hyper-accelerated developmental process. In late 2021, the music industry witnessed a significant joint venture between HYBE—the powerhouse behind global giants like BTS—and Geffen Records, a subsidiary of the industry titan Universal Music Group. This wasn’t just a label deal; it was a blueprint for a global juggernaut.
The objective was clear: create a girl group that could transcend borders, cultures, and languages. Auditions for this ambitious project began in 2022, and the numbers were staggering. Approximately 120,000 hopefuls from across the globe auditioned, dreaming of a spot in what would become the Dream Academy. Out of those 120,000, only 20 were selected to enter the intense pressure cooker of the reality competition show.
What followed was a year-long boot camp that utilized the rigorous training methodologies of K-pop. For the uninitiated, K-pop training is legendary for its difficulty. It involves years of relentless focus on vocal technique, synchronized choreography, and media training. However, the Dream Academy accelerated this process significantly. The contestants were tasked with mastering complex performances in a fraction of the time usually afforded to K-pop trainees.
The competition was defined by a series of missions designed to test their artistry under extreme pressure. Crucially, this was a fan-driven process. The show didn’t just operate behind closed doors; it invited the audience in from day one. Clips of performances were uploaded to Weavers and YouTube, and the fans became the de facto judges. This was a stroke of genius. By the time the final six members—Lara, Manon, Megan, Daniela, Yun, and Sophia—were chosen, they already possessed a battle-hardened, global fanbase.
The power of this fan-driven approach was exemplified by Manon. Initially ranked low by the professional judges, Manon captured the hearts of the audience. The public’s obsession with her was so fervent and consistent that the judges had to acknowledge the reality: the fans didn’t care about the technical scoreboards; they cared about the star power. This dynamic created an unbreakable bond between the members and their listeners. It wasn’t just about winning a show; it was about participating in the birth of a group that the fans felt they had personally helped build.
The Art of the Narrative
Once the group was solidified, the real work began: conquering the internet. Many new groups fall into the trap of being too polished, too distant, and too “manufactured.” Katseye’s team took a radically different approach. The strategy was to dismantle the “idol” facade and replace it with something far more potent: relatability.
The social media strategy was designed to make them feel like friends. They posted casual dances, candid behind-the-scenes moments, and individual content that allowed fans to get to know their personalities rather than just their performance skills. This constant, high-frequency posting schedule was essential. They weren’t just musicians; they were content creators.
One of the most fascinating aspects of their rise was how they handled the inevitable rumors. During the reality show, fans had speculated about a feud between Manon and Lara, fueled by missed rehearsals and what appeared to be visible frustration. Instead of letting this narrative spiral or ignoring it, the group’s management team leaned into it with a direct, savvy response. A TikTok post featuring the two of them together, captioned with the message that they were “literally fine,” served to instantly debunk the rumors while simultaneously driving massive engagement. It showed a group that was aware of the internet conversation and knew exactly how to navigate it to their advantage.
From “Debut” to “Beautiful Chaos”
When Katseye officially debuted in June 2024 with the song “Debut,” the response was immediate. By August, they had already hit 1 million followers on TikTok. This was not an accident; it was a direct result of their strategy. The follow-up, “Touch,” became a massive dance trend, demonstrating the power of consistent promotion and a hooky, accessible sound.
Their first EP, Soft is Strong, was safe, melodic, and effective. It acted as a solid foundation. However, the group’s leadership understood that to stay relevant, they had to take risks. Enter the song “Gnarly.” When it dropped, the reaction was polarized. For the first time, the comment sections were not universally positive. Fans and critics alike were confused by the lyrics and the tone. But in the world of the internet, confusion is often a currency as valuable as praise.
“Gnarly” became a buzz single precisely because it forced people to talk. It drew in audiences who had ignored their previous work, compelled by the sheer debate surrounding the track. Following the high-risk “Gnarly,” they pivoted back to a more traditional, summer-ready pop sound with “Gabriella.” This song, which had been previously demoed by artists like Rita Ora and Little Mix, was a calculated choice—a polished pop track that served as a perfect contrast to the experimental nature of their previous hit.
The momentum became unstoppable when the group landed an iconic Gap advertisement. Dancing to Kelis’s “Milkshake,” they didn’t just sell denim; they solidified their status as the new “it girls” of pop culture. This ad served a dual purpose: it brought in an older demographic—millennials who grew up with the song—and it proved that Katseye had the visual and cultural cachet to compete with long-standing pop acts.
Navigating the Crossroads
The success of these singles and the subsequent Beautiful Chaos EP propelled them into the stratosphere, culminating in Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Achieving this in just over a year is virtually unheard of. But now, the question arises: Where do they go from here?
What would you have done in this situation? If you were tasked with managing a group that had hit such high peaks so quickly, would you play it safe to maintain the momentum, or would you risk the stability of the project by pushing for a complete, experimental reinvention?
The path forward, in my view, requires a shift from being performers of material to being creators of their own narrative. While they have been incredibly successful with external demos and top-tier production, the next step for Katseye must involve increased creative control. We have already seen glimpses of this; Lara and Megan have demonstrated legitimate skills in songwriting and production. Manon has been writing since she was a teenager. These are not just performers who can hit high notes; they are artists who understand the creative process.
The “internet girl” aesthetic served them well at the start, but as they move toward their debut album, they need to shed the safety net of pop tropes. They need to lean into the R&B influences they have teased in their personal projects. They need to show the world that they are not just capable of following the algorithm—they are capable of defining the sound of their era.
The Path to Longevity
As we look at their career so far, we can identify clear moments of brilliance and missed opportunities. Their performance at Lollapalooza was a masterclass in stage presence, proving that they could command massive crowds. It was a pivotal moment that elevated their reputation from a “social media group” to a legitimate touring act. This sets a high bar for their upcoming appearance at Coachella.
If they want to secure their spot at the top, their debut album needs to be an artistic statement. It shouldn’t just be a collection of trending songs; it should be an exploration of who they are as artists. If they continue to rely on songs that feel like they could have been recorded by anyone, they risk being replaced by the next “algorithm-friendly” group. But if they lean into their own songwriting and production—if they let Lara, Megan, and the rest of the members put their unique stamp on the production—they could secure a place in pop music history.
We have reached the moment of truth for Katseye. They have conquered the internet, but the real world—the world of sustaining a career, building a discography, and influencing a generation of listeners—awaits. They have shown that they have the talent, the drive, and the strategy to reach the top. Now, they must show that they have the vision to stay there.
What is your take on Katseye’s future? Do you think they are destined for long-term legendary status, or is there something they are missing to keep the spark alive? Drop a comment below and let’s discuss their next move. The internet has chosen them; now, it is up to them to choose their own destiny.
