KATSEYE – ‘Wild’ EP review: global girl group struggle to find the sweet spot

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’s also been strife – 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. READ MORE: Meet KatzPascale, the chamber music duo putting audiences in a trance ‘Wild’, the group’s third EP, is similarly conflicted. At this point, it should be a release that solidifies KATSEYE’s sound and direction ahead of an eventual album – an indicator of who this group are and what they’re saying. Instead, it feels remarkably uncertain, as if it’s wary of going too far one way, so hedges its bets instead and plays things safe. At times, KATSEYE push into experimental dance-pop, following 2025 track ‘Gnarly’’s lead with extremely online references and brain-shaking electronic beats. ‘Pinky Up’, released as a single in April, is less obnoxious than ‘Gnarly’, but curiously that feels like its downfall, lacking anything interesting or i...