Beautiful Chaos is not only the title of KATSEYE’s sophomore EP, but perhaps a perfect way to describe the last year in the lives of the girl group.

In June 2024, KATSEYE — formed by K-pop giant Hybe and Geffen Records through a music competition series, Dream Academy — released their aptly named first single, “Debut.” Now, a year later, the global girl group has returned with their follow-up EP, Beautiful Chaos, landing their first Billboard 200 top 10 (No. 4) and two spots on the Hot 100 chart. They also announced their first tour Tuesday morning, with stops across North America.

It’s been a year of growth for the group — comprising members Daniela, Lara, Manon, Megan, Sophia and Yoonchae — who gained early recognition from a Netflix documentary, Popstar Academy, that chronicled their journey from pop hopefuls to global stars. It’s also been a year of adjustment. “There’s been times where I just went out and didn’t do my makeup, didn’t do my hair, and I’m just like, no one’s going to recognize me,” Megan tells The Hollywood Reporter on a Zoom.

“I totally forget that I have pink hair and you’re going to see [me],” she jokingly adds. “Those are just things that you realize over time and just figure out.”

Below, KATSEYE speaks with THR about their new singles “Gnarly” and “Gabriella,” how their song “Mean Girls” tells the story you didn’t get to see on TV and why they’re trying to log off.

“Gnarly” has been gaining a lot of traction, which is really exciting. Were you expecting that? Do you think people got it immediately?

LARA To be honest, I feel like when we heard “Gnarly” … we couldn’t predict if people would love it or hate it. You never know and you can never predict that, but I think we knew and had a feeling that it would be very widespread and there would be a lot of eyes and ears on it because it’s just so jarring and so different. I think we knew that it would make some sort of movements and make waves in a way. The love that we’re receiving… You can never predict if people are really going to like something, so I think because they do, we’re so honored and so grateful for that. It’s been crazy to see how much it’s blown up, and the new eyes on KATSEYE and the love that people are giving us.

Why was it important for the first track to be released from this EP to be so different than the music you made before?

SOPHIA One of our goals as KATSEYE is to constantly evolve and show different sides of us, and we never want to stick to one thing. I think the one thing we want to stick to is our uniqueness. The special thing about KATSEYE is our diversity, and it’s not just about our cultures, but it’s also about our artistry and our personalities and even our sound. We want the Eyekons [KATSEYE’s fanbase] to expect different versions of KATSEYE, and each version is always going to be very true to ourselves, the six of us individually, which is why I know that as much as “Gnarly” was very jarring, it is a part of us and you just haven’t seen that side of us. Especially because we’re so new.

Can you tell me a bit about Beautiful Chaos and how you’re feeling about it?

LARA I would say Beautiful Chaos is darker than SIS, melodically, visually, [in its] choreography, everything. It’s just a little bit more mature, I would say. Every single song is very different from one another [but] we’re cohesive within the Beautiful Chaos world. There’s kind of a journey through the EP, the order, everything about it. There’s a journey. The lyrics are very much acknowledging where we’re at right now as KATSEYE, and how it feels to be us, our perspective with the fans. I think we are all super, super, super excited. It is very chaotic.

It seemed like you all were really excited about “Gabriela” coming out. Can you tell me about the song?

DANIELA We’re super excited. I especially am because I get to be more in touch with my Latin American people, but it’s just something that we’ve never done before. It’s a different vibe. It’s a different style of dance too that people haven’t seen. It’s definitely sexier, sassier than anything we’ve ever done, and I think people will love it. Sonically and the choreography. I’m hoping people will like it.

MEGAN Especially with it being a longer song too. People have been asking for that for a while, so finally we’re giving them a longer song.

“Mean Girls” might be my favorite song on the EP. I know you’re all pretty online, and there were many conversations about your relationships with one another after Popstar Academy came out. Can you tell me about the song? How does “Mean Girls” fit into that?

SOPHIA I’d say that this song is what you said, it’s almost our response to the journey that we’ve had so far, especially with being in the public eye, and having a whole documentary come out about us and showing a story that is a glimpse of what we went through. Emphasis on glimpse. As much as it is a whole storytelling experience, it isn’t everything. That led to a lot of people thinking that they saw everything and having all these misconceptions and [there was] so much chatter on social media and [people were] just saying all of these things without actually knowing who we are. As much as they do know such a big part of us, it’s still not everything. You literally just saw eight hours of a whole three-year-long journey. That’s one night’s sleep. You can’t say you know everything about us. [The song] is kind of us just saying, whatever you think of us, whatever you think of anybody, it is just like, girl, bless you. Just letting it be and knowing how we are and almost acknowledging everything, but kind of acknowledging it with grace and kindness. Just being like, well, if that’s what you think, then that’s what you think. But that’s the beauty of that song and all of our other songs in the EP is that it can be interpreted in any way that you want.

MANON What I think is so beautiful about “Mean Girls” is that it’s a song that uplifts and supports girls in every version of themselves. Being a girl or a woman can be really tough at times. We’re constantly navigating expectations, judgments and double standards. There’s so much pressure to fit into boxes that were never made for us in the first place, so creating a song like “Mean Girls” felt important because it reminds girls that they’re not alone and that there’s strength in choosing kindness over competition. It’s about building each other up and not tearing each other down.

Last time we spoke, it was the day the documentary came out, so things were fresh. In the year since, do you feel you’ve been able to put some of what you were struggling with or had been working out to bed? Are you able to close that chapter of your life or do you still feel that it fits into your journey as a group now?

LARA I feel we have understood how to handle things like that much better. This year — as we grow as KATSEYE, we’re doing more and more and more things together — I think we have started to become one. We act the same way. We handle things the same way. I feel like we have started to lean on each other a lot more when we’re in situations like that. Nobody else understands us the way the six of us will [understand] each other. I feel like we have truly become each other’s support system, 100 percent, when it comes to handling things like that and emotions like that and what people say online. Something that I’ve personally learned recently, there has been so much chatter online that I need to create more and not consume so much of it.

I’ve learned what those people say — A, it’s not real. B, it’s not for my eyes, and it’s not for me to see. It’s not normal to have so many people having so many crazy opinions about you. I feel like all six of us have experienced that in our own way. Then as a group, we’ve experienced a lot of chatter and a lot of hate, so we’re learning how to take a step back and not consume it as much and let them talk amongst themselves. Then we [can] create everything in the way that we want to do it, and people can think whatever they want to think.

That’s a very healthy approach. In a way that many groups don’t get to, you’ve been able to take a truly global approach. In addition to your American promotions, you’ve performed on Korean music shows and in the Philippines. You’ve really been able to highlight your individual cultures in a special way. What has that experience been like?

SOPHIA I would say that we’re truly grateful that we get to benefit from the world pretty much, being able to promote everywhere. I think the most beautiful thing about it is that — based on what we’ve done so far and the places that we’ve been to, because we all have different pieces of us around the world — we get to connect in a different way, in a very special way. Just like you said, we promote here in America. A lot of us have our lives here in America, and so we get to connect with them. When we went to the Philippines, I got to connect with my hometown and all of the people there. When we go to Korea. … Each person has a connection to anywhere we’re going to touch in the world, and I think that creates a special bond between us and the fans, which makes it even more fun to do our job and to promote our music. I think that’s something that’s so beautiful. That’s literally the whole point of this.

We wanted to make a group that was so passionate about music, and at the same time, you get to see yourself in us in the group. It’s not just about that, it’s also about how we connect with the fans. I think that’s the best part about it, and that’s why we want to touch different areas of the world throughout our career. We want to promote everywhere, and we’re so grateful to have promoted in so many places already. I literally just saw… Do you know that trend on TikTok that’s like, “Dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun?” I see people [saying] KATSEYE come to Europe. KATSEYE come to… I literally saw that, it was just on my ‘For You’ page. People are like, come here, come here. Why are you not coming here?

LARA And we will.

SOPHIA We will, trust me. We will, we have to. Manon is from Europe. We have to go, and we will. I think that’s something that makes us really excited for a lot of things.

You’ve spent so much time together and have been working so closely with one another. How has the last year been for you in terms of building teamwork with one another and finding your groove as the six of you?

DANIELA I definitely think that we have gotten much, much, much closer throughout the year. The years actually. We live with each other, so we’ve learned a lot about each other and how to communicate and just work with each other. We’re all so, so different. But we’re sisters and we love each other. We’ll bicker here and there, but we figure it out because we know that we have to because we’re one team. Whether it’s work-related or not work-related, we always figure things out and are always super honest and open with each other because we love each other. But I think our dynamic is super, super strong, and it just keeps getting stronger throughout the years. We keep finding out things about each other.

SOPHIA To add to that too, one of the biggest [pieces of] advice that we get from almost all artists that have been in groups is communication. As simple as it is, it actually is a complex thing. It’s something that we are constantly trying to figure out. We figured out how to communicate with each other, but we’re also constantly trying to find better ways to communicate. That’s our main goal. It’s the perfect solution to anything. Every single time we’re like, uh, you know what? Let’s just not acknowledge [it], sweep it under the rug. We’re always going to encourage each other to communicate because we always feel so much better after that. I think that really is the best advice, and the best thing that you can do for a team, any team.

LARA I feel like it’s having a built-in community. I feel like a lot of people are not lucky enough to have that and a lot of people search for that and long for it. Like a friend group or some sort of community and team around them that makes them feel safe, and we just kind of automatically have that. I think we got really lucky that we genuinely vibe with each other, and we’re actually friends and each other. I’ve also noticed recently, every little thing that happens in my life outside of KATSEYE, [in my] personal life, these girls are the first people I have to tell. I’m always blowing up the group chat [sharing] just every little thing that happens, every detail. They’re the people that have to know and truly my bestest friends. This year we’ve really, really developed that.

How do you find time for self-care amidst busy schedules? What does that look like for you?

MEGAN During our personal time, or at least for me personally, I love surrounding myself with people that bring me up and bring positivity into my life. I always surround myself with friends and even us, as each other. We all hang out and have nothing to do with work, just fun. Or if we have personal time and we’ve just worked so much, long hours, I try to sleep as much as I can. I do a face mask or take a long shower and just take the day for myself. I feel like those are the best days, and then the next day I feel so rejuvenated and fresh and have energy.

YOONCHAE When we have off day, I turn every light off, [pull the] curtains closed and just sleep in the dark.

SOPHIA She hibernates. (Laughs).

YOONCHAE I wake up really late, eat really good food and watch Netflix shows. That’s perfect.

Do you guys find it hard to turn work off when you’re with one another or spending time in non-work hours?

ALL Yes!

LARA It feels impossible sometimes.

SOPHIA It’s actually impossible. I think with this job that we have, it’s literally our lifestyle. I think that just explains it. It’s a job that you can’t just come home and just be able to turn off. This is actually our life and every single part of this is related to what we do. Literally in my downtime, what Yoonchae said, we love to be in bed and watch shows, but at the same time I’m talking to fans on Weverse. It’s just a lifestyle.

MEGAN Or even when we go out, I can’t just go out looking ugly. (Laughs). I want to be cute… A lot of the times we get recognized, and I want to be cute for the pictures. (Laughs). It actually takes time.

There’s definitely a level of anonymity you lose when you’re in the public eye. Have you found that hard to adjust to?

MANON Adjusting to fame has definitely had its challenges. As a Black woman, I do feel like I’m held to a different standard at times, like there’s this pressure to be perfect or to carry more than just my own story and that can feel really heavy. On top of that, I’m still learning how much of my life I want to keep private and how much I’m comfortable sharing with the world, which has been a tricky balance to figure out. But even with all of that, the love I receive makes it so worth it. When fans come up to me in public and say the kindest things… it really hits me. I have so much deep love for the people who support me and the girls. They don’t even realize how much they give me back.

How do you want the world to see KATSEYE?

LARA Iconic and legendary. But when I say that, I don’t mean to be vague. I feel like we just want people to see us as a group that has a very, very strong impact and [who] actually made waves within pop culture, music, fashion, everything. We want to be the one. The one.

SOPHIA She literally said the word that came to my head: impact. I think that that’s what we want to do. We really want to make a mark.