Rising Global Group Katseye Scores Two Grammy Nominations, Capping Their Biggest Year Yet

In just two years, the global pop group Katseye has gone from reality show winners to Grammy nominees. The six-member group—Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Manon Bannerman, Megan Skiendiel, Sophia Laforteza, and Yoonchae Jeung—earned nominations for Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, cementing their breakout success.

Formed through the reality competition “The Debut: Dream Academy,” a collaboration between South Korea’s HYBE (home to BTS) and Geffen Records, Katseye’s rise has been rapid and well-documented. Their journey was featured in the Netflix documentary “Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE.”

Though the group’s training drew inspiration from K-pop, Katseye describes itself as a “global group,” reflecting the diverse backgrounds of its members—spanning the United States, Switzerland, the Philippines, and South Korea.

Their debut EP, “SIS (Soft Is Strong),” dropped in August 2024, featuring their breakthrough single “Touch.” Their follow-up EP, “Beautiful Chaos,” released in June, reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart. The group’s viral appearance in Gap’s “Better in Denim” campaign further propelled them into the global spotlight.

“Making a genuine impact on culture is our biggest goal,” said member Lara Raj in a BBC Radio 1 interview. “A big thing about us is being versatile. We switch it up with every project we put out. Even on each EP, every song is different, and that is important to us.”

After learning of their Grammy nominations, the group shared their excitement on Instagram, writing, “So honored to be nominated and in this company,” alongside a clip of 2025 Best New Artist winner Chappell Roan announcing the nominees.

Their competition for Best New Artist includes Olivia Dean, The Marias, Addison Rae, sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, and Lola Young—making for what fans are calling an “EYE-conic” lineup.

Credit: CNN Newsource

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