KATSEYE’S “Gnarly” Embraces Irony And Exaggeration.
“Gnarly” cover art
On April 30, 2025, Los Angeles-based girl group, KATSEYE, released their attention-grabbing new single, “Gnarly.”
Who is KAtseye?
KATSEYE (pronounced “cat’s eye,” stylized in all caps) were formed through the “Dream Academy” reality show back in 2023 and consists of six members: Manon (birth name: Meret Manon Bannerman), Sophia (birth name: Sophia Elizabeth Guevara Laforteza), Daniela (birth name: Daniela Andrea Avanzini Llorente), Lara (birth name: Lara Rajagopalan), Megan (birth name: Megan Meiyok Skiendiel) and Yoonchae (birth name: Jeong Yoon-chae). The show involved a 12-week program where participants went through extensive training to become the next global girl group. Since the show, KATSEYE have been rising in popularity, and are on their way to the top, with a sound rooted in K-pop and built around hyperpop.
Getting “Gnarly”
“Gnarly” follows the multi-cultural sextet’s 2024 EP “SIS (Soft Is Strong),” which spawned their breakthrough single, “Touch.” A grimy mix of pop, rap and dance, the track opens with group member Yoonchae declaring, “They could describe everything with one single word. Ya know? Like…” The group then proceeds to list numerous things they consider “gnarly” throughout the 1st verse (“boba tea, Tesla, partyin’ in the Hollywood Hills”) over a beat drop that’s perfect for a night at the club.
In the second verse, KATSEYE boasts about “going out tonight” and how it is going to be “lit.” The chorus finds the group confidently repeating “I'm the shit, I'm the shit (Gnarly)” which conjures images of finger-wagging sass as they tell listeners, “Obvi, obvi, they be tryna copy.” The song wavers between both definitions of the word gnarly. Sometimes the using the word to describe things they don’t like; then turning around and calling the view from their mansion gnarly as a compliment.
“Gnarly” is definitely an interesting listen. With numerous starts and breaks, the song brings together a melting pot of sounds including what sounds like knife sharpening or two swords clashing in the chorus, and multiple layers of sound. It will take listeners a few listens to pick out all the little details in this one.
The song is all about confidence and attitude in the most fun way possible. It’s hard not to imagine partying with the girls while listening to this song.
“Gnarly” (Official music video)
“Gnarly” was released through a partnership between HYBE x Geffen Records, under the Universal Music Group umbrella. Producers for “Gnarly” include Kyle “Pink Slip” Buckley, Bang Si-hyuk “Hitman” Bang and Kwon “Slow Rabbit” Do-hyeong, and the songwriters involved include Bang Si-hyuk, Slow Rabbit, Alice Longyu Gao, Tim Randolph, Kyle Buckley, Jacob Kasher Hindlin and Madison Love.
After releasing an official music video for the track, KATSEYE followed it up with a second video — the choreography version. This choreography is bound to be TikTok’s next hot dance trend.
“Gnarly” music video (Choreography Version)
See katseye live
KATSEYE are set to perform at Wango Tango 2025 in Huntington Beach, CA as well as Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago, IL this summer. You can purchase Wango Tango tickets here and your Lollapalooza tickets here.
And if you can’t make it to a show, “Gnarly” is available on all your favorite streaming channels.