KATSEYE Unleash their “Wild-side” on New EP
BY SYDNEY CARPER
Global girl group KATSEYE has steadily been taking the world by storm since their debut ep was released two years ago, but this meteoric rise to stardom hasn’t come without its trials and tribulations. WILD showcases that KATSEYE are leaning into a more mature sound, shedding the almost childlike bubbliness heard on previous releases. The newest EP was released alongside a documentary entitled KATSEYE: WILD HEARTS which gives viewers an inside look at the groups growth and development through the years.
With songs like Hootie Frutti and That Way, we are introduced to a cheekier, more provocative side of KATSEYE, filled with innuendos and double entendres. A sharp departure from the more family friendly sounds of their past, these two tracks delve into female desire and temptation. Hootie Frutti notably stands out from the rest of the EP with its playfulness, without the girls taking themselves too seriously. Later, the Ariana Granded-esque closer That Way gives off a sense of empowerment, with the air of a woman who knows exactly what she’s looking for in love and is not going to settle. The chorus emphasizing “You could be mine / if you’re lucky” is the kind of confidence every girl needs when approaching relationships.
PINKY UP is a carefree ode to embracing your wild side and living your life as exuberantly as possible while you can. It’s the liberating feeling of living on your terms, loosening up with your friends without a worry for what’s coming tomorrow. Welcoming the chaos and uncertainty of the times instead of shying away from it, PINKY UP is an infectious summer tune and an excellent start to the WILD era.
Similarly, Animal, a true party track, demonstrates the intimacy found when you’re shown the unrestrained version of someone behind closed doors. A taste of the real them, saved only for you, meets the most sensual version of yourself. And it’s a match made in heaven. The vocal style Daniela utilizes in the second verse is a standout moment on the EP.
If you’re craving a more wistful number, you can find that within Bel Air. A take on yearning and ruminating in what could’ve been, it serves as a nice change of pace from the earlier tracks. A palette cleanser of sorts, Bel Air rather solemnly has the girls resigning to leave the past in the past after replaying where they went wrong over and over and how they’d hypothetically make it right if they could. A bittersweet moment, it leaves listeners with a much needed sense of closure.
While WILD may not be the KATSEYE you were expecting, it is undeniable that they are a force to be reckoned with and aren’t slowing down. This EP comes at a tricky time for the group and they have handled the obstacles with poise, letting the world know they are far from over.
