KATSEYE’s First Tour Proves What Fans Already Know: They’re the Next Big Thing

Many unsuspecting K-pop lovers would say that KATSEYE, the six-member girl group developed through the notorious, intensive boot camps that K-pop idols have undergone, came out of nowhere. Others will recognize that synchronized, machine-like dance choreography, vivid color scheme and hand hearts anywhere. The sextet is made up of Sophia, Manon, Daniela, Lara, Megan and Yoonchae, who range in age from 17 to 23. With just two years under their belts as performers under HYBE, the entertainment company behind BTS, the women drew out supporters by the hundreds to Irving’s The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory on Sunday, Nov. 30. 

Fans of all ages, most draped in some form of black, leather or bejeweled clothing, shivered in unison outside the 8,000-seat amphitheater. Parents escorted children who aren’t old enough to roam the streets by themselves, their blue jeans clashing with the bare legs of the majority who did not dress for the 40-degree weather. There isn’t a handheld sign bearing the band’s faces in eye view, a common sight at shows like TOMORROW X TOGETHER (HYBE) and ATEEZ (KQ Entertainment). Yet, elements of the multi-billion-dollar music style are all around. For one, K-pop fans do not play about their attire. One EYEKON — the name for the group’s fans — poses in front of the box office in a white wedding dress in a nod to concept photos for the group’s bilingual title track “Gabriela.” Inside the venue, ticket holders in the merch line swap stories about seeing genre favorites such as IVE and LE SSERAFIM in concert. Rows of foldable chairs on the floor appear like a Christmas tree, illuminated by both $69 light sticks and flash photos.

For all the commotion surrounding the multicultural act, which includes Filipino, Korean, Latin, Swiss-Ghanian, Indian and Chinese Singaporean representation, the audience was relatively quiet ahead of the group’s arrival. They’re fresh off 2026 Grammy Award nominations for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Gabriela” and Best New Artist, continuing to build their case as to why they should win with their Beautiful Chaos Tour. A series of music videos flashed overhead, with “Gnarly” getting the most intense reactions, or, at the very least, a few dozen people singing along during Lara’s catchy few lines: “I’m making beats for a boring, dumb bitch/Fucking gnarly (Gnarly)/Don’t talk to me.” A few tweens and twenty-somethings gazed dreamily at a montage of the girls during their time on YouTube’s The Debut: Dream Academy, where they competed against each other for a chance to be what they are now: teammates. Still, most sitting on the floor look downward, toward their phones. We wondered if most of the night’s attendees were casual listeners, wanderers who came across KATSEYE’s food-themed, color-saturated music videos and multi-million follower TikTok account by happenstance.

But once the girls hit the stage at 8:35 p.m., their dark shadows appearing against a black-and-white backdrop mimicking paparazzi-style flashing cameras, the screaming begins and doesn’t stop. KATSEYE opens with “Debut,” their first original song as one, though, as the lyrics suggest, it is still not a debut in terms of K-pop (in which it refers to the formal launch of an artist via a song or music video). It’s 123 seconds of punchy dance moves, characterized by diva-like hip movements and high kicks. Their attire shows that EYEKONS pay attention. The girls appear so similar to their fans while in their black, furry ensembles that a chaperon wouldn’t have looked twice had they roamed the venue grounds. Later, it becomes clear that the members’ relatability and openness are what set them apart from not just HYBE’s K-pop roster, but even pop phenomena like Tate McRae and Sabrina Carpenter. Background performers lift Sophia into a mini-stunt during a dance break that reflects the blare of a cheer routine remix, complete with ad-libs, repeated lyrics and dramatic sound effects. The girls follow suit, executing the added choreography with high energy. 

Immediately after, we are swept into “Gameboy,” a more laid-back tune that uses computer notification beeps, electronic clicks and retro video game sounds to describe a tale of a boy who is “playing games” with someone’s heart. Despite the fast-paced choreography, the artists’ voices sound stable throughout various riffs. It appears effortless: Manon and Megan draw eyes with facial expressions that vary from surprised to flirty to “I’m too good for you” (given this fictitious man’s flakiness, they are right).

The last time KATSEYE was in North Texas was for Jingle Ball last year. They performed alongside, at least at the time, more well-known singers, including Meghan Trainor and Madison Beer. Millions of Spotify streams later, tickets to their first North American tour sold out in minutes.

“I feel like we’ve come so full circle to be back in Dallas for our first tour. This is such a dream,” Sophia told the crowd. Couple that sentiment with Lara’s excitement at being back home, and know that dreams really do come true.

Fans wave their lightsticks to match the contemporary R&B and mid-tempo beats of “I’m Pretty” and “Mean Girls.” What shines throughout both of these and the following track, “Tonight I Might,” is the members’ playfulness and perceived comfort level on stage. It’s a switch-up compared with some of the understandably stressed personas seen in Netflix’s Pop Star Academy, which provided a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their experiences during the survival show. Sunday, the artists, in all their wide-eyed, newfound stardom glory, flash toothy smiles at fans and run up stairs with a giggle to join their colleagues center stage.

It’s undeniable that the girls ace a bold, risky concept and their devotees want more of it. Most of the members sport crop tops and baggy jeans during these performances, adding to the inherent cool-girl vibe they already exude. The girls repeat the mantra that has taken over social media, first for stirring up controversy over its alleged cringeworthy nature, and then for its debut on the Billboard Hot 100 and its success on TikTok, with the sound gathering over 254,000 reshares, including by pop ingénues Camila Cabello and Joe Jonas. “Obvi, obvi, they be tryna copy/I’m the shit, I’m the shit,” the girls say in union. 

Sudden, the venue feels too small for the audience’s excitement. The yelling. The gasps. The jumping. One spectator declares that the group’s music videos don’t do them justice. Not only is KATSEYE exactly who they think they are, but at this rate, their style is carving a lane of their own. It’s not K-pop. It’s not Western stardom as we know it. Yes, they are the shit. They are also one of one. 

See more photos from Sunday’s show: