The film which plays before Katseye arrive on stage depicts the members breaking into shadowy offices and wrecking equipment, which then forms the basis of the on-stage visuals: circuitry mangled, sparks flying, a system disrupted. You imagine this was initially intended to show the group as a wild antidote to the music industry machine, but it takes on new meaning given the troubles affecting the group of late.
Besides which, there is surely no bigger product of the music industry machine than Katseye, who were created out of reality TV show Pop Star Academy. If you haven’t seen it, it’s kind of Netflix’s answer to The X Factor, only way colder – showing US entertainment giants Geffen teaming up K-Pop behemoths Hybe to create a ‘global girl group’. In other words, taking the well-oiled machine of K-Pop and cranking it up a notch by casting girls from across different territories. It was an addictive if sometimes worrying watch, as the young hopefuls were put through the rigors of K-pop training under the merciless watch of experts and execs. When Katseye finally emerged with a string of impressive singles and EPs and a viral GAP advert, they had a setback when Manon went on ‘hiatus’ from the group, citing health and wellbeing issues. Then last month, during this first major global tour, Sophia also went on ‘temporary hiatus’ for similar reasons. Leaving just four of the initial six to take over the UK and European legs of the Wildworld tour.
