KATSEYE on Going Viral with ‘Touch,’ Meeting Filo EYEKONS

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If you’ve recently scrolled through TikTok or Instagram and stumbled upon a dance cover of a catchy bubblegum pop tune, it’s probably the song with that uber-infectious “Touch, touch, touch, touch, touch” hook.

The global pop group behind the viral hit is KATSEYE. And they recently visited the Philippines for a fan showcase.

What makes KATSEYE fascinating is their diverse backgrounds, spanning cultures and countries and proving how music can break barriers — figuratively speaking. The sextet consists of Sophia (Philippines), Manon (Switzerland), Daniela (USA), Lara (USA), Megan (USA), and Yoonchae (South Korea).

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In a Roadshow interview, KATSEYE talked more about their group, their unique dynamics, and their certified bop of a song, “Touch.”

You’re a global pop group. How do you make sure you all click? What’s your dynamic like?

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KATSEYE: I mean, we all live together, so I feel like we’re truly genuine sisters at this point. We’re honestly just like one being because we spend every second of the day together, and that’s been happening for almost a year now. I feel like we have really good communication and can read each other very well. What’s so cool is that we’re all from different parts of the world, so we get to teach each other so much about our different cultures and food.

Can you tell us more about your influences and what KATSEYE stands for?

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KATSEYE: Well, KATSEYE is a global girl group. We are inspired by K-pop and also Western pop. So, we wanted to create a group that is truly global, representing each part of the world, and bringing girls together from across the globe.

It’s only been a few months since you debuted, and you’ve already charted on the Billboard 100. What has been the most surreal thing about the success of your song?

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KATSEYE: Honestly, just seeing the amount of people doing the “Touch” challenge on social media, singing and dancing to our music, is really heartwarming. We’re so happy to be able to share our music with the world and inspire people. It’s such a surreal feeling. Thank you all for coming, especially those who waited outside [the Wish Bus today]. It really means so much to us. You guys truly mean the world to all of us.

Is there a memorable or a personal favorite from all the social media posts you’ve seen on “Touch”?

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KATSEYE: When I see people doing dance covers of “Touch,” it’s so, so surreal because we’ve been rehearsing that dance for months and months and months. And to be able to see other people post it and post their versions of it, it’s so awesome.

And I think something that really stuck with all of us — it wasn’t necessarily the posts — but when we came to the Philippines, we met two young girls in the airport. They were, like, seven and six years old, and [the feeling] was the best — like seeing EYEKONS and how young they are… It’s so cool. [We feel like] we reached so many people, and it’s, like, Wow, this is great. It’s really crazy. And I should be grateful for every single one of them.

I recently saw someone on TikTok doing a cover of “Touch.” [It was] a song cover. And they made an R&B version of it, and they slowed it down… And he was such a good singer. It was so awesome to see. And I feel like seeing people be inspired to create art off of our music — and embrace their own artistry because of our music — that is so inspiring for us and so surreal, so exciting.

Any message to all of your EYEKONS?

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KATSEYE: We just love you so much. Thank you so, so, so, so much for all the support. I cannot express how grateful I am for each and every one of you. You guys really, really keep me going. And we wouldn’t be anywhere without you. Thank you so much. We love you.

It’s amazing that we can fly across the globe, and even though we’re so far from home, seeing the EYEKONS out there in the rain with umbrellas, just to watch us and experience this unbelievable moment, is beyond words. Such a crazy, insane moment. We wouldn’t be here without you guys. We love you so much.  We appreciate every single one of you.

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Written by Joram Flores

Edited by Emmy Borromeo