Katseye has the world’s attention, and its members are now proving they deserve it. Premiering in theaters worldwide, the new documentary Katseye: Wild Hearts offers a behind-the-scenes look at the work and ambitions of one of the biggest music acts of the moment.
The group first came to prominence on The Debut: Dream Academy, the 2023 competitive reality show where the original six members, Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Meret Manon Bannerman, Megan Skiendiel, Sophia Laforteza and Yoonchae Jeung, first met. In the time since, Katseye has earned two Grammy nominations, won three American Music Awards, and performed at festivals including Coachella and Lollapalooza, a rapid rise the film sets out to explain.
Much of Wild Hearts is devoted to the labor behind the polish. Fans, known as Eyekons, are likely familiar with the group’s precise choreography but may know less about the effort that produces it, and the documentary takes viewers into the rehearsal space to see what happens before the stars step on stage.
The group’s choreographer and performance director, Grant Gilmore, lays out the philosophy underpinning its shows. “In my opinion, the most important role an artist has is controlling atmosphere,” he says. “That is something Katseye is naturally really great at. Even if you just have stage presence, you need skill to back it up.” It is a framing that positions the group as students of their craft as much as pop stars.
The film also arrives at a candid moment for the group. The week of its release, Katseye announced that Laforteza would be taking leave following thorough consultations with medical professionals regarding her mental health, a reminder that the demands behind the choreography and the accolades are real. Taken together, Wild Hearts presents a portrait of ambition and discipline, and of a young group learning to protect its members even as its star continues to rise.
This story references mental health. Anyone who is struggling can reach out to a qualified professional or a local support line for help.
