KATSEYE took over Studio 8H on Sept. 26 for their Saturday Night Live debut, performing“Animal”and“Hootie Frutti,”both from their August EP“Wild.”The group hit the stage as a four-piece, with Manon Bannerman and Sophia Laforteza on hiatus for mental health reasons. Even short two members, they delivered the kind of polished set that explains why this year has gone the way it has for them.
The numbers back it up.“Wild”debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 170,000 first-week units, and the group picked up Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. The SNL appearance follows a“Tonight Show”visit in August and a“Today”summer concert slot, giving KATSEYE a full mainstream TV sweep in a single year. Not bad for a group that formed just two years ago through“Dream Academy,”the HYBE and Geffen Records joint venture.
Next up is the Wildworld Tour, a 31-date run that reaches North America in October. With a No. 1 album, Grammy buzz, and now an SNL credit on the resume, KATSEYE is proving that globally assembled acts can move at a completely different speed. So which moment from the SNL set are you replaying,“Animal”or“Hootie Frutti”? Tell us in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.