Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE highlights the realities of making the band.
But will it translate to success?
(Photo credit: Katseye.world)
Given the rise of K-pop in western pop culture in recent years, it was only a matter of time until labels started implementing the K-pop trainee methodology to build a global band.
So when HYBE and Geffen Records announced last August that they would be joining forces to create a global girl group through the survival series The Debut: Dream Academy, anticipation was high.
Following the success of HYBE groups like BTS, LE SSERAFIM, NewJeans and TOMORROW X TOGETHER, it’s an interesting experiment to see if the rigorous training given to aspiring K-pop entertainers can transfer over.
But the moment The Dream Academy went on air, reactions to the show were mixed. While contestants took part in challenges showcasing their dancing and vocal skills, only the performances were uploaded online.
Fans were expected to vote on which teams did better, along with engage with fancams of each contestant. But little was given to the journey and stories of the girls and their progress over weeks and months. Not to mention, eliminations were delivered through a voice developed through artificial intelligence. It felt dystopian.
Now one year later, the final lineup of KATSEYE (Sophia, Lara, Megan, Yoonchae, Daniela and Manon) has officially debuted. But coinciding with the release of the band’s new EP SIS (Soft is Strong) is a Netflix documentary series that revolves around the making of group called Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE. The end product is authentic, captivating and at times difficult to watch. Though now that I’ve finally finished the whole series, it makes me wonder whether outcomes have been different had we known more about the contestants beforehand.
Like survival shows before it, the creation of a westernized girl group like KATSEYE is not a new concept. The Pussycat Dolls are one such group. Girlicious came after. The only difference here is that the adults involved in the two bands above. Meanwhile, KATSEYE revolves around teenage contestants. And at times, I was left feeling heartbroken for all of them as you could tell how this was all or nothing for many of the girls.
It takes about a year for HYBExGeffen execs to reveal the final 20 girls will end up competing on a reality show. And even later than that, the contestants discover it’s up to the fans to vote who stays or not. Mitra Darab, president of HYBExGeffen, reveals that the decision to create a survival series was made for “a more compelling storyline.”
“We just wanted to up the ante a bit. It’s a survival show, and you have to create that drama,” she says during an interview in Pop Star Academy.
(Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE on Netflix)
What results from the decision ends up pitting the contestants—all who have already grown strong friendships— against one another. Adela, a trainee from Slovakia, often scored highly during her monthly evaluations. But once the show went to air, she was voted off due to receiving the least votes. On the other hand, Manon (who ended up making KATSEYE), receives high votes with audiences, despite skipping practices and having a lower skill set in performance. Throughout the documentary, viewers see this adds to the resentment between the trainees. The reality show format plays with the contestants’ already vulnerable state of minds. So much so, that one girl, Lexie, decides to leave the competition entirely because it does not align with her values.
As you watch the documentary, you also discover that HYBExGeffen had high hopes for Lexie before she made the choice to leave. Had she not quit, would she have been in the final group? The emotional turmoil placed on girls at such an impressionable age had me asking whether the stakes really are worth all of it. And at times, it was devastating to watch.
During the docu-series, the show repeatedly emphasizes on how much HYBExGeffen’s future hinges on KATSEYE’s success. For these reasons, instructors are often seen not giving harsh critiques to the girls during training, to the point of making many of them break down in tears as a result.
It’s an interesting contrast to the more wholesome vibes of JYP’s America2Korea, which formed the North American girl group VCHA with a similar K-pop methodology. While teen girls are seen undertaking various performance challenges, J.Y. Park (CEO of JYP), takes a different stance. He instead plays a more fatherly mentor role, giving feedback in the sandwich method (compliment, criticism, compliment)—something that often always works more effectively with young people.
But beyond the toll it takes on young girls, I also found myself asking how groundbreaking a concept this is to warrant all the money, work and sacrifices made.
The Korean music industry has historically learned from American and European models of music making, and has long been influenced by western pop and R&B. Does taking the “K” out of K-pop actually make a difference, despite more choreographed performances? Only time will tell.
Nevertheless, it’s clear just what impact this type of rigorous training has had on KATSEYE, who are undoubtedly having a moment just a few short months after debuting. The group performed live for the first time at KCON. Soon after, it made an appearance on Good Morning America. And just this past week, the group’s EP debuted on the Billboard 200 at #119.
But besides mainstream attention and music charts, perhaps what will keep KATSEYE relevant and popular is its ability to compete for fan attention with other musical acts (western and K-pop) in the years to come. And with the release of Pop Star Academy, it looks like many fans are already engaged and invested on the band’s future.
During a recent interview with the group, Daniela told me the band has many goals. Among them, winning awards and touring around the world.
And while they all acknowledge how challenging being a trainee was, they had no regrets. As Megan told me, “Everything that we kind of experienced through the program, really just prepared us for what was gonna come when we made KATSEYE.”
Read my interview with KATSEYE
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