KATSEYE, like VCHA earlier than them, current an attention-grabbing problem for this weblog. They’ll’t actually be thought-about “Ok-pop,” however they have been shaped on the competitors present Dream Academy co-managed by HYBE Company. Time will inform if I hold writing about their music, however for now I feel it’s necessary to the touch on their debut as a part of the business’s broadening world fortunes.

Talking of debuts, “Debut” marks the primary teaser of how an American HYBE-produced lady group would possibly sound and — extra tellingly — what the corporate thinks an American viewers desires from pop music in 2024. Clearly, they don’t have a lot respect for our collective consideration span. At a grand whole of two minutes and three seconds, Debut have to be one of many shortest Ok-pop-adjacent singles on document. “Quick” doesn’t robotically imply “dangerous,” however Debut‘s lack of area to develop severely hampers its prospects.

To me, this feels extra like a demo or work-in-progress than a fully-realized arrival for KATSEYE. The potential is big, particularly given the truth that America hasn’t churned out a blockbuster lady group in years. I hear greater than slightly Pussycat Dolls and Fifth Concord in Debut‘s slick, rhythmic sound. That’s an important place to begin and the music actually comes alive once we transfer previous the trite sing-talk of the verses into the fleshed out refrain. But when I’m evaluating this to a current single like Nayeon’s multifaceted ABCD, the music may actually do with an additional thought or two to assist it stand out. It’s half of begin, if that is smart.

Grade: B-