Katseye Fans Wait Hours at Sydney Luna Park, Meet Group After Q&A

Ten-year-old Luna and 12-year-old Asha ranked among the first Eyekons, the name for Katseye fans, to reach Sydney's Luna Park on Wednesday. Their parents drove two hours from Wollongong.

The girls lacked winning tickets to the group's debut Australian event, a fan Q&A at the park's Big Top that night. They showed up anyway in hopes of spotting their idols.

"I love Katseye," Luna said. "They inspire me, because I actually do singing lessons myself. They make me more confident to go on stage."

Asha said, "I can get very insecure and they make me feel more confident. I love them so much."

Katseye bills itself as a global girl group. The act blends American pop with K-pop's sharp choreography, branding and drive for perfection. A Hybe and Geffen partnership created it. Hybe, the Korean company behind BTS, joined with the U.S. label. The members bring more diversity than typical K-pop groups: Filipino-American, Cuban-Venezuelan, Indian Tamil-Sri Lankan, Swedish-Chinese-Singaporean, Swiss-Ghanaian and South Korean.

Their recent single Pinky Up offers high-energy techno-pop aimed at critics. It name-drops Socrates and samples the techno hit Meet Me at the Love Parade. Gnarly, a 2025 release, took Luna, Asha and others by surprise. The hyperpop track features odd lyrics and a busy video.

Listeners call the sound tiring, thrilling and split-making. The New York Times said Gnarly "deconstructed" K-pop. A viral X post called it "skibidi toilet music," a view some fans share.

"Sometimes that's what I want!" said Emily, 25, who came from Brisbane with friend Talitha for the Q&A. "Gnarly came out during a period for me where things were just a bit difficult. Katseye brought the fun back into my life. Whenever life is too much, I just put on Katseye. I don't have to think about what's going on."

Luna and Ash passed the day dancing Katseye moves with new friends as the sun set. They had nearly lost hope. "I didn't think it would happen," Luna said. "But I got to meet them! I cried! And we met Evie, and we're friends now."

Katseye holds huge fame. Their August Lollapalooza set in Chicago drew 85,000 people and set a daytime crowd record. They earned a Grammy nod for best new artist. A viral Gap ad led to more brand work. They performed at Coachella last month.

The group faced its first big issue in February. Member Manon Bannerman announced a hiatus to focus on her health and wellbeing.

Before the Q&A, 12-year-old Maisie voiced a common fan view. "I love Pinky Up's chaos-y vibe. But I don't like the part where Manon's not in it."

Maisie's mother signaled the topic hurt, so the talk stopped there. Minutes later, the five active members appeared near the crowd of hundreds of Eyekons. The Sydney sunset lit the harbor skies.

Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Yoonchae Jeung, Sophia Laforteza and Megan Skiendiel, all under 23, walked in step at first. They judged the gap and jogged closer.

"Lara just ran straight towards us!?" said 29-year-old Talitha. "I was so overwhelmed and had no idea what to do, I was shaking."

For 15 minutes, the members handled selfies, autographs, praise and talks with fans. The crowd mixed gen Z girls, gays and theys in bright Y2K clothes, teens in school uniforms, and young kids with parents.

Screams filled the air as the group dashed within a fenced half-circle. Fans got time with members no matter their spot.

One mother pulled her crying daughter aside. "Let's fangirl over here," she said, to calm her in a quiet area.

The Q&A used pre-approved questions read onstage by journalist Tait McGregor. It offered few surprises outside diehard Eyekons, who have seen the clips.