Girl group KATSEYE has landed on two of The New York Times’ year-end roundups spotlighting the best people and works across culture, art and media.
On Dec. 7 (local time), the paper unveiled its “Best of 2025.” KATSEYE’s “Gnarly,” from the group’s second EP, claimed the No. 2 spot on Best Songs of 2025. The Times praised the track as “a symphony of dissonance and machine-made textures―equal parts experiment, globalization, deconstruction and pure celebration,” applauding its originality and genre-blurring ambition.
A hyperpop rush laced with dance and punk, “Gnarly” was crafted by hitmakers Pink Slip, Tim Randolph, Bang Si-hyuk and Slow Rabbit. Its fearless, experimental sound sparked a sensation when it dropped in April.
It wasn’t just the music. KATSEYE also made the Times’ Most Stylish People of 2025 list, appearing alongside pop star Sabrina Carpenter and baseball phenom Shohei Ohtani. Citing the group’s Gap campaign “Better in Denim,” the outlet highlighted KATSEYE’s diversity and inclusivity.
“The group set a new bar for style and self-expression within a year of debut―and even scored Grammy recognition,” the Times noted. KATSEYE is up for two awards at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 1: Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
The group’s global footprint surged this year. EP “BEAUTIFUL CHAOS” peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 (chart dated July 12), while “Gabriela” reached a Hot 100 high of No. 31 (Nov. 29). “Gnarly” entered the Hot 100 at No. 90 (June 21) and has continued to bounce on and off the chart.
Formed through the HYBE-Geffen audition project "The Debut: Dream Academy," KATSEYE debuted in the U.S. last June. Often cited as a flagship success of Bang Si-hyuk’s “multi-home, multi-genre” strategy, the group is currently greeting fans on its North American "Beautiful Chaos" tour.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)