KATSEYE released their mini-album “BEAUTIFUL CHAOS” on June 27, 2025. This is their second release since debuting last year, and they did not fall short with the quality. From electro-pop to Latin R&B, this EP brings a diverse collection of songs that perfectly complement the title of the album.
1. Gnarly
The infamous “Gnarly” was released in April of this year. “Gnarly” is a song you have to listen to multiple times to understand. Completely separate from their other title track, “Touch”, “Gnarly” is tough, aggressive, and hardcore. After my first listen, I wasn’t impressed. But now, it’s one of my favorite songs of theirs.
Modern K-pop groups continuously promote fresh cutesy concepts with a minimalistic theme, but “Gnarly” is quite the opposite. The music video is incredible with a maximalist theme. It’s overwhelming, overstimulating, but so well done. It’s an acquired taste, but it’s definitely worth the listen.
2. Gabriela
Completely different from “Gnarly”, “Gabriela” is a Latin inspired song with an R&B vibe. The Spanish guitar in the instrumental is incredible. There’s some string-plucking throughout the song which still gives it that classic KATSEYE pop sound. I thought the music video was very creative, as Daniela said it “pays homage to Latin culture and telenovelas”. It was in the style of a telenovela, with a 4:3 aspect ratio, burned-in subtitles, and slightly grainy filter. I love when music videos are creative in this way and not just a performance video in disguise.
I loved the classic chorus distribution with Yoonchae and Manon. Daniela got to sing the bridge in Spanish which I thought was really well done. The only downside is that makes it a bit harder to sing along to.
3. Gameboy
“Gameboy” has to be one of KATSEYE’s best b-side tracks to date. It’s a cute pop song with a retro video game inspired theme. The instrumental has some 8-bit elements too which really complement the song.
I especially love the line distribution here. Manon and Daniela sing the verses and prechorus, while the other four members sing the chorus. It’s divided into four parts, and it’s very catchy. I was so excited to hear and see Megan front and center with the chorus. They’re still a relatively new group, so it’s not like Megan is being pushed back. But she had yet to sing the chorus, so it was really exciting to see.
“Mean Girls” is the slowest song on the album. It’s mostly about spreading positivity, and choosing to forgive your bullies. It’s also about not being a “mean girl” yourself and trying to be kind. It’s a classic pop style song, but definitely has an emotional tinge to it. It’s not my favorite track on the album, but it’s not bad. I think it has a great message nonetheless.
5. M.I.A.
“M.I.A.” is another bold song on the album. It’s about having confidence and freedom, and being unpredictable. Megan said it keeps people on their toes, because “any minute now [they] might go M.I.A.”. It has a dark and intense atmosphere that stands out from their other songs. I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite of theirs but definitely a good listen.
I would give “BEAUTIFUL CHAOS” 4/5 stars. It is an incredible album with a diverse selection of songs. There are so many genres in just five tracks, but they fit together perfectly. From intense pop to Latin R&B, this EP has something for everyone.