CATS EYE Makes Coachella Debut With Five Members and a Surprise K-Pop Anime Collab

CATS EYE, the Korean-American girl group under HYBE and Geffen Records, made their Coachella debut on April 10, taking the Sahara Stage for a high-energy 50-minute set that showcased new material alongside fan favorites.

The group kicked things off with "Pinky Up," their latest single, marking its first live performance. The track features five members rather than the group's usual six, Swiss member Manon has been on hiatus since February due to health reasons, a change reflected in both the music video and tonight's stage setup.

The evening's standout moment came during the performance of "Golden," the original soundtrack from Netflix's animated K-pop thriller K-pop Demon Hunters. Three voice actors who provided vocals for the anime's fictional girl group Huntrix, Jaе, Audrey Unna, and Lei Amie, made an unexpected appearance, delivering the song's explosive chorus and drawing roars from the crowd. CATS EYE handled the intro while their guests commanded the climactic refrain with powerful vocal delivery.

Desert conditions at the sprawling Coachella Valley venue meant occasional sandstorms interrupted the performance, but the members pushed through undeterred. They moved through a rapid-fire setlist including "Debut," "Mean Girls," and "Gabriella," maintaining tight choreography despite the elements.

During "M.I.A," members Lara and Megan engaged the audience with playful stage interaction, a moment particularly meaningful given that both came out as members of the LGBTQ+ community last year. The group's diversity has always been central to their identity, and at the set's conclusion, each member acknowledged their own heritage and identity. Sophia, who is Filipino, expressed emotion seeing her country's flag in the crowd, while Indian-American member Lara offered encouragement to other women and South Asians in attendance, reminding them that anything is possible.

CATS EYE's Coachella appearance comes as part of the festival's expanded lineup, which runs across two weekends, April 10-12 and April 17-19. Other Korean acts performing include BIGBANG and Taemin.