SIS (Soft Is Strong) explained

SIS (Soft Is Strong)
Type:EP
Artist:Katseye
Cover:Katseye - SIS (Soft Is Strong).jpeg
Caption:Digital cover
Genre:
Length:11:44
Language:English
Label:
Producer:

SIS (Soft Is Strong) is the debut extended play (EP) by global girl group Katseye. It was released by Hybe UMG and Geffen Records on August 16, 2024.

Background and release

Katseye was formed through the reality show Dream Academy, hosted as a joint venture by Hybe Corporation and Geffen Records, to create a girl group that will be promoted primarily in the United States.[2] The show ended in November 2023.

On June 14, 2024, Hybe and Geffen announced plans to release Katseye's first EP in August later that year, which will be preceded by the release of two singles included in the album on June 28 and in July.[3] [4] The first single, "Debut", was announced on June 24,[5] and was released four days later.[6] On the same day of the release of "Debut", the name of the EP, SIS (Soft Is Strong), was unveiled, along with its release date of August 16.[7] Pre-orders for the album began on July 10.[8] The second single, "Touch", was announced on July 23,[9] and was released on July 26.[10] The album's track listing was unveiled on August 2.[11]

On August 9 and 10, two series of concept photos, titled "Strong" and "Soft" respectively, were released. In the "Strong" series, the members of Katseye are dressed as their representative porcelain dolls that appear on the cover art of their singles "Debut" and "Touch", and also mimicking the stance of the dolls against a white background. In the "Soft" series, the members are placed in front of a backdrop resembling an antique shop.[12] On August 14, the album's highlight medley was released.[13] SIS (Soft Is Strong) was released globally on August 16.[14]

Critical reception

SIS (Soft Is Strong) received generally positive reviews. NMEs Mika Chen gave the album four out of five stars, describing it as "a surprisingly cohesive release that largely captures (Katseye's) enormous potential", but criticizes the short length of the tracks in the album, resulting in "a song (that) ends a little bit too early or the feeling that it was just one final chorus away from perfection". Billboard Philippines Gabriel Saulog describes the album as "an excellent (and empowering) display of the varying sounds within the landscape of pop music", reminiscence of 2000s and 2010s style pop music by artists like Little Mix and Britney Spears while blending with "modern K-pop elements".

Charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
South Korean Albums (Circle)[15] 27

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormatLabel
South KoreaAugust 16, 2024CDYG Plus[16]
JapanUniversal Japan[17] [18]
United States[19] [20]
Various<-- Inclusive of United States, Japan and South Korea -->

Notes and References

  1. Web site: G . Amaya . 2024-08-16 . KATSEYE Realizes Soft Is Strong with Their Debut EP . 2024-08-19 . K-Pop Concerts . en-US.
  2. Web site: Fernandez . Jenny . November 19, 2023 . Sophia Laforteza Joins Final Lineup of The Debut: Dream Academy Girl Group . August 6, 2024 . Billboard Philippines . June 28, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240628123126/https://billboardphilippines.com/music/news/sophia-laforteza-to-debut-in-hybe-and-geffen-records-new-girl-group-katseye/ . live .
  3. Web site: Min-young . Kim . June 14, 2024 . HYBE, Geffen Records to debut new girl group Katseye on June 28 . August 6, 2024 . . . August 6, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240806090314/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/640/0000055100 . live .
  4. Web site: Jae-heun . Kim . June 14, 2024 . Global K-pop girl band Katseye confirms US debut on June 28 . August 6, 2024 . . . August 6, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240806090327/https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/044/0000258301?sid=104 . live .
  5. Web site: Ji-hyung . Heo . June 25, 2024 . ko:'하이브 美 걸그룹' 캣츠아이, 첫 싱글 'Debut' 커버 아트 공개 . https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/108/0003245462 . August 6, 2024 . 'Hybe Beauty Girl Group' Katseye, First Single 'Debut' Cover Art Revealed . Star News . ko . . August 6, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240806090259/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/108/0003245462 . live .
  6. Web site: Jae-yeon . Woo . June 28, 2024 . Hybe's global girl group Katseye launches with debut single . August 6, 2024 . . . August 6, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240806090845/https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/001/0014776471?sid=104 . live .
  7. Web site: Saulog . Gabriel . June 28, 2024 . KATSEYE Make Their Official “Debut,” Announce First EP ‘SIS (Soft Is Strong)’ . August 6, 2024 . Billboard Philippines . June 28, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240628123111/https://billboardphilippines.com/music/news/katseye-make-their-official-debut-announce-first-ep-sis-soft-is-strong-release-geffen-hybe-2024/ . live .
  8. 1810888062701891706 . katseyeworld . The official Pre-Order for KATSEYE’s upcoming EP, “SIS (Soft Is Strong)” is now live! . Katseye . July 10, 2024 . August 6, 2024.
  9. Web site: Min-young . Kim . July 23, 2024 . Girl group Katseye to release second single 'Touch' on Friday . August 6, 2024 . . . August 6, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240806094301/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/640/0000056680 . live .
  10. Web site: Saulog . Gabriel . July 26, 2024 . KATSEYE Long For Connection In Second Single “Touch” – Listen . August 6, 2024 . Billboard Philippines . July 29, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240729160951/https://billboardphilippines.com/music/news/katseye-long-for-connection-in-second-single-touch-listen/ . live .
  11. 1819041568126636074 . katseyeworld . EYEKONS, SIS (Soft is Strong) is almost here! Claim your track now . Katseye . August 2, 2024 . August 6, 2024.
  12. Web site: August 11, 2024 . KATSEYE unveils stunning concept photos for their latest EP 'SIS (Soft Is Strong)' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240814095353/https://www.msn.com/en-in/money/technology/katseye-unveils-stunning-concept-photos-for-their-latest-ep-sis-soft-is-strong/ar-AA1oAGzx . August 14, 2024 . August 14, 2024 . . MSN.
  13. Web site: Seon . Mi-kyung . August 14, 2024 . ko:'하이브 걸그룹' 캣츠아이, 'SIS (Soft Is Strong)' 하이라이트 메들리 공개 . 'Hybe Girl Group' Katseye Releases 'SIS (Soft Is Strong)' Highlight Medley . https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/109/0005136497 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240815050117/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/109/0005136497 . August 15, 2024 . August 15, 2024 . Osen . ko . Naver.
  14. Web site: Saulog . Gabriel . August 16, 2024 . KATSEYE Blend Strength And Sensitivity On Debut EP ‘SIS (Soft Is Strong)’ – Listen . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240816083030/https://billboardphilippines.com/music/news/katseye-blend-strength-and-sensitivity-on-debut-ep-sis-soft-is-strong-listen/ . August 16, 2024 . August 16, 2024 . Billboard Philippines.
  15. Web site: Circle Album Chart – Week 33 of 2024. Circle Chart. ko. August 22, 2024.
  16. Web site: KATSEYE ‘SIS (Soft Is Strong)’ Set . live . http://archive.is/20240811083443/https://shop.weverse.io/en/shop/GL_USD/artists/206/sales/27225 . August 11, 2024 . August 11, 2024 . Weverse Shop.
  17. Web site: "SIS (Soft Is Strong) - Strong Ver."【CD】 KATSEYE . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240811084046/https://store.universal-music.co.jp/product/659207/ . August 11, 2024 . August 11, 2024 . Universal Music Store.
  18. Web site: "SIS (Soft Is Strong)"【アナログ】 KATSEYE . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240811084047/https://store.universal-music.co.jp/product/6804224/ . August 11, 2024 . August 11, 2024 . Universal Music Store.
  19. Web site: Spotify - KATSEYE - "SIS (Soft Is Strong) - Strong Ver." . live . http://archive.today/20240815050657/https://shop.spotify.com/en/artist/3c0gDdb9lhnHGFtP4prQpn/product/katseye-sis-soft-is-strong-vinyl . August 15, 2024 . August 6, 2024 . Spotify Shop.
  20. Web site: Spotify - KATSEYE - "SIS (Soft Is Strong)" - Vinyl . live . http://archive.today/20240815050708/https://shop.spotify.com/en/artist/3c0gDdb9lhnHGFtP4prQpn/product/katseye-sis-soft-is-strong-strong-ver . August 15, 2024 . August 6, 2024 . Spotify Shop.