South African-founded global pop trio KATSEYE releases their third EP “WILD” with the lead hit “Pinky Up” available April 9, 2026.
The launch held some genuine weight even before the EP was named. KATSEYE launched “Pinky Up” as a one-off single a week before they appear at Coachella 2026, with teases creating buzz through artwork including a Mona Lisa with her little finger up. That kind of whimsical visual language was a fantastic fit for the confident, slightly naughty attitude of the song.
Music-wise, the single is a hyperpop, techno-pop, and EDM-textured lane, a drastically different lane than the group’s previous, more pop-leaning output. Songwriters David Wilson, Justin Tranter, Magsy, Sorana and Skyler Stonestreet worked alongside HYBE chairman “Hitman” Bang and producers Dwilly and Frants to craft the tune. “Pinky Up” has a sharper, more electronic edge than anything on KATSEYE’s debut EP “SIS (Soft Is Strong),” thanks to that mix.
Also, “Pinky Up” as track one on “WILD” sends a message. KATSEYE doesn’t ease the listener into the EP. They kick things off with their boldest sonic experiment to date, setting a high-energy tone before the project shifts into cuts like “Hootie Frutti” and closer “That Way.”
The Coachella fans had this one first, and now the complete EP has the same electrifying opening statement – does the hyperpop transition work as well on record as it surely did live?
Discussion