With KATSEYE’s third EP, Wild, set to release this week, they have released their second single after their lead single “Pinky Up:” “Animal.” After the viral fame of their single “Gnarly,” KATSEYE has been leaning into(for lack of a better term) tiktok-able songs. Songs that are made to have sections aimed to do well on TikTok. However, it seems that the inclusion of Ed Sheeran on this work has given it more of a mainstream radio sound. “In ‘Animal’, the girls don’t just sing. They SIIIIING! There are no repeated two-word choruses or verses that feel created purely for TikTok. There are real lyrics, real vocals, less noise to distract from the group’s talents,” PinkNews states.
Rolling Stone said of Ed Sheeran’s involvement: “Katseye have been downplaying their full potential, and their years of training, with each release…Their latest single, ‘Animal,’ penned by Ed Sheeran alongside Johnny McDaid and producers Omer Fedi and Blake Slatkin, is one of their best. It’s not an incredibly ambitious song, but it’s catchy and spirited enough not to come across as predictable — and it gives them a real shot at longevity in the pop arena.”
While the track is still notably missing KATSEYE’s sixth member, Manon, Daniela said of the track in a livestream: “We’re really stepping it forward and trying new stuff, and it’s looking so good.”
With a focus on drums and bass in the verse and adding in guitar in the chorus, the song is definitely made for dancing. The key of C minor set at 150 beats per minute creates a sense of suspense and allure. Unlike their previous single, “Pinky Up,” “Animal” takes its time to ramp up the anticipation. And for a track that is only 2:38 minutes long, it succeeds in its climax. Additionally, the track allows for the singing talents of all the KATSEYE members to shine. As Neon Music says, “Songs called ‘Animal’ usually want you thrashing about by the first chorus. Katseye’s takes its time getting there, working through a full verse before it lets anyone off the leash, trading actual lines between members again rather than stacking a hook on repeat and calling it a song.”
While there are some dissenters, the majority of critics have been praising “Animal” as a return to form. Their most-streamed song on Spotify, “Gabriela,” has a bit more of a traditional pop feel to it, but since its release, the group has mostly been leaning into a hyper-pop sound and chanted choruses. However, as Euphoria puts it, “[‘Animal’] dials that intensity down without losing any of the group’s identity, and the result is one of their most immediately likable releases yet.” I’m curious to see if the release of their new EP will continue their trajectory towards more traditional pop releases or if they will continue experimenting until they find the sound that works best for them.
