Katseye Debut Without Manon

Katseye made its long-awaited debut at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday, April 10, taking the stage as a five-member lineup in the absence of Manon Bannerman, who remains on hiatus.

Performing in Indio, Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Megan Skiendiel, Sophia Laforteza and Yoonchae Jeung opened their set with the group’s latest single “Pinky Up,” followed by “Debut” and “Touch,” signaling a confident live introduction to one of pop’s most closely watched emerging acts.

The performance also featured a collaborative moment with HUNTR/X vocalists EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, who joined Katseye onstage for “Golden,” a track from the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack. The crossover underscored the group’s positioning at the intersection of global pop and K-pop-adjacent projects, a strategy shaped in part by the HYBE x Geffen (HxG) joint venture.

Manon’s absence comes nearly two months after the group confirmed her temporary step back from activities to prioritize her health. At the time, the band stated: “After open and thoughtful conversations together, we are sharing that Manon will be taking a temporary hiatus from group activities to focus on her health and wellbeing.”

While Katseye has continued scheduled appearances without her, speculation around Manon’s long-term future intensified in recent days. Earlier this month, she reassured fans that she remains in good health and in ongoing discussions with management. However, attention grew after she removed references to Katseye from her social media bio, followed by a report on April 6 indicating she does not plan to return.

In a Nylon cover story published April 7 — based on an interview conducted prior to her hiatus announcement — Manon acknowledged the internal dynamics of a six-member group navigating rapid global exposure, noting that disagreements are part of the process and require compromise.

Katseye, developed under the HYBE x Geffen collaboration, continues to move forward as a five-piece for now, maintaining its rollout strategy amid shifting group dynamics. The project has drawn industry attention not only for its multinational lineup but also for its backing by key figures such as Bang Si-hyuk and Scooter Braun, whose involvement reflects a broader push to globalize the K-pop training model for Western markets.