SIS (Soft Is Strong)
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox album
| name = SIS (Soft Is Strong)
| type = EP
| artist = Katseye
| cover = Katseye - SIS (Soft Is Strong).jpeg
| caption = Digital cover
| released = {{Start date|2024|08|16}}
| genre =
- Pop
- dance-pop
- electronic{{Cite web |last=G |first=Amaya |date=2024-08-16 |title=KATSEYE Realizes Soft Is Strong with Their Debut EP |url=https://kpopconcerts.com/k-pop-music/katseye-realizes-soft-is-strong-with-debut-ep/ |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=K-Pop Concerts |language=en-US}}
| length = 11:44
| language = English
| next_title = Beautiful Chaos
| next_year = 2025
| label =
| producer =
- Ryan Tedder
- Tyler Spry
- Grant Boutin
- Blake Slatkin
- Cashmere Cat
- Omer Fedi
- Taka Perry
- "Hitman" Bang
- Slow Rabbit
- Federico Vindver
- Digital Farm Animals
- Jason Gill
- Oskar Widén
| misc = {{Singles
| name = SIS (Soft Is Strong)
| type = EP
| single1 = Debut
| single1date = June 28, 2024
| single2 = Touch
| single2date = July 26, 2024
}}
}}
{{italic title|all=yes|noerror}}
SIS (Soft Is Strong) is the debut extended play (EP) by girl group Katseye. It was released by Hybe UMG and Geffen Records on August 16, 2024. The EP is supported by two singles preceding its release—"Debut" in June and "Touch" in July.
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.{{Cite magazine |last=Fernandez |first=Jenny |date=November 19, 2023 |title=Sophia Laforteza Joins Final Lineup of The Debut: Dream Academy Girl Group |url=https://billboardphilippines.com/music/news/sophia-laforteza-to-debut-in-hybe-and-geffen-records-new-girl-group-katseye/ |access-date=August 6, 2024 |magazine=Billboard Philippines |archive-date=June 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628123126/https://billboardphilippines.com/music/news/sophia-laforteza-to-debut-in-hybe-and-geffen-records-new-girl-group-katseye/ |url-status=live }} 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.{{Cite web |last=Min-young |first=Kim |date=June 14, 2024 |title=HYBE, Geffen Records to debut new girl group Katseye on June 28 |url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/640/0000055100 |access-date=August 6, 2024 |publisher=Korea JoongAng Daily |via=Naver |archive-date=August 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806090314/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/640/0000055100 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Jae-heun |first=Kim |date=June 14, 2024 |title=Global K-pop girl band Katseye confirms US debut on June 28 |url=https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/044/0000258301?sid=104 |access-date=August 6, 2024 |publisher=The Korea Herald |via=Naver |archive-date=August 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806090327/https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/044/0000258301?sid=104 |url-status=live }} The first single, "Debut", was announced on June 24,{{Cite web |last=Ji-hyung |first=Heo |date=June 25, 2024 |script-title=ko:'하이브 美 걸그룹' 캣츠아이, 첫 싱글 'Debut' 커버 아트 공개 |url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/108/0003245462 |access-date=August 6, 2024 |website='Hybe Beauty Girl Group' Katseye, First Single 'Debut' Cover Art Revealed |publisher=Star News |language=ko |via=Naver |archive-date=August 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806090259/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/108/0003245462 |url-status=live }} and was released four days later.{{Cite web |last=Jae-yeon |first=Woo |date=June 28, 2024 |title=Hybe's global girl group Katseye launches with debut single |url=https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/001/0014776471?sid=104 |access-date=August 6, 2024 |publisher=Yonhap News Agency |via=Naver |archive-date=August 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806090845/https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/001/0014776471?sid=104 |url-status=live }} 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.{{Cite magazine |last=Saulog |first=Gabriel |date=June 28, 2024 |title=KATSEYE Make Their Official "Debut," Announce First EP 'SIS (Soft Is Strong)' |url=https://billboardphilippines.com/music/news/katseye-make-their-official-debut-announce-first-ep-sis-soft-is-strong-release-geffen-hybe-2024/ |access-date=August 6, 2024 |magazine=Billboard Philippines |archive-date=June 28, 2024 |archive-url=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/ |url-status=live }} Pre-orders for the album began on July 10.{{cite tweet |number=1810888062701891706 |user=katseyeworld |title=The official Pre-Order for KATSEYE's upcoming EP, "SIS (Soft Is Strong)" is now live! |author-link=Katseye |date=July 10, 2024 |access-date=August 6, 2024}} The second single, "Touch", was announced on July 23,{{Cite web |last=Min-young |first=Kim |date=July 23, 2024 |title=Girl group Katseye to release second single 'Touch' on Friday |url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/640/0000056680 |access-date=August 6, 2024 |publisher=Korea JoongAng Daily |via=Naver |archive-date=August 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806094301/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/640/0000056680 |url-status=live }} and was released on July 26.{{Cite magazine |last=Saulog |first=Gabriel |date=July 26, 2024 |title=KATSEYE Long For Connection In Second Single "Touch" – Listen |url=https://billboardphilippines.com/music/news/katseye-long-for-connection-in-second-single-touch-listen/ |access-date=August 6, 2024 |magazine=Billboard Philippines |archive-date=July 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240729160951/https://billboardphilippines.com/music/news/katseye-long-for-connection-in-second-single-touch-listen/ |url-status=live }} The album's track listing was unveiled on August 2.{{cite tweet |number=1819041568126636074 |user=katseyeworld |title=EYEKONS, SIS (Soft is Strong) is almost here! Claim your track now |author-link=Katseye |date=August 2, 2024 |access-date=August 6, 2024}}
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. A group of photos in the "Soft" series feature the members wearing costumes related to their assigned Dream Charm symbols.{{Cite web |date=August 11, 2024 |title=KATSEYE unveils stunning concept photos for their latest EP 'SIS (Soft Is Strong)' |url=https://www.msn.com/en-in/money/technology/katseye-unveils-stunning-concept-photos-for-their-latest-ep-sis-soft-is-strong/ar-AA1oAGzx |url-status=live |archive-url=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 |archive-date=August 14, 2024 |access-date=August 14, 2024 |work=The Times of India |via=MSN}} On August 14, the album's highlight medley was released.{{Cite web |last=Seon |first=Mi-kyung |date=August 14, 2024 |script-title=ko:'하이브 걸그룹' 캣츠아이, 'SIS (Soft Is Strong)' 하이라이트 메들리 공개 |trans-title='Hybe Girl Group' Katseye Releases 'SIS (Soft Is Strong)' Highlight Medley |url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/109/0005136497 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815050117/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/109/0005136497 |archive-date=August 15, 2024 |access-date=August 15, 2024 |publisher=Osen |language=ko |via=Naver}} SIS (Soft Is Strong) was released globally on August 16.{{Cite magazine |last=Saulog |first=Gabriel |date=August 16, 2024 |title=KATSEYE Blend Strength And Sensitivity On Debut EP 'SIS (Soft Is Strong)' – Listen |url=https://billboardphilippines.com/music/news/katseye-blend-strength-and-sensitivity-on-debut-ep-sis-soft-is-strong-listen/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816083030/https://billboardphilippines.com/music/news/katseye-blend-strength-and-sensitivity-on-debut-ep-sis-soft-is-strong-listen/ |archive-date=August 16, 2024 |access-date=August 16, 2024 |magazine=Billboard Philippines}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = NME
| rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite news |last=Chen |first=Mika |date=August 16, 2024 |title=KATSEYE – 'SIS (Soft Is Strong)' review: short but oh so sweet |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/katseye-sis-soft-is-strong-review-3784240 |access-date=August 16, 2024 |work=NME}}
}}
SIS (Soft Is Strong) received generally positive reviews. NME{{'}}s 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, which resulted 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 described the album as "an excellent (and empowering) display of the varying sounds within the landscape of pop music", dubbing it as reminiscent of the 2000s and 2010s-style pop music by artists such as Little Mix and Britney Spears, with a blend of "modern K-pop elements".
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = SIS (Soft Is Strong) track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title_width = 15%
| lyrics_width = 35%
| music_width = 35%
| extra_width = 15%
| title1 = Debut
| lyrics1 = {{hlist|Ryan Tedder|Tyler Spry|Grant Boutin|Omer Fedi}}
| music1 = {{hlist|Tedder|Spry|Boutin|Fedi}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|Tedder|Spry|Boutin}}
| length1 = 2:03
| title2 = Touch
| lyrics2 = {{hlist|Caroline Ailin|Jessica Porfiri}}
| music2 = {{hlist|Ailin|Porfiri|Taka Perry|Magnus Høiberg|Blake Slatkin|Fedi}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|Slatkin|Cashmere Cat|Fedi|Perry}}
| length2 = 2:09
| title3 = My Way
| lyrics3 = {{hlist|Amanda "Kiddo A.I." Ibanez|Ali Tamposi}}
| music3 = {{hlist|"Hitman" Bang|Slow Rabbit|Federico Vindver|John Byron}}
| extra3 = {{hlist|"Hitman" Bang|Slow Rabbit|Vindver}}
| length3 = 2:34
| title4 = I'm Pretty
| lyrics4 = {{hlist|Kiddo A.I.|Sam Roman}}
| music4 = {{hlist||Digital Farm Animals|Richard Boardman}}
| extra4 = Digital Farm Animals
| length4 = 2:22
| title5 = Tonight I Might
| lyrics5 = {{hlist|Justin Tranter|Caroline Penell}}
| music5 = {{hlist|Tranter|Penell|Jason Gill}}
| extra5 = {{hlist|Gill|Oskar Widén}}
| length5 = 2:36
| total_length = 11:44
}}
Charts
Release history
References
{{reflist}}
{{Katseye}}