Technical nightmares and blonde bombshells: katseye's coachella prep chaos
A disastrous start to their Coachella preparations – plagued by laptop glitches, frozen cameras, and a seriously unreliable battery – almost derailed the entire operation for Katseye. But amidst the technical tribulation, a dazzling transformation was underway.
From smoky mountains to platinum hues: a dramatic makeover
The group’s five members – Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Megan Skiendiel, Yoonchae Jeung, and Sophia Laforteza – were sequestered in a remote dance studio in Los Angeles, meticulously rehearsing their set for Friday night. Meanwhile, I was battling a persistent static signal from Blackberry Farm in the Tennessee Smoky Mountains, a world away. It wasn’t exactly the seamless experience a band aiming for a major festival debut would desire.
By the time the connection stabilized, the girls were huddled on a giant couch, draped in black-and-white dance gear. ‘We’ve been pouring weeks into this performance – 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. today – because we’re obsessed with getting it absolutely perfect,’ explained Daniela Avanzini. ‘We’ve been experimenting with some fresh elements, so it’s going to be a completely different vibe.’
Celebrity styling and a bleach blitz
But the transformation wasn't solely musical. Last week, the group opted for a major overhaul, enlisting celebrity hairstylist George Papanikolas, a brand ambassador for Matrix, to take charge. Katseye herself is also a global ambassador for the brand. Lead stylist Papanikolas assured everyone that maintaining hair health was paramount, sending each member home with Matrix Build-A-Bond masks – a necessity given the demanding choreography they’d be executing.
The change began with Yoonchae Jeung, who, after a long-held desire, finally convinced the creative team – spearheaded by Humberto Leon and João Moraes – to embrace a golden-blonde hue. ‘I’d been wanting to go blonde for ages,’ she confessed, ‘and I drew a lot of inspiration from Pinterest – just a single photo, actually, with a color I really loved, a hint of yellow.’
From there, the blonde wave spread, each member heading in a distinctly different direction. ‘The looks have this raw, edgy feel because we’re all blending black and blonde,’ noted Lara Raj. ‘It’s something we really wanted to showcase with our new album.’ Raj cited Christina Aguilera – or “Xtina,” as she playfully calls her – as a key influence, particularly the iconic streaks from the “Dirrty” era, a style she’s admired since childhood.
Unexpected transformations and a glimpse of olympic gold
The makeover extended beyond Jeung, impacting the entire group. Megan Skiendiel’s dramatic mane was inspired by Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu’s graphic style – a series of bold, sculpted bleach lines. Papanikolas meticulously shaped those lines by hand, creating a truly unique effect. ‘I love to experiment with hair from different eras,’ Skiendiel admitted, recalling a previous ginger phase and a flirtation with hot pink bangs. ‘This look feels incredibly fresh and current.’
Avanzini and Laforteza opted for a more subtle approach. Laforteza’s dip-dye look, featuring platinum extensions, was a clever inversion of Debbie Harry’s late-70s grunge-glam aesthetic. ‘These are extensions!’ she exclaimed, emphasizing that they added significant length without disrupting her usual hair routine. “It’s like having a secret weapon – I can be Hannah Montana one minute, Miley the next.”
Meanwhile, Avanzini’s naturally curly hair received a simple yet impactful update: two bright platinum money pieces framing her face. ‘I’ve gone blonde before,’ she explained, ‘but I truly love my dark hair. This is a way to bring back a little bit of that past blonde era – without committing fully.’
A careful approach to bleaching
Jeung’s decision to bleach her eyebrows added another layer of surprise, resulting in a strikingly different appearance when makeup was absent. Despite the dramatic transformation, Papanikolas stressed the importance of preserving hair health throughout the process. ‘Lightening hair places a significant strain on it,’ he explained. ‘That’s why each girl received Matrix Build-A-Bond masks to use weekly, ensuring their hair remains strong and supple.’
The timing of this makeover – amidst the excitement surrounding Coachella, a pivotal moment in Katseye’s career – felt particularly significant. Skiendiel summed it up perfectly: ‘We love to play with our concepts with every era of Katseye. It’s a core element of what we do, from SIS to Beautiful Chaos. ‘Pinky Up’ is our third comeback.’ Whatever unfolds on the Sahara Stage, one thing’s certain: Katseye is ready to make a statement.