Global girl group Katseye unveiled the official music video for their breakout single “Pinky Up” this week, arriving just days before the group’s highly anticipated debut performance at Coachella 2026 — though fans quickly noticed one major absence.
Missing from the high-energy visual is Manon Bannerman, widely considered a fan favourite, who stepped back from group activities in February to focus on her health.
Released Thursday, the video showcases the group’s five active members — Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Megan Skiendiel, Sophia Laforteza and Yoonchae Jeung — moving through a hyper-stylised dreamscape that feels engineered for the TikTok era. Scenes jump rapidly from plush-filled fantasy forests to bubblegum-pink bedrooms and motel ballrooms, with the members theatrically sipping tea and raising their pinkies in sync with the song’s playful title.
The timing is deliberate. Katseye will take the stage in Indio, California, this Friday for their first-ever Coachella appearance, a milestone moment for a group that has moved at near-industrial speed since its formation.
In a February statement, the group confirmed Bannerman’s temporary hiatus following what they described as “open and thoughtful conversations,” adding that her wellbeing remained the priority while the remaining members continued scheduled promotions.
Bannerman later reassured supporters directly, thanking fans for their patience and confirming she was “happy and healthy,” while promising updates in the future.
Katseye’s rise has been unusually fast even by modern pop standards. The group first emerged from the 2023 survival competition The Debut: The Dream, before achieving global visibility through Netflix’s Popstar Academy: Katseye docuseries the following year. Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance soon followed, cementing them as one of pop’s most closely watched new acts.
Preparing for Coachella has reportedly been intense. Member Lara Raj described rehearsals as “crunch time,” revealing the group had roughly two weeks to build an entirely new show, including fresh material.
The blueprint, she admitted, is ambitious. Katseye has drawn heavy inspiration from Beyoncé’s era-defining 2018 Coachella performances — a reminder that modern pop success isn’t just about streaming numbers anymore. It’s about spectacle, precision, and proving you belong on the biggest stage in the desert.
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Last modified: April 13, 2026
