Even global superstars have their own fan moments. In a recent installment of the Instagram original series Close Friends Only, the members of KATSEYE sat down with YouTuber Larray to discuss life on the road, the creative spark behind their music, and the excitement surrounding their upcoming EP, WILD.
The episode kicks off in a high-end music studio, where the group settles in for a candid, relaxed conversation—tea, both literal and figurative, is definitely served.
One of the highlights of the discussion was KATSEYE reflecting on their brush with pop royalty: meeting Ariana Grande at the 2025 MTV VMAs.
“I actually started crying. And I don’t cry,” admitted Sophia Laforteza. As a devoted fan, Laforteza was visibly overwhelmed, revealing that her bandmates had to help calm her down as she shook with nerves. Ultimately, the encounter was a positive one. “You know how people always warn you, ‘Don’t meet your idols’? I met mine, and she just made me feel so seen.”
Grande wasn’t the only high-profile artist the group crossed paths with this year. During the Grammys, they had a memorable encounter with Tyler, The Creator, who went out of his way to pay them a compliment.
“Dude, Tyler, The Creator told us we were good,” said member Lara Raj. “We were walking backstage, and he came out of his dressing room just to tell us, ‘You guys did so good.’”
Laforteza added, “He really went out of his way to say that.”
In a companion Instagram Reel, the group opened up about their bucket-list collaborators. Daniela Avanzini expressed a desire to work with Bad Bunny, noting, “He’s just fire,” before adding Tyler, The Creator to her list of favorite artists she hopes to record with. Other dream collaborators mentioned included Pharrell, Thundercat, Lady Gaga, and Benny Blanco.
Catch the full episode of Close Friends Only above, and check out their chat regarding dream collaborations below:
