BINI vs Katseye at Coachella: Fil-Am fans weigh in on what sets them apart

INDIO, Calif. — Global pop girl group Katseye returned to Coachella’s Sahara stage for weekend 2 on Friday night, delivering a tightly tuned, high-energy encore set that doubled down on their dance-pop sound and international appeal.

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Performing again as a five-member lineup with Manon Bannerman remaining on hiatus, the group powered through a festival-ready setlist that included “PINKY UP,” “Debut,” “Gameboy,” “Touch,” “Tonight I Might,” “Mean Girls,” “Internet Girl,” “Gabriela,” and “My Way.”

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Members of KATSEYE including Megan Skiendiel, Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Sophia Laforteza, and Yoonchae perform onstage at the Sahara Tent during day 1, weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival on April 17, 2026 in Indio, California. Photo from Coachella press (Credit: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for Coachella)

Choreography-heavy numbers drew loud cheers from the Sahara tent as fans sang along and filmed the performance for social media, with short clips of “Touch” and the group’s live vocals circulating online shortly after the show.

Katseye — formed through HYBE and Geffen Records’ global audition program “The Debut: Dream Academy” — is composed of Filipino member Sophia Laforteza, Lara Rajagopalan, Daniela Avanzini, Megan Skiendiel and Jeong Yoonchae, representing North America, Europe and Asia. 

The group debuted in 2024 and has since positioned itself as a multicultural act blending K-pop-style training with Western pop production, a formula that has helped them land major festival slots including Coachella and upcoming dates at Governors Ball and other US and international events.

Diverse girl group vs all-Filipino girl group

Filipino and Filipino diaspora fans again turned out to support Laforteza, who has become a focal point for representation on one of the world’s biggest festival stages.

Revan, a fan from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, said he came mainly to back the Filipina performer. 

Revan, a BINI fan from Canada | Photo by Elton Lugay

“If I would rate [the performance] out of 10, probably like an eight,” he told Inquirer USA. 

“I’m not really a big fan of Katseye –I’m more of a BINI fan – but we’re here to support (Laforteza) and represent the Philippines.”

Revan said the group’s composition sets it apart from all-Filipino girl group BINI. 

“Katseye has more diversity, while BINI is an all-Filipino group,” he said, adding that he hopes to see the act gain success and more shows in the future.

Katseye’s strategic multicultural lineup

Los Angeles-based Filipino American singer Garth Garcia praised Katseye’s strategic multicultural lineup led by Laforteza.

Garth Garcia | Photo by Elton Lugay

“Katseye, led by Filipino Sophia Laforteza, is a global pop girl group so diverse that they’re a genius in capturing major ethnic groups to cater to the masses,” Garcia said. 

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“Meanwhile, what makes BINI so unique is that they remain true to their core and that they are courageous enough to keep their cultural values, especially in promoting the Philippines and OPM to the world stage – this is what makes them so admirable.”

From left: Stacey, Maloi, Gwen, Colet, Sheena, Aiah, Mikha and Jhoanna Robles of BINI perform at the Mojave Tent during the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Empire Polo Club on April 17, 2026 in Indio, California. Photo from Coachella press (Credit:Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella)

BINI is Filipino pop

Singer and doctor of physical therapy Morris Montilla said BINI offers a contrasting model of Filipino pop, one still rooted in local culture even as it reaches global stages. 

Morris Montilla | Photo by Elton Lugay

“The training of BINI may not be the same as the traditional K-pop or other pop girl groups, but it is refreshing to see them maintaining or keeping their Filipino roots via their performances of being like a ‘dalagang Pilipina,’” Montilla said. 

“The fierceness is there but the Maria Clara flair is also visible – so visible that it makes them endearing to audiences. They are actually telling the world this is how we do it the Filipino way.”  

For Katseye, the stronger crowd engagement and louder sing-alongs on weekend 2 signaled growing familiarity with the group’s catalog, with tracks like “PINKY UP,” “Mean Girls,” “Touch” and “Internet Girl” emerging as fan favorites inside the Sahara tent and across festival livestreams. 

The group’s polished staging and intensive choreography reinforced its bid to cement a foothold in the global pop landscape as it continues a busy festival and promotion schedule following Coachella.

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