KATSEYE is dropping their third EP, called "Wild," on August 14, 2026. It's got six songs on it: "Pinky Up," "Animal," "Hootie Frutti," "Bel Air," "That Way," and a bonus track called "Unloveu."

Their pre-release single "Animal" is creating lots of buzz and hype for their new EP. It came out July 24 as the second preview of the EP, and here's the twist: Ed Sheeran wrote it.

Wait, Ed Sheeran Wrote a KATSEYE Song?

Yep. Ed Sheeran co-wrote "Animal" along with Johnny McDaid from Snow Patrol. The story behind it is pretty simple: Ed heard KATSEYE's song "Gnarly" last year while he was in Mexico, loved it, and reached out because he was a genuine fan. He asked if he could write them a song. They said yes, and "Animal" is what came out of it.

Why "Animal" Sounds Like an Ed Sheeran Song

Once you know Ed Sheeran wrote it, you can't help but notice how "Animal" shares many similarities with Ed Sheeran's songs. For example,"Animal" has that same upbeat sound as his 2021 hit "Shivers."

Start with the genre: both songs are labeled dance-pop. Not regular pop, dance-pop specifically – the kind of song built around a beat you can move to, not just sing along to.

Now the beat itself: both songs move fast and hit hard. "Shivers" runs around 141 beats per minute. "Animal" runs even faster, around 150. That's a similar speed range, and both keep a big, punchy beat pushing forward from start to finish. The one real difference is the key: "Shivers" is in a major key, which is why it feels bright and happy all the way through. "Animal" is in a minor key, which gives it a slightly darker, edgier feel even though it's still very much a dance-pop song.

So they're not the same song, but they're the same type of song, built by the same person, using the same tools.

Fun Fact

Ed Sheeran didn't just write "Animal" for KATSEYE – he became a fan of the group first, after hearing "Gnarly" on his own.

From "Gnarly" to "Animal": KATSEYE Just Switched Genres

Here's the part that makes this whole story more interesting. KATSEYE's viral song "Gnarly", that served as their breakthrough hit, and their new song "Animal" sound nothing alike, because they're not really the same genre.

So in a little over a year, KATSEYE went from one of the most polarizing, abrasive songs of their career to one of the most mainstream, pop-friendly songs they've ever released. "Wild" looks like it's leaning into that pop sound, with "Animal" setting the tone for the whole EP.

Not Everyone's Sold on the pre-release single

Not every listener is happy that "Animal" sounds so much like an Ed Sheeran song. One user review on Album of the Year joked that it sounds like "an Ed Sheeran reject from 2015-2018", saying it sounds dated, like a leftover from an old Sheeran album instead of a fresh 2026 pop song.

That's a fair reaction to one song. But it's worth keeping in mind: "Animal" is one track off a six-song EP, and it's the only one written by an outside songwriter. Judging all of "Wild" off of "Animal" is like judging a whole movie from one trailer clip. We'll get a much clearer picture of where KATSEYE is really headed once the full EP is out on August 14.

Best VibeSynced Canvases for KATSEYE

If you're playing KATSEYE through VibeSynced, here's what fits:

KATSEYE went from trap-and-hyperpop chaos to an Ed Sheeran-written pop song in about a year. "Wild" drops August 14. We'll see which direction KATSEYE takes with the rest of the EP.

Throw on "Animal" and watch the visuals move with every beat.

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