Ed Sheeran’s involvement in KATSEYE’s new single “Animal” began with him hearing the group’s music while traveling in Mexico.
Days after the track arrived on July 24, Sheeran shared behind-the-scenes footage explaining that he contacted KATSEYE after becoming a fan of “Gnarly.”
The video follows “Animal” from his early studio demonstration to the group’s finished recording, while the official music video adds Demi Moore as the stern figure who pushes the members to unleash their wilder side.
Sheeran Reached Out After Hearing ‘Gnarly’ in Mexico
Sheeran said he discovered “Gnarly” while visiting Mexico in 2025 and immediately connected with the track. “I heard @katseyeworld’s song ‘Gnarly’ last year when I was in Mexico and loved it,” he wrote in the Instagram caption accompanying the studio footage.
“We’ve created ‘Animal’ together,” he added, encouraging his followers to listen to the finished version. Sheeran co-wrote the song with Snow Patrol musician and longtime collaborator Johnny McDaid, Blake Slatkin and Omer Fedi. Slatkin and Fedi also produced the recording.
The Studio Footage Reveals Sheeran’s Original Version
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Sheeran’s behind-the-scenes video opens with him performing an early version of the chorus in the studio before explaining the idea behind the lyrics. The song is about the private, less controlled side of a person that may only be visible to someone close to them.
An official release announcement described “Animal” as exploring the tension between the polished versions people present to the world and the instinctive energy they conceal in private. That idea also shaped the official video, which uses observation rooms, mirrored identities and shifting personas to blur the distinction between being watched and doing the watching.
Demi Moore Tells KATSEYE to ‘Get Wild’
The Cody Critcheloe-directed video shows the KATSEYE members moving between feminine and masculine versions of themselves before arriving in a chaotic wardrobe room. She eventually declares that it is time to “get wild.” The members’ restrained suits transform into sparkling stage outfits, setting up one of the group’s signature choreography sequences.
Moore’s appearance continues KATSEYE’s use of established Hollywood performers in its videos. Jessica Alba previously played the head of a company whose potential successors the members competed to become in the 2025 video for “Gabriela.” Critcheloe also directed KATSEYE’s videos for “Gnarly” and “Touch.” The “Animal” video received a broadcast premiere across MTV Live, MTVU and Paramount’s Times Square billboards.
‘Animal’ Opens KATSEYE’s Next Era
“Animal” will appear on WILD, KATSEYE’s third EP, which HYBE x Geffen Records will release on August 14. The group’s official store describes the project as the beginning of a new era shaped by growth, transformation, self-discovery and self-determination.
The EP follows 2025’s BEAUTIFUL CHAOS, which included “Gnarly.” KATSEYE introduced the new era at Coachella in April by giving “PINKY UP” its live debut. Before the EP arrives, the group will appear in KATSEYE: WILD HEARTS, a limited theatrical release created for its fans. The film will begin screening in cinemas worldwide on August 12, two days before WILD is released.