EJAE on Hollywood Spotlight With Huntrix, Billboard No. 1 'Golden,' and Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters
KPop Demon Hunters continues its rise as a global cultural phenomenon, with Netflix preparing to release a sing-along version of the hit animated film in theaters this weekend. The special version comes as the movie’s music dominates global charts and captures fans worldwide.
EJAE on KPop Demon Hunters sing-along, Billboard No. 1 success with “Golden,” and her Hollywood moment.
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EJAE, the singing voice of Rumi and one of the film’s key songwriters, appeared at an advanced screening of the sing-along at Netflix’s Hollywood headquarters on Tuesday night. The 33-year-old was warmly received by the intimate crowd, which included her Rumi voice actor counterpart Arden Cho, co-director Chris Appelhans, and Ken Jeong, who voices Bobby in the film. Speaking to fans, EJAE expressed her gratitude, saying the entire cast and crew were thankful for the support the film has received.
A former K-pop idol trainee with over a decade of experience, EJAE is credited as co-writer on three of the film’s standout tracks: “How It’s Done,” “Golden,” and “Your Idol.” Both “Golden” and “Your Idol” currently sit at No. 2 and No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, reflecting the global reach of the soundtrack. EJAE’s background in the K-pop industry includes songwriting for some of its biggest acts, including Twice, Aespa, Le Sserafim, and Red Velvet.
Last week, EJAE and the rest of the fictional girl group Huntrix—featuring Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami—claimed the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Golden,” ending Alex Warren’s long-running streak at No. 1. The milestone marked a major moment in the film’s growing influence.
Speaking about the achievement, EJAE described the No. 1 debut of “Golden” as surreal. She said the success fulfilled a dream she had since childhood and brought emotional validation to her work as a songwriter. She explained that songwriting often feels like sharing a personal diary, making it deeply rewarding to see listeners connect with her music.
The viral nature of “Golden” has been another defining aspect of the film’s journey. EJAE noted that seeing fans across TikTok and social media platforms perform and sing along to the track has been one of the most surprising and exciting parts of the experience.
The creative process behind the film’s music involved unique challenges. EJAE revealed that she and her fellow singers recorded their parts without hearing the voice actors’ performances beforehand. The production team provided guidance on the characters’ tones, allowing the singers to match the intended feel of the roles. She praised the final results, calling the alignment between voices and characters seamless.
Beyond her vocal performance, EJAE contributed significantly to the film’s bilingual soundtrack. As a Korean-American fluent in both English and Korean, she wrote the Korean lyrics for nearly all of the film’s songs, including the “Hunter’s Mantra.” Drawing from her experience growing up in both Korea and the United States, she was able to blend languages and cultural nuances into the music. She emphasized that her background as a K-pop trainee and songwriter helped bring authentic K-pop elements into the soundtrack, aligning naturally with the film’s cinematic style.
Reflecting on the film’s success and her role in shaping its music, EJAE expressed gratitude for the response from audiences worldwide. She credited long hours and sleepless nights in the studio as part of the process and said she was honored to see the songs resonate with fans on a global scale.
Listen to EJAE's interview:
“When I walked into Netflix’s Hollywood headquarters for the sing-along screening of KPop Demon Hunters, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. But the moment I saw the crowd — including Arden Cho, Chris Appelhans, and Ken Jeong — I felt something I’ll never forget. I was completely speechless. This whole experience has been insane… and yes, I’ve cried a lot.
I trained for over a decade as a K-pop idol. I never debuted, but I kept writing. That path eventually led me to this film, where I became the singing voice of Rumi and co-wrote three songs: “How It’s Done,” “Your Idol,” and “Golden.”
The fact that “Golden” went No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 still doesn’t feel real. I cried all day when I found out. My first thought was about 11-year-old me — the girl who dreamed of moments like this. I’m just so proud I was able to make her dream come true.
As a songwriter, the success means something even deeper. Writing feels like showing people my diary. It’s so personal. To see listeners connect with something I co-wrote is incredibly validating. And then I go on TikTok and see random kids in their bedrooms singing “Golden”? That’s the craziest part of it all.
The process of recording was wild too. We didn’t hear the voice actors at all before laying down our vocals. I just trusted the directors’ descriptions of Rumi, and when I finally saw the film, it matched exactly what I had imagined. That was magical.
I also got to bring another part of myself into the film — my Korean-American identity. I wrote all the Korean lyrics except for “Soda Pop,” and weaving Korean and English together felt natural because I grew up between both cultures. That knowledge made it easier to create songs that could sound authentic in both languages.
Training as a K-pop idol and then becoming a K-pop writer gave me the tools to pour that energy into the soundtrack. K-pop is maximalist by nature, and it blended so well with cinematic music. Seeing it resonate on such a huge scale has been beyond rewarding.
More than anything, I just want people to know how humbled and grateful I am. These songs came from sleepless nights and endless writing sessions, and now they belong to everyone who sings them back — whether that’s on the radio, at home, or in theaters this weekend during the sing-along.
This entire journey has been crazy. And honestly? I’m still crying.”
