“It didn’t feel real. I wondered if I was dreaming,” composer and singer Ejae confessed during her first-ever radio appearance on KBS CoolFM’s “Lee Eun-ji’s Gayo Plaza”, where she shared the backstory of creating the viral hit “Golden”, the OST for the Netflix animation KPop Demon Hunters.
The artist joined the project during its earliest development stage—before the script was finalized and even before the studio officially signed on. Recalling those intense early days, Ejae said, “We were just five people then. We had to create soundscapes for crucial scenes—it was overwhelming but exciting.”
Ejae, who also lent her voice to the character Rumi (a member of the demon-hunting idol group “Huntr/x”), revealed that her vocals were a source of self-doubt. “I used to be insecure about my voice,” she admitted. “But hearing people say they loved it gave me the confidence to really sing my heart out.”
The result was more than just a song—it was a deeply personal piece. “When I first recorded the demo, I cried a little,” she said. “It was a hard time in my life, and this song felt like healing. It’s incredibly moving to know it’s doing the same for others.”
Ejae explained that “Golden” wasn’t written for a human artist but rather for the story’s fictional character Rumi. “That’s why it had to be challenging vocally,” she explained. “To express Rumi’s desperation, I included high notes on purpose. It wasn’t easy—she felt the pressure, and so did I.”
Despite the difficulty, “Golden” struck a chord with fans globally, dominating the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks. Ejae was stunned. “We never imagined it would go that far. Honestly, it felt like a dream. We all worked countless nights on this, so in our hearts, it was always No.1. But to see that recognized on Billboard? It’s beyond words.”
From an underground producer to a breakout performer, Ejae’s journey with KPop Demon Hunters is a powerful example of passion, vulnerability, and the global reach of Korean creative storytelling.
Sources: nate
You must be logged in to post a comment.