EJAE, the unexpected star behind the global success of K-Pop Demon Hunters
Before taking the world with “Golden”, the main theme of the Netflix movie, K-Pop Demon Hunters, EJAE (Kim Eun-jae) was a trainee under SM Entertainment. After years of training, she was cut before debuting which made her leave the idol world and reinvent herself as a songwriter and singer-songwriter.
Over time, she began to write for renowned artists like Red Velvet, aespa and LE SSERAFIM, showing off her talent behind the scenarios.
Her big break came when she participated in the soundtrack for the animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters. When she performed the demo of “Golden”, producers were so impressed by her performance that they decided she would be the official voice of Rumi, the main character.
The result was a global phenomenon: “Golden” reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Global 200, marking a before and after in the history of korean soundtracks.
From studio to stage
The success was so great that EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami were invited to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon where they performed “Golden”. They also made a special appearance on Saturday Night Live in a sketch with Bad Bunny.
A story of resilience
Today, EJAE is seen as a symbol of perseverance in the industry. Her story shows that dreams can evolve and that sometimes, second chances are the brightest.