ComingSoon Senior Editor Brandon Schreur spoke with KPop Demon Hunters stars EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, and REI AMI about the hit animated Netflix movie. The trio discussed “Golden” becoming a huge hit, what drew them to their characters and the project, and more.
“When they aren’t selling out stadiums, Kpop superstars Rumi, Mira, and Zoey use their secret identities as badass demon hunters to protect their fans from an ever-present supernatural threat,” the official synopsis reads. “Together, they must face their biggest enemy yet – an irresistible rival boy band of demons in disguise.”
KPop Demon Hunters is now streaming globally on Netflix.
Brandon Schreur: EJAE, I want to start with you, because “Golden” has become such a huge, huge hit over the past couple of months. And well deserved, it’s great. I know that you probably didn’t go into “Golden” thinking, ‘I want to make the biggest song of 2025’ or anything like that, but that’s really what it kind of has become. Was there a certain point where that clicked for you? Whether it was when you were writing it, recording it, or seeing how people react to it, do you remember when you realized “Golden” was going to be this huge?
EJAE: Honestly, when writing it — me and Mark, Mark Sonnenblick, my co-writer, when we were finished with the top line of the lyrics, we were like, ‘Wait. This is kind of a banger.’ Like, this is kind of our favorite song in the film, maybe? We were really confident in the song, but to get to this level, we did not expect at all.
Honestly, just seeing the song manifest itself, and the whole movie just breaking the fourth wall by actually charting in the real charts was just so crazy to see and serendipitous. So, yeah, I think we didn’t expect it, but that’s when I felt it: When the billboard charts and just seeing it go up and up and up. And the Spotify charts. That was insane.
Yeah, I’m sure that’s a crazy feeling. But, again, well deserved.
Crazy experience. It wasn’t even just “Golden.” Like, all the songs in the soundtrack were charting.
Audrey, I want to ask a little bit about how you came on board this project and what your first reaction was when you heard of KPop Demon Hunters. What was it that made you want to be part of this world?
AUDREY NUNA: So, honestly, there’s like some lore surrounding how I came on board. From my understanding, my first manager’s friend’s brother used to game with this guy, Danny Chung, who is a songwriter and A&R for The Black Label. He’s one of the many people, EJAE included, who put my name in to suggest people for singing Mira. So, honestly, it was, for me at the time, it seemed very simple. I’ve heard the process of casting and everything, there’s so much more to it than I know about. For me, it was really just, ‘Hey, do you want to hop on a call with this guy named Ian, who is music directing this film under Sony Pictures and Netflix?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, sure.’
What really got me is that Ian beautifully explained — from like 10 seconds or 30 seconds in to the call — that this was a movie about embracing your full self. And not thinking so binary about who you are. I was like, ‘Alright, you have my attention, what is this?’ From there, he played me the songs. I remember, for “How It’s Done,’ thinking that was the craziest bridge I have ever heard. I was like, bring back bridges, yes! Honestly, all those elements are what sold me to be part of this very special project.
Absolutely, I love that. Rei, I kind of wanted to ask you the same thing. What was it that originally made you want to join KPop Demon Hunters? And, since you’ve been part of this project, what has the movie come to mean to you these past couple of months?
REI AMI: The onboarding process was really quick. Netflix had reached out, and they were like, ‘We need someone who can sing and rap in Korean and English.’ They had a couple of lines from all of the songs, Huntr/x’s songs, and I submitted my audition. The thing that got me is that it’s about Korean culture, it’s about a badass group of girls fighting demons, and it’s an animated musical film. I was a huge theater nerd in high school. Having all of my interests outside of music clash into one, I had to jump at the opportunity. I’d be a fool not to.
I submitted my audition. Three days later, they came back and were like, ‘Do you want to be Zoey?’ I’m like, ‘Of course!’ Ever since then — I think, obviously, we did the recording process, but I think post-premiere, it’s just been very heartwarming to see people resonate with each of the characters. But, also, I feel so seen and heard, truly, if I’m being honest. Seeing the comparisons — not that Zoey is entirely me, but there are so many parts of me that I see in her. We’re pretty kind of identical.
EJAE: I suggested her, too. I’m also just a huge fan of both of these amazing artists.
REI AMI: Yeah, I think just the fans attaching to all of the characters. Also, our counterparts: Yoo Ji-young, Arden Cho, and May Hong killed it. Some of my favorite scenes, actually, that really get emotional are the speaking scenes. The girls absolutely did a phenomenal job.
Thanks to EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, and REI AMI for taking the time to discuss Kpop Demon Hunters.
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