After a decade of training for a K-pop idol career that never launched, songwriter EJAE is now dominating global music charts as the voice behind a new animated hero.
Los Angeles – It was a “golden month” for singer-songwriter EJAE (Kim Eun-jae, 34). “I can’t believe the songs I wrote and sang are on the Billboard charts!” she exclaimed. The artist is the musical powerhouse behind the stunning success of Netflix’s hit animation, K-Pop Demon Hunters. As the singing voice of the protagonist, Rumi, EJAE has found her own story rocketing to the top.
The movie’s soundtrack has become a global phenomenon. “Golden,” a track she co-wrote, co-composed, and performed, has soared to an incredible #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Another song from the film that she contributed to, “Your Idol,” also broke into the top 10, landing at #9, underscoring the movie’s immense musical impact.
This success is a poignant turn of events for EJAE, whose original dream was to be a singer. Starting in 2003, she spent over ten years as a trainee at the prestigious K-pop agency SM Entertainment. However, her anticipated debut never materialized, and she found herself past the typical age for a budding idol.
Channeling her disappointment into her craft, she began writing music. This new path led her to enroll at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied the music industry and psychology. A fateful meeting with the renowned composer Shinsadong Tiger set her on a definitive course as a songwriter. She quickly made a name for herself in the competitive K-pop industry, penning hits for top-tier groups like Red Velvet (“Psycho”) and aespa (“Armageddon”).
Her involvement with K-Pop Demon Hunters began in late 2020, and it was here that her decade of experience as a trainee became her greatest asset. The years of rigorous training and personal struggle provided a deep well of emotion and authenticity for the film’s music. She poured her own narrative into the powerful anthem “Golden” and channeled her observations of intense fan culture from her trainee days into “Your Idol.”
The production team recognized that her deep connection to the material and her ability to convey the songs’ complex emotions and challenging high notes made her the perfect choice for Rumi’s singing voice.
“I cried while recording,” EJAE confessed in a recent interview. “As a trainee, the pressure to be perfect was immense, and even as a composer, I was often hurt by being overshadowed by more famous names.”
Her journey from a deferred dream to unexpected stardom has become an inspiration. With the world now singing her songs, EJAE has her sights set on a new goal: “One day, I want to win a Grammy for songwriting and show that an Asian artist can succeed in the American music industry.”
