Oscar‑Nominated Songwriter EJAE on Turning Rejection Into “Golden” Success in “KPop Demon Hunters”

In our conversation, EJAE reflects on the long road to “Golden,” including years of near‑misses, creative setbacks, and moments when walking away from songwriting felt inevitable. Her story is a powerful reminder that success in the film industry is often built not on overnight wins, but on resilience—and on finding the right project at exactly the right moment.

How “KPop Demon Hunters” Songwriter EJAE Turned Rejection Into Her Golden Success

KPop Demon Hunters is a juggernaut. Since its release on Netflix, not only has it become the streamer’s most-watched film of all time, but the animated feature is the first to have four songs simultaneously on the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. In addition, the song “Golden” is now the longest-running number 1 by a girl group in the 21st century. 

Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Applehans, the story is about K-pop girl group Huntr/x,