Los Angeles, Feb 22 (.) “Golden,” the breakout track from the animated hit KPop Demon Hunters, is still riding a global high, reaching 5× platinum just seven months after the film’s debut.
Crafting the song took a powerhouse team of writers and producers, including EJAE, who also voices Rumi’s singing parts, alongside Mark Sonnenblick and South Korean hitmakers ‘The Black Label’s IDO’ (Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam and Zhun), as reported by Variety.
Reflecting on the song’s creation, Zhun shared through a translator that the team began with a precise rhythmic vision. “The production team wanted us to focus on the drum loop first,” he explained. “They asked for a specific BPM between 100 and 120, so we built the drum loop and developed everything from there.”
Nam noted that the track follows a classic K-pop framework, featuring two distinct voices, two verses and a dramatic bridge.
Directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans also requested a soaring high note to anchor the song emotionally, a challenge EJAE embraced. Zhun revealed that the climactic A5 note was intentionally written by EJAE herself, according to Variety.
“When we first heard it, we were in awe,” he said. “There’s always a limit to how high a note can go, so we didn’t expect something that high. Watching her deliver it is incredible.”
Beyond “Golden,” IDO composed additional music for the film’s fictional groups Huntr/x and the Saja Boys. Zhun credited producer Ian Eisendrath with helping shape two contrasting musical identities, the Saja Boys, who mask villainy behind charm, and Huntr/x, the fierce heroines channeling frustration and strength. His guidance ensured the songs complemented the film’s narrative and visuals rather than standing alone as typical pop tracks.
When discussing meaningful lyrics, Lee pointed to the line, “I’m done hiding, now I’m shining,” describing it as a powerful reflection of Rumi’s personal growth. Nam and Zhun also expressed pride in seeing Korean lyrics embraced worldwide. “Watching global audiences sing along in Korean is deeply moving,” they said, as quoted by Variety.
With its continued success, “Golden” highlights K-pop’s expanding global influence and showcases The Black Label team’s talent for merging traditional K-pop structure with cinematic storytelling.
. MI ARN