Meet the Singers Behind ‘Kpop Demon Hunters’

THE RUNDOWN

• KPop Demon HuntersThe hit soundtrack includes real-life up-and-coming musicians behind the animated stars.
• While songwriter-producer EJAE brings Rumi’s vocals to life, the genre-defying artist Audrey Nuna portrays Mira, and alt-pop rapper Rei Ami takes on the role of Zoey.
• Learn about each singer that made up the fictional group HUNTR/X.

Kpop Demon Hunters is Netflix’s most-watched filmever, and its major single “Golden” has gone platinum. The animated sensation has made another significant move intothe awards conversation, receiving a Grammy nomination, two Critics Choice awards, and three Golden Globe nominationsnominations, including Best Original Song – Motion Picture for “Golden.” Due to the film’s tremendous success, the three vocalists behind the characters, HUNTR/X members Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, have emerged into the public eye.

At the Critics Choice AwardsOn January 4, EJAE (the voice of Rumi) shared her experiences, stating, “While writing the song, I felt as though I was living through my character, Rumi. Her life and path in the film resonated strongly with me.” She continued, “The song had to be a message of hope to encourage herself to rise and pursue her dreams. In many ways, it did the same for me. But most importantly, being able to offer hope to people all over the world is truly the greatest honor.”

EJAE, along with her co-stars Audrey Nuna (Mira) and Rei Ami (Zoey), pursued separate music careers prior to their involvement in the Netflix film, but they now have a fanbase.hoping they were an actual girl groupthemselves. Learn about each of the celebrities listed below.

EJAE (the vocal representation of Rumi)

EJAE, whose real name is Kim Eun-jae, is a 33-year-old Korean-American musician and composer located inNew York City. She didn’t merely perform the sections from Rumi forKpop Demon Hunters; she also co-authored “Golden,” “How It’s Done,” and “Your Idol.”

Born in Seoul, she spent a decade training as an idol under the K-pop company SM Entertainment, beginning when she was 11 years old. She continued her education at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she honed her abilities in beat creation and songwriting, as reported.The Korea Herald.

EJAE, the collaborator behind the 2019 chart-topping song “Psycho” for the K-pop girl group Red Velvet,told the outletSome record producers in South Korea invited me to contribute vocals to songs just for enjoyment. My initial song was selected by a famous artist. That’s when I understood that writing wasn’t merely a hobby—it was something I truly required. It turned into my form of therapy.

She dedicated several years to working in the background within the K-pop industry—creating and producing music for renowned groups like TWICE, Taeyeon, and Nmixx—beforeKpop Demon Hunterselevated her to prominence as a heartfelt performer and composer. She was initially employed as a songwriter for the film, eventually taking on the role of Rumi’s vocal performer after the directors listened to her demo recordings. Speaking toVultureRegarding the film’s worldwide response, EJAE stated, “I have never encountered anything like this in my entire life.”

The performer was so emotional that she began to cry.Vanity Fair videoreleased on October 29, where she discussed how audiences responded to “Golden.” She stated, “It really helps many people during tough times, and I received messages from fans saying things like, ‘A close friend passed away, and nothing felt right, but then I heard ‘Golden’ and it helped me.’” She added, “I was overwhelmed, I just felt extremely grateful.”

EJAE shared that she was deeply touched by an Instagram post detailing how a person asked a nurse to sing “Golden” for them in their final moments. “[For] that to be the last song they hear before they pass, it’s the greatest honor,” she mentioned.

On November 7, EJAE marked a significant achievement: her first Grammy nomination for Song of the Year, asKpop Demon Hunters“Golden” was acknowledged. She responded to the news onInstagram, writing, “Omg… I don’t even have the adjectives to describe how I’m feeling 😭 This is beyond anything I ever imagined, being nominated for a Grammy… nevermind SONG OF THE YEAR!!!! To say this was my dream is an understatement.”

The artist continued by expressing appreciation to her collaborators and the film’s creative team, stating, “This wouldn’t have been possible without the movie’s fans who have given us so much support. I am truly thankful to @nutmags and @appelhansc for allowing me to write songs for their film, @ianeisendrathmusic who was the key to this entire process, my co-writer @sonnen_blick, @theblacklabel, my GIRLLSSS @rei.ami & @audreynuna, and everyone else involved. And @drojasmusic, without whose friendship and recommendation I wouldn’t have been part of this project❤️ Back to crying now 😭.”

Audrey Nuna (the vocal performer for Mira)

Audrey Nuna, hailing from New Jersey, is the genre-defying rapper-singer responsible for giving Mira’s performance its voice. Nuna gained recognition in the indie and alternative R&B scene with powerful singles and adistinct fashion sensibility long before KPop Demon Hunterslinked her with a worldwide audience. The 26-year-old musician transitions seamlessly from rap rhythms to powerful pop melodies, as evident in her 2021 EP,A Liquid Breakfast, and 2024 album, Trench.

In an interview with TheWrap, Nuna described how KPop Demon Huntersconnected with her right from the start. “It was really at the heart, just the idea and the message,” she said to the magazine. “I felt like, when I was introduced to the plot and the meaning of the film, it just felt like, ‘Oh, this is, in some way, my life story and something that I’ve always been very passionate about,’ promoting the message of being your true self.”

She has also discussed the creative freedom in “Golden,” noting that the lines between musical styles seem less important these days. “I do believe genre is dead, in a way,” she said.told Variety“I have always had a personal interest in various types of music.” As reported by the outlet, Nuna, who was one of the few Asian Americans in her hometown, was raised listening to a diverse range of international artists, including Wonder Girls, Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, Childish Gambino, and Björk.

Rei Ami (the vocal performer for Zoey)

Rei Ami, whose real name is Sarah Yeeun Lee, is an alt-pop and rap musician known for providing the vocal performance for Zoey. She was born in Seoul and relocated to Maryland with her family when she was six years old. At the University of Maryland, where she studied communication studies, she began using music as a means to deal with her depression diagnosis.

The 30-year-old artist said, ‘Music has truly been the most effective form of therapy for me.’told Business InsiderIn 2020, she said, “I think that’s why I was always so attracted to it, because of how it comforted me. Also, the diagnosis happened around the same time I first started making music, officially. So it was just a complete circle.” She added, “I feel like sometimes you have to hit rock bottom to really take off.”

Before Kpop Demon Hunters, Ami—who combines her stage nameSailor Moon characters Rei Hino and Ami Mizuno—gained a dedicated fanbase through her individual projects. One of her first major successes occurred in 2019 when she launched a music video forher song “Snowcone,”which has received more than 9 million views so far. That same year, she released her hit songs “Make It Mine” and “Dictator.”

Since that time, she has launched works including 2021’sFOIL and 2023’s Shhhalong with working with artists such as Aminé, Baby Tate, and Pussy Riot. In a 2021 interview withBillboard, she mentioned that one of her greatest influences is Rihanna; she even posed for the “Umbrella” singer’sFenty’s 2020 fashion show.

Recognized for combining theatrical pop elements with R&B and rap, Ami’s range made her a suitable fit for Zoey’s complex vocal sections. After the movie’s release, Ami has been open about the detailed process of producing the songs, particularlyon TikTok, where she has explained how the three-part harmonies were structured. As shetold TheWrapIt required a significant amount of time, effort, and dedication to truly develop these songs vocally.