The rising stars of “KPop Demon Hunters” — EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami — brought the world of animated pop stardom to life on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” marking their first full live performance of the hit single “Golden.” As the real-life voices behind Huntr/x, the fictional K-pop girl group at the center of Netflix’s breakout animated film, the trio delivered a dazzling rendition of the song that has captivated millions of fans across the globe. Fallon shared during the show that the “KPop Demon Hunters” soundtrack had just gone platinum, solidifying its place as one of the year’s most successful film albums.
The “Tonight Show” Debut Brings Animation to Life
EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami took center stage on “The Tonight Show” for a milestone performance that merged pop spectacle with emotional storytelling. It was the first time the three artists performed the full version of the song “Golden” together live, transforming the late-night stage into a vibrant showcase of the animated film’s spirit. Fallon, clearly energized by the moment, praised the trio’s dynamic chemistry and shared the news that the soundtrack had gone platinum after topping the Billboard 200 for a second week. The trio had previously performed a shortened version of the song on “Saturday Night Live.”
From Fictional Soundtrack to Global Hit
Since its release, “Golden” has become the first female-led K-pop track to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The “KPop Demon Hunters” soundtrack also placed three additional songs — “Your Idol,” “Soda Pop” and “How It’s Done” — in the Hot 100’s top ten, a feat not achieved by a film soundtrack since “Waiting to Exhale” in 1995. Executive music producer Ian Eisendrath and co-writer EJAE shaped “Golden” to balance lyrical storytelling with high-energy production, blending modern K-pop precision with cinematic emotion. Today, the song stands as the most streamed track in the United States. Each track in the movie had to function both as a song and as a way to propel the story forward.
A Performance That Showed Huntr/x’s Reach
The “Tonight Show” appearance captured how deeply “Golden” has connected with audiences worldwide. During their interview, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami shared personal stories illustrating the song’s impact across generations. Nuna recalled seeing an elderly street musician in Korea playing “Golden” on a traditional instrument — an image that, she said, made her do a double-take. Rei Ami described being moved to tears after witnessing a young boy singing the song joyfully in an H Mart with his mother. The song’s universal message of resilience and light — and its incredibly catchy chorus — has helped “KPop Demon Hunters” become Netflix’s most-watched film.
The Making of a Modern Classic
Behind “Golden” lies a meticulous creative process that mirrors the depth of a real-world K-pop production. Co-writer and vocalist EJAE was instrumental in crafting the melody and emotional tone, drawing from her background as both a songwriter and former K-pop trainee. During her time recording the song, EJAE shared an eerie yet memorable story: She saw what she described as “a grunge ghost” in the studio, an encounter her mother later connected to a Korean superstition that seeing a ghost during a recording foretells a hit. Whether coincidence or fate, “Golden” has indeed become a global phenomenon. EJAE credited the song for allowing her to find her extraordinary vocal range.
A New Cultural Milestone
The success of “Golden” and other tracks from the movie is inseparable from the phenomenon of the “KPop Demon Hunters” film itself. Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, the movie combines K-pop’s theatricality with action, fantasy and heartfelt storytelling. Its soundtrack infuses traditional Korean elements with global pop sensibilities. “Golden” stands as the soundtrack’s beating heart and is a song that reminds listeners, as EJAE described, to “believe in yourself, and to dream again.” The “Tonight Show” performance was a celebration of success — and possibly the start of something even bigger for this mix of music and storytelling.
Sources: Time, Los Angeles Times, Variety
