(From left) ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ singers Audrey Nuna, EJAE and Rei Ami during an interview with ABS-CBN News on October 1, 2025.
MANILA — Looking at the singing voices behind Netflix’s hit animated film “KPop Demon Hunters,” it’s easy to see why the casting feels like a perfect match: EJAE exudes the charisma of leader Rumi, Audrey Nuna carries the same cool, nonchalant air as Mira, while Rei Ami radiates the same bubbly charm as Zoey.
The feeling of sisterhood embodied by Huntr/x was also palpable during the trio’s recent chat with ABS-CBN News, as they listened closely to one another, reacted to each other’s answers, and exchanged compliments with ease.
With the film and its soundtrack soaring in popularity — and the three set to perform “Golden” live for the first time on American late-night television — it’s only natural to wonder if they’ve considered making music together outside the movie.
“I mean, yeah,” EJAE answered quickly, as she, Audrey and Rei launched into playful banter — mirroring the same chaotic energy as Huntr/x — that confirmed they’re open to working as a trio.
“Let’s go to the studio after this," Audrey said.
“They all make such bangers... They all can write, these girls are incredible writers as well, so they’re crazy artists I love,” EJAE said of her castmates, who already had music careers before the film.
Widely regarded as one of the year’s biggest films, “KPop Demon Hunters” — which premiered on Netflix in June — follows a K-pop girl group whose members moonlight as demon hunters and face their fiercest foe yet: a rival boy band of demons in disguise.
EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami provide the singing voices, while the characters’ speaking roles are voiced by Arden Cho (Rumi), May Hong (Mira) and Ji-young Yoo (Zoey).
The film’s soundtrack has also enjoyed remarkable success, topping the Billboard 200, making it the first soundtrack to do so since Disney’s “Encanto” in 2022.
Meanwhile, Huntr/x’s track “Golden” soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making the fictional group the first all-female act in 24 years to lead the chart since Destiny’s Child with “Bootylicious.”
For Audrey, one reason the film’s soundtrack, and “Golden” in particular, resonates with so many people is its vulnerability.
“It's so vulnerable, it's so unafraid of being human, it’s so story-driven,” said Audrey of “Golden.”
“I think that with just so much aesthetic, coolness — and that’s all great — but I think at the end of the day, as human beings, we want to be part of this story and we want to relate to each other... I think the song is such an incredible instrument of being able to do that for so many people on a very basic level,” she said.
Huntr/x battle demons in a scene from 'KPop Demon Hunters.' Photo courtesy of Netflix
The film enlisted real K-pop songwriters for its soundtrack, including EJAE, who has written for popular acts such as Red Velvet, TWICE, and Le Sserafim. Her name also appears in the soundtrack credits, including for “Golden.”
“I think K-pop in itself is inherently very, like, genre mixing and also maximalist qualities to it,” EJAE shared, explaining her songwriting process.
“So that really helped with coming into the movie, being maximalist makes it kind of cinematic already, so it really helped make the scenes more powerful.”
Beyond propelling them into the spotlight and to the top of the music charts, the film also gave its stars a chance to reflect on their identities as Korean Americans, Rei noted.
“I think we all can relate, being Korean American, we are, oftentimes, we grew up caught in the middle,” Rei said.
"I think this movie was just another very aggressive reminder to myself to fully embrace who I am and everything that makes me me, and if it is too much, so be it,” Rei added. “There’s a lot of people who really like this too much-ness.”