Just about anyone who has logged into Netflix or turned on the radio in the past year has heard EJAE’s voice. Whether K-pop stans, animation enthusiasts, or every kindergartener on the planet and their unsuspecting parents know her name or not, they're certainly familiar with the 34-year-old songwriter's performance as Rumi, the leader of the titular KPop Demon Hunters. But beyond playing HUNTR/X's charismatic leader, EJAE was also instrumental in turning the musical into a full-blown phenomenon, serving as a co-writer on three of the Billboard-topping songs from the soundtrack.
In the months since KPDH became Netflix’s most-watched movie of all time, EJAE has gone from working behind the scenes in studios to gracing the world’s biggest stages and red carpets. Her anthem "Golden," which she co-wrote with Mark Sonnenblick, 24, Ido, and Teddy, is up for four Grammys, including Song of the Year. And it's already started to rake in awards and break records: In early January, she became the first Korean-American woman to win Best Original Song at the Golden Globes. With "Golden" nominated for Best Original Song at the Oscars, she also made history, as the track marks the first K-pop song recognized.
