EJAE Reveals the Moment Behind “Golden”: “I Got Inspired in a Taxi” as He Proposes a Collaboration with Jungkook

EJAE, who created the global sensation with “Golden,” the OST for Netflix’s animation *KPop Demon Hunters*, appeared as a special guest on JTBC’s *Newsroom* on October 19 to detail the song’s creation process and significance. Describing the moment he wrote “Golden,” EJAE expressed overwhelming excitement, saying it felt unreal and like a dream. He explained that the inspiration for the song came while riding in a taxi on his way to the dentist. “I was listening to a track sent by a collaborator when a melody came to mind immediately,” he said. “It’s rare for this to happen, but I instantly sensed something special about it and knew this song was different.” Recording “Golden” was an emotional experience for EJAE. He mentioned that he had been going through personal difficulties at the time of recording the demo and incorporated his own stories into the song, finding resonance with the character Rumi. Many people connected with Rumi’s portrayal of feeling like an outsider on the border between humans and demons as she delivers the lyrics of “Golden,” and EJAE himself said, “The song lifted me up. Singing it gave me confidence and hope.” He added, “It means a lot that a song that gave me hope can also bring hope to others. As a composer, this is the proudest moment for me; it feels like my dream has come true.” “Golden” achieved the milestone of topping the U.S. and U.K. Billboard singles charts, the first time this has happened in 24 years since *Destiny’s Child*. The song reached third place on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated the 25th, climbing 10 spots from 13th the previous week. It has remained on the chart for 17 consecutive weeks. EJAE also spoke about future collaboration plans. He specifically named BTS’s Jungkook as the K-pop artist he wants to produce with, sending him a love letter that read, “Jungkook, please collaborate with me once.” EJAE repeatedly praised Jungkook’s vocal skills, saying, “He sings extremely well and has great lyrics delivery. While singing well is important, lyrics delivery is the most crucial aspect, and he handles melody and expression through his voice exceptionally well.” He expressed his desire to write a great melody just for Jungkook. Meanwhile, Andrew Choi, who voices Jinwoo, the leader of the male protagonists in *KPop Demon Hunters*, also spoke highly of Jungkook. Regarding Jungkook’s cover of “Soda Pop” shown in a personal livestream, he said, “Jungkook is a true vocalist who sings songs so naturally well,” adding that Jungkook’s performance deserves 11 out of 10 points. When asked, “Who is your ideal member of Lion Boys?” he replied, “My top choice is Jungkook. Seriously. He is absolutely perfect.” EJAE spent 10 years as a Trainee at SM Entertainment dreaming of becoming a K-pop idol but never made his debut. However, those 10 years of experience became the foundation for *KPop Demon Hunters*, which captivated the world. EJAE expressed his admiration by saying that during a time when he didn’t speak Korean well, he was greatly influenced by g.o.d’s song “Gil.”