Golden singer-songwriter Ejae makes her solo debut with new single In Another World

SEOUL – Korean-American singer-songwriter Ejae, who was behind Netflix film KPop Demon Hunters’ (2025) breakout track Golden, is debuting as a solo artiste with her new single In Another World, set for release on Oct 24.

Best known for providing the singing voice of the musical fantasy film’s heroine Rumi and as the composer of its viral hit song, Ejae is unveiling her first solo project – marking her emergence as an artiste in her own right.

The 33-year-old said In Another World reflects her personal story, one that feels as close to her heart as Golden.

“I never really saw myself as an artiste,” Ejae said during her first Seoul press conference for KPop Demon Hunters on Oct 15. “But after receiving so much love and hearing people say they wanted to hear more of my songs, I found the courage to release my own music.

“Writing songs is a form of therapy for me. Golden gave me strength, and I believe that when it comes to deeply personal songs, I should be the one to sing them. In Another World is one of those songs.”

Ejae, whose full name is Kim Eun-jae, said Golden resonated so widely because she shared emotional similarities with Rumi, the frontwoman and lead vocalist of fictional K-pop girl group Huntrix, as they are both perfectionists who push themselves to overcome their perceived flaws.

Before her breakthrough, Ejae spent over a decade at K-pop agency SM Entertainment, training to become a K-pop idol. It was this experience, she said, that helped her authentically capture the emotions in KPop Demon Hunters.

“When I was a trainee, I was often told my voice was too husky,” she said. “Back then, people preferred clean, pure vocals, so I worked hard to change my tone. Rumi also struggles to overcome her weaknesses, and I really connected with that feeling.”

Ejae revealed that when she first wrote Golden, she envisioned it not as part of a soundtrack, but as a song for a real K-pop group. It spent eight weeks at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

“Even without the film, I believed Golden could have been a hit on its own,” she said, adding with a laugh, “If I hadn’t sung it myself, I think Ailee, another Korean-American singer, would’ve done it perfectly.”

Now stepping into the spotlight as a performer, Ejae says there are many artistes she dreams of collaborating with.

“In K-pop, I’d love to work with (girl group) Aespa. I think my sound would fit them really well. And of course, collaborating with (boy band) BTS would be an incredible honour, especially Jungkook, who’s amazing,” she said. “On the (Western) pop side, I’d love to write or sing with Dua Lipa or Sabrina Carpenter someday.”

Ejae also shared her thoughts on the future of K-pop’s global direction, emphasising that staying true to Korean roots is key to sustaining its worldwide appeal.

“K-pop is about showing Korean culture,” she said. “I think it’s better to focus on Korea itself. The language is beautiful, and the culture has so much personality. It’s good to mix Western elements for global listeners, but the essence should always remain Korean. It’s about fusion – but keeping the core intact.” THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK