EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami of KPop Demon Hunters Shine on Fallon with ‘Golden’

Netflix’s breakout animated hit KPop Demon Hunters just made another unforgettable pop culture moment, as its powerhouse trio EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami – the singing voices of HUNTR/X – electrified The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon with their live performance of “Golden.” The October 7th appearance wasn’t just a musical showcase; it was a celebration of how far this fictional KPop group and its real-life vocal stars have come, crossing from animation into the mainstream music spotlight.

The three artists – voicing Rumi, Mira, and Zoey in the movie – delivered a sleek, all-black stage performance set against cinematic visuals from the film.

The stage lighting shimmered in sync with the rhythm, the crowd roared with each verse, and by the time the final chorus hit, Fallon’s audience was on its feet. The energy felt less like a talk show segment and more like a full-blown concert, capturing the spirit of both KPop and storytelling in one stunning act.

But the biggest surprise of the night came during the post-performance interview. Fallon, grinning ear to ear, announced that “Golden” had officially gone platinum – a huge milestone for the trio. He handed them a gleaming platinum plaque live on air, prompting an emotional moment filled with disbelief, happy tears, and a standing ovation from the audience. Fallon also highlighted how KPop Demon Hunters has broken multiple records – from streaming milestones to “Golden” topping the Billboard Hot 100 for eight consecutive weeks. The crowd’s reaction was pure joy, echoing what fans online had already been saying: the film and its music are cultural juggernauts.

During their conversation, EJAE shared that she actually wrote “Golden” under an unexpected circumstance – while heading to the dentist. She received the instrumental track, and the melody just came to her instantly. Later, she refined the lyrics in a Zoom session. She even shared a spooky studio story: while recording the song, her volume knob mysteriously stopped working – until, as she recalls, a ghostly figure wearing a flannel shirt and jeans appeared momentarily. Strangely enough, the knob started working again. When she mentioned this to studio staff, they nodded knowingly; apparently, others had seen the same apparition. EJAE laughed about how her mother reminded her of an old Korean superstition – if you encounter something paranormal during a recording, the song will become a hit. Judging by the success of “Golden,” that ghost clearly had good taste.

For fans, this performance and the stories behind it reinforced what makes the movie’s music resonate: authenticity mixed with mythic flair. A few days before their Fallon performance, the trio had already surprised audiences on Saturday Night Live with a cameo performance that left fans buzzing online. The campaign seems carefully timed – a strategic post-release rollout that keeps the film alive in conversations months after its premiere. Netflix’s decision to spotlight the trio beyond animation shows a clear intent: to elevate HUNTR/X into a real-world music sensation.

With its combination of powerful vocals, addictive hooks, and emotional storytelling, “Golden” has become far more than a movie song – it’s an anthem that bridges fiction and fandom. The KPop Demon Hunters phenomenon keeps expanding, and judging by the audience’s reaction, EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami aren’t just characters in a film anymore; they’re bona fide stars leading the next frontier of KPop-inspired artistry.