‘KPop Demon Hunters’ HUNTR/X conquer the charts and declare their future : NPR

The animated film KPop Demon Hunters swiftly captured the eye of viewers worldwide following its launch in June 2025 — ending the 12 months as Netflix’s most-watched movie of all time.

KPop Demon Hunters follows the story of the celebrity Okay-pop woman group trio HUNTR/X — made up of singers Mira, Zoey and Rumi — and their battle to defend the world from a demon military. The movie has been praised for its animation methods, screenwriting and action-packed scenes — with the film profitable a Golden Globe for greatest animated function and receiving two Oscar nominations, together with one for greatest animated function.

Kpop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey use their secret identities as badass demon hunters to guard their followers from an ever-present supernatural risk.

Netflix

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Netflix

The movie’s chart-topping soundtrack has confirmed to be simply as profitable because the film — with the album incomes 5 Grammy Award nominations, together with the film’s music “Golden” being nominated for greatest pop duo/group efficiency and music of the 12 months. “Golden” additionally reached No. 1 on the Billboard Sizzling 100 singles chart and received a Golden Globe for greatest authentic music.

Behind the singing voices of the fictional HUNTR/X are the real-life music artists Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami and EJAE — entertainers who, very similar to the characters they voice, have constructed profitable music careers. Audrey Nuna, who sings for Mira, and Rei Ami, who sings for Zoey, are each singer-rappers. Whereas EJAE, who’s the voice of Rumi, is a singer-songwriter and producer, with EJAE sharing writing credit on a number of songs on the Kpop Demon Hunters soundtrack, together with “Golden.”

In an interview with All Issues Thought-about at a recording studio in Los Angeles, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami and EJAE mentioned Kpop Demon Hunters and its breakout success. Chatting with NPR’s Ailsa Chang, they explored their journeys as artists, the desires they’ve for the way forward for the Kpop Demon Hunters universe and the way they’ve honored their Korean heritage by way of their work within the movie.

The interview textual content beneath has been edited for size and readability.

This interview is a part of an All Issues Thought-about collection that includes first-time Grammy nominees, forward of the February 1 awards.

Ailsa Chang: Why do you assume this film and its music have resonated with so many individuals of all ages?

Rei Ami: I feel the world, the universe, they have been craving for one thing new and refreshing. New faces, new methods to point out Asian ladies which might be multifaceted, that aren’t only one character, like that nerdy schoolgirl, you recognize, that is quiet and submissive. Like, you take a look at Mira. She’s so cool and he or she’s not desirous to please. However Zoey, she’s very desirous to please and he or she’s very loud. After which now we have Rumi, who’s simply very like…

Ejae: A workaholic.

Chang: Not that that is ever an Asian stereotype.

Ejae: Additionally we’re tremendous foolish, now we have humorous jokes, and we make humorous faces and we’re not at all times good.

Chang: And also you guys like to eat! It is so good seeing Asian ladies in a film like to eat.

Chang: Yeah, you stuff your mouths on this movie.

Singer Rei Ami performs as Zoey in KPop Demon Hunters.

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Lauren Crew for NPR

Chang: Ejae, you have been a songwriter for a extremely very long time, proper? And a producer? You have been one of many primary songwriters for this soundtrack, together with for the hit single ‘Golden.’ What does it really feel like for you as an artist to get this stage of recognition now at this level in your profession?

Ejae: It feels very serendipitous. I am glad it occurred now, than when in my twenties, figuring life out.

Chang: You are glad it occurred later in life.

Ejae: I am actually glad that it occurred now.

Chang: Inform me why.

Ejae: As a result of I feel after I was a Okay-pop trainee — I acquired dropped, initially. However I additionally actually deliberately selected to not go that route as a result of I do not assume I might — it is kinda darkish – however I do not know if I might be right here.

Chang: You imply alive?

Singer-songwriter and producer EJAE performs as Rumi within the movie.

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Lauren Crew for NPR

Ejae: Effectively yeah, it was onerous. And the trade’s not simple. In order darkish as that may sound, it simply form of was the reality at that second. And I do not assume I used to be mentally ready for that at that age.

Chang: You guys are big globally. Very big in South Korea. Your music has its personal life there. Has this movie, has this entire expertise, made you need to reconnect much more deeply together with your Korean tradition, your Korean heritage, your Korean id?

Rei Ami: Completely.

Ejae: I went just lately. I am going there twice a 12 months as a result of I work in Okay-Pop as effectively. So I am used to listening to my songs like within the comfort retailer or one thing. However listening to my voice like — you recognize the tteok-bokki stands? You eat tteok-bokki and also you hear my voice blasting. It is so trippy.

Audrey Nuna: I really feel prefer it’s deepening roots for certain. I went to Korea. I performed Pentaport Competition about just a few weeks after this movie got here out. And this was form of after I did not understand how huge the movie was truly going to be. However I noticed a Korean grandpa street-performing “Golden” on this conventional Korean instrument exterior of Dongdaemoon station. And I used to be like, okay, that is loopy. After which after I performed Pentaport just a few days later, I bear in mind simply trying into the group. This was one of many few moments in my life the place I actually felt so emotional. Like I virtually cried on stage. As a result of simply staring right into a sea of Korean faces — and I can simply see just like the uncooked coronary heart and soul. And it simply rocked me to my core. I used to be identical to, what a resilient tradition.

Rei Ami: We’re very resilient folks.

Ejae: Korea’s resilient.

Singer Audrey Nuna performs as Mira. She want to see the movie’s characters in numerous cities within the Kpop Demon Hunters sequel.

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Lauren Crew for NPR

Rei Ami: I feel this film form of validated my expressiveness. As a result of I am very expressive now. I refuse to dim, water down any shade as a result of all my life I spent doing that. And so I simply refuse now. Probably the most validating factor is seeing different Korean ladies take a look at me and be like, “Thanks. Thanks for instructing me that it is okay to be expressive, and to point out myself and be emotional.” As a result of as a tradition, particularly as Korean ladies, if we’re not submissive, quiet or docile, or if we’re taking on an excessive amount of area, we’re punished. I simply was so impressed to possibly break these generational curses and encourage this new technology of those that it is okay to really feel. It is okay to specific.

Chang: So KPop Demon Hunters is ready to have a sequel in 2029, I imagine it’s. What are your hopes for this sequel?

Audrey Nuna: I feel it might be cool to see us or see the characters in numerous cities — and form of discover the lore of various demon historical past all through totally different cultures. I feel Huntr/X ought to go international for this one.

Rei Ami: Yeah. World tour combating Chinese language demons, Brazilian demons, Mexican demons. There’s demonology in every single place, and so they’re all very distinctive. Combating Bigfoot. Is he a demon? I do not know. I do not care. We’re combating him.

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