KPOP DEMON HUNTERS: HUNTR/X live, what’s next for the three singers?

The members of HUNTR/X (the American voices of the characters) finally took the stage.

The real vocalists of HUNTR/X, who appeared in Netflix’s original animated film “KPOP DEMON HUNTERS”, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, and REI AMI, appeared on October 7 (local time) on the American entertainment show “THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON”, where they performed the song “Golden” live.

EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, and REI AMI had already sung a short excerpt of “Golden” on “SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE”, broadcast on NBC on the 4th, but this was their first time performing the song in full, live. Until now, EJAE had been unable to perform live due to bronchitis.

As the signature track of Netflix’s hit “KPOP DEMON HUNTERS”, and having topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks, this first live performance of “Golden” immediately caused an explosive reaction. The clip of their “Golden” performance on “THE TONIGHT SHOW” surpassed ten million views in just two days, while the “SNL” video, where they only sang the chorus during a brief special appearance, also passed five million views.

Now that the power of HUNTR/X’s real-life version has been proven, public attention has turned toward their next moves. They have spotlighted “K-pop” and succeeded; all three artists are of Korean descent, and EJAE even trained as a K-pop trainee for ten years. This raises the question: will they begin activities in the K-pop industry, and if so, in what form?

However, it will likely be rare to see the three artists share a stage again, as they have been very busy since the success of “KPOP DEMON HUNTERS”.

An industry insider, Mr. A, stated:

“Considering several factors, it will be difficult to see them appear on Korean music shows like other K-pop groups. Since they mainly work in the U.S., it’s not easy for them to reunite elsewhere.”

He added: “However, ‘Golden’ is one of the biggest global hits of the year, so it’s very likely they’ll be invited to end-of-year and new-year award ceremonies. Given that they gained fame through K-pop, if their schedules allow it, there’s no reason they would refuse.”

Among them, EJAE will likely be the first to meet the Korean public. She plans to hold a press conference in Korea on October 15 and to film shows like tvN’s “YOU QUIZ ON THE BLOCK”. In addition, she will release her first solo single “IN ANOTHER WORLD” on October 24, signaling an active schedule both in Korea and abroad.

This raises the question: will their popularity continue in their solo careers? For EJAE, this is her first single, but AUDREY NUNA has already released two studio albums and several singles and performed at the PENTAPORT ROCK FESTIVAL last August. REI AMI, meanwhile, has been releasing singles regularly since 2019 and continues her career as a rapper.

Another industry insider, Mr. B, commented:

“The music from “KPOP DEMON HUNTERS”, including ‘Golden’, achieved huge success thanks to its synergy with the project itself. Their solo work will attract attention, but it will be difficult to match the success of ‘Golden’.”

He particularly emphasized the differences in musical style between the artists: “The music and visual aesthetics that AUDREY NUNA and REI AMI present in their solo work are completely different from those of “KPOP DEMON HUNTERS”. Of course, some people will become fans after discovering their solo projects through “KPOP DEMON HUNTERS”, but those expecting the same vibe as ‘Golden’ might be surprised, since their genres and styles are very different.”

Mr. B continued: “We can’t yet judge EJAE’s music before its release. However, since she has worked as a K-pop songwriter and directly contributed to several tracks on “KPOP DEMON HUNTERS”, she will probably present a similar style. Also, due to the massive success of “KPOP DEMON HUNTERS”, her first solo single will come with great anticipation and heavy media attention. The challenge will be living up to those expectations.”

Finally, he concluded: “Even beyond her solo career, EJAE is already a star songwriter who produced many hits before “KPOP DEMON HUNTERS”. And since she’s behind the first song to top the Billboard Hot 100 since BTS, collaboration requests will pour in. Whether she continues as a solo singer or as a composer, she will undoubtedly remain one of the most prominent figures in the K-pop scene for quite some time.”