The song "Golden" from the movie musical "KPop Demon Hunters" has been recognized with a Grammy Award nomination for Song of the Year and won the Critics Choice Award for Best Song. Mark Sonnenblick, a musical theatre songwriter and lyricist for "The Devil Wears Prada" musical, contributed to the songwriting for "KPop Demon Hunters".
Executive music producer Ian Eisendrath contacted Sonnenblick in 2023 to work on the film, which features pop stars who use their voices to combat demons. The songwriting team aimed to create pop songs that also served specific narrative functions. Ejae, who provides the singing voice for the main character Rumi, was also part of this team. The goal was to produce songs that could function as standalone pop tracks while advancing the musical's story.
Netflix and Sony Animation are considering a sequel and a stage musical adaptation for "KPop Demon Hunters". Sonnenblick has indicated that the songs' functional nature makes them suitable for a stage musical. Over 30 songs were written for the film, providing additional material.
Songwriting Process Insights
"Hunter’s Mantra"
This song was co-written by Mark Sonnenblick, Ejae, and Daniel Rojas, appearing at various points throughout the film. Ejae performs a bridge in Korean in the opening sequence. Later, Rumi and Celine (voiced by Lea Salonga) sing the lines: "We are hunters, voices strong / Slaying demons with our song / Fix the world and make it right / When darkness finally meets the light." The mantra was conceived to establish the hunters' values and sense of duty. Its lyrics were also designed to create narrative tension, particularly in relation to Rumi's subsequent voice loss. The line "when darkness finally meets the light" was intended to have a meaning that evolves for the characters as the story progresses.
"How It’s Done"
This opening song for the musical presented significant writing challenges. Three versions were developed with Ejae, with the third being selected. Black Label, a Korean production team associated with groups like Blackpink, provided instrumental track options. Directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans requested the inclusion of traditional Korean instruments to establish a connection to the Huntrix's heritage. The songwriting process for this track was largely guided by existing storyboards, allowing lyrics to be written to specific visual sequences, such as the Huntrix fighting demons on a plane, performing makeup, and landing in a stadium. Ejae contributed a vocal hook ("dun dun dun") from an earlier concept, "Bite Back". The title "How It’s Done" was chosen for its applicability across both combat and performance contexts. Specific lyrics, including "heels, nails, blade, mascara / Fit check for my napalm era," were created in response to storyboarded makeup scenes. Danny Chung collaborated on rap sections. A bridge was later added to highlight Rumi's vocal capabilities before her voice begins to diminish, incorporating the "when darkness finally meets the light" mantra. Raps by Mira and Zoey were introduced in a subsequent chorus.
"Jinu’s Lament"
This short piece functions as exposition, introducing Gwi-Ma as the demon king who consumes souls, noting the hunters' success and Gwi-Ma's starvation. It also establishes Jinu's character as astute and clever, while demonstrating his vocal ability. The song incorporates spoken lines followed by a sung coda. Daniel Rojas created the bipa instrumental backing.
"Golden"
"Golden" was the final song written for the film. The songwriting process involved Black Label providing a track, followed by collaborative development of melody, lyrics, story, and structure by Ejae, Sonnenblick, Ian Eisendrath, and the filmmakers. Multiple versions of the song were produced. Within the film's narrative, it functions as the hit single released by Huntrix. It was designed as an "I want" song for Rumi, aiming to convey her vulnerability without undermining her strength. Early iterations were purely pop-oriented without an emotional component for Rumi. A breakthrough occurred when it was suggested that the song's bridge could serve as Rumi's vulnerable moment, integrating with an existing dressing room scene. This led to a structured arrangement: the first verse and pre-chorus represent the polished, pre-recorded single; the bridge reveals Rumi's internal struggles; and the final chorus, performed live during rehearsal, depicts Rumi's difficulty in hitting a high note. The song's structure, with non-repeating verses providing character backstory and a story-driven interruption of the final chorus, was dictated by narrative requirements. Ejae, Rei Ami, and Audrey contributed to the vocal performances.
"Free"
This was Mark Sonnenblick's initial songwriting project for the film, created with Stephen Kirk and Jenna Andrews, who had already drafted a verse and chorus. The lyrics address themes of connection and overcoming personal darkness, representing an early stage in Rumi's character arc where her understanding of "freedom" is still developing. The song depicts a moment of connection between Rumi and Jinu, focusing on their shared struggles and the positive change their interaction brings, rather than a traditional romance. Storyboard concepts, such as characters flying, influenced lyrics like "Let the past be the past till it's weightless." The bridge was a new musical addition by Jenna and Stephen, with lyrics such as "So take my hand, it's open." The line "between imposter and this monster" was present in the song's initial draft. Ejae and Andrew Choi (Jinu's singer) performed the vocals.
"Your Idol"
"Your Idol" was the second song developed by Ejae and Mark Sonnenblick with The Black Label. The concept originated from a visual idea known as "Saja Boys Black Hat Song," reflecting the K-pop practice of groups adopting different aesthetics for new releases. The directors envisioned a shift from the "bubbly 'Soda Pop' Saja Boys" to a "demon look," which in the movie, represents their true demon forms. Black Label provided an instrumental track aligning with the desired choral, demonic, and villainous tone. Lyrically, the song explores themes contrasting Huntrix's unifying music with the Saja Boys' isolating and toxic use of music. Directors provided a two-page brief outlining the song's thematic focus. Ejae proposed the "idol" concept, connecting to themes of false worship and K-pop idols. Lyrics include "Anytime it hurts, play another verse / I can be your sanctuary" and "I'm the only one who'll ever love your sins," conveying a deceptive sense of comfort amidst a dark message. The bridge underwent revisions, including an initial plan for Gwi-Ma to sing a section reminiscent of "Thriller," which was later removed. The final animated sequence for "Your Idol" was developed with a distinct music video concept.
"What It Sounds Like"
Co-written by Mark Sonnenblick with Stephen Kirk and Jenna Andrews, this song took over a year to complete due to its extensive story integration as the movie's climax. It aims to unify the film's themes through Rumi's actions and her connection with the other girls and the audience. Initial concepts for the song revolved around the idea of creating a "more beautiful and multi-faceted Honmoon" than imagined, using "Kaleidoscope" imagery to represent diverse elements combining. Early verses focused on themes of overcoming the need for perfection and embracing imperfections. However, the "Kaleidoscope" concept was deemed insufficiently connected to the movie's core narrative. A revised concept, "The Song We Sound Like," was proposed, focusing on Huntrix finding their true collective voice through honesty. Storyboards developed by the filmmakers guided the lyric writing for animation. The hook was ultimately refined to "What It Sounds Like" for its pop appeal. The bridge section underwent multiple iterations, including a "Free" reprise to facilitate Jinu's character arc, which was later replaced by Jinu's sacrifice. Ultimately, a reprise of the "Golden" melody is featured in the song's build-up, representing the crowd's recognition of the Huntrix's hit single. The song integrates filmmaking, songwriting, and storytelling to convey themes of vulnerability and connection.