"Golden" by HUNTR/X
The pop craftsmanship here is off the charts and provides the scaffolding for an astounding vocal performance that is equal parts power and vulnerability.
Some songs are built to stick, but "Golden" by the fictional band HUNTR/X truly shines. The pop craftsmanship here is off the charts, providing the scaffolding for an astounding vocal performance that is equal parts power and vulnerability.
“Golden” comes from K-Pop Demon Hunters, the Sony Animation film that became a Netflix hit this summer. The movie’s fictional band, HUNTR/X, turned out to be a real-life phenomenon. Their songs didn’t just sell the story; they broke out of it, climbing to the top of the Billboard Hot 100.
It is a rarity for fictional art to have this much credibility. About the only other thing I could compare it to would be "That Thing You Do!" by the 1996 fictional band The Wonders or perhaps "Shallow" by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper from A Star is Born (2018). But they didn't absolutely take over the charts like HUNTR/X did in the summer of 2025. The film's soundtrack is the first in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 to have four of its songs in the top ten: "Golden", "Your Idol", "Soda Pop", and "How It's Done".
“Golden” is pure craft. Sleek production, sharp hooks, and a vocal performance that balances virtuosity and heart. The lead singer, EJAE, delivers every phrase with total control. Her range is wild. She hits high notes that soar without strain and low notes that still carry warmth and intent. Knowing her story makes it hit even harder.
EJAE entered the K-pop trainee system at 11, spent a decade chasing a debut that never came, and eventually stepped away to write and produce for others. Then she wrote for K-Pop Demon Hunters and finally took the mic herself. You can hear all of that history in the performance.
The track itself is a study in modern pop engineering. It opens clean and wide, layers are built with precision over an utterly danceable four-on-the-floor beat, and the mix manages to be both slick and emotional. There are vocal harmonies stacked in ribbons, synth textures bloom and fade. A punchy, straightforward rhythm section keeps everything pulsing forward. Played loud on a good system, you can hear just how finely balanced the production is. The low end has punch, the mids shimmer, and the top end sparkles without fatigue. The "born to be" high notes are electrifying.
“Golden” isn’t just a great song from a movie soundtrack. It is a reminder that fictional music can be fully real when it connects emotionally and technically. The first time I heard it, it immediately became a pop reference track in my collection.
Listen for: layered harmonies in the chorus and how EJAE’s vocal alternates between sitting in the mix and powering it to another level. There is a precision and warmth that makes every system sound alive.
Data
Song: Golden
Album: Kpop Demon Hunters
Artist: HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI, KPop Demon Hunters Cast
Genre: Pop, K-pop
Year: 2025
Length: 3:15
Composer: EJAE, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, Joong Gyu Kwak, Mark Sonnenblick, Park Hong Jun, Yu Han Lee
Producer: 24, lan Eisendrath, Ido, Teddy
