EJAE cries recording the song Golden, remembers his trainee days

December 9, 2025
10:21 AM

Jakarta, hitclubapk3 Indonesia
—
EJAE admitted that he cried while recording Golden for the animated film
KPop Demon Hunters
.Golden is not only a song by the fictional group HUNTR/X.
According to him, the song reminds him of going through difficult times as a K-pop trainee in the past.The singer whose full name is Kim Eun-jae was an SM Entertainment trainee for 10-12 years before failing to debut.
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“I cried when recording the Golden demo,” said EJAE as reported
Variety
, Thursday (4/12).
“I hope to hear this song when I was a trainee,” he said.”I expressed my feelings in the bridge.”
EJAE’s tears and emotions while recording the song are deeply connected to the film’s main themes of duality and representation.
[Gambas:hitclubapk3 Video]
Producer Danny Chung emphasized that point by revealing the song depicts the divided and difficult feelings many people experience regarding their morality and cultural identity.
“It’s about duality and representation, being human and demon or being Korean and American. I meet a lot of people who feel connected to that theme,” explained Danny.
On October 15 2025, EJAE explained that he made the song Golden and had a special meaning, namely wanting to spread entertainment and hope to many people through the lyrics and melody.
“As a songwriter, I check the charts every day, but I feel like lately there aren’t many songs with beautiful and touching melodies,” said EJAE.
“Many (tragedies) have occurred in the world so I feel (this song) provides entertainment and hope to many people through its lyrics and melody. I think this is a song that everyone needs.”
On the other hand, the song Golden is also a personal story of Ejae who experienced rejection to debut as an idol after undergoing training with SM Entertainment for almost a decade.
EJAE said, his rejection and decision to change direction from his dreams of being an idol and becoming a songwriter took him to a new direction in his life.
“Now I think that everything must have a reason. If I want to grow, I have to hurt and suffer first. However, what is important is how I get through this,” said EJAE.
Golden is one of the songs played in KPop Demon Hunters.The song is said to be the latest single from HUNTR/X which immediately shook fans thanks to its melody and lyrics.
Golden’s lyrics imply the desire to move forward without fear, celebrate the freedom to be yourself, and emphasize that HUNTR/X members were born to shine.
This song, which describes the transformation from dark times to new beliefs, is symbolized by the word “golden”, as a metaphor for irreplaceable strength and self-worth.
However, in the context of the KPop Demon Hunters story, the song Golden is a message and effort from HUNTR/X to produce energy called Golden Honmoon, which is a permanent magical barrier against the demons that the group is fighting.
Apart from that, the song Golden is also a vent from Rumi to declare to the public that he is actually half devil, which is still the same as the meaning of the song “I Want.”
(gis/chri)