The vocalists behind the hit soundtrack of Netflix’s ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ made their U.S. television debut on NBC’s ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ on October 8. Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami performed the series’ chart-topping single, “GOLDEN,” in front of a live audience.
Introducing the performance, Jimmy Fallon described it as a “number-one hit song stage,” prompting enthusiastic applause from the crowd. The trio performed as the fictional girl group HUNTR/X from the animated series, showcasing impressive live vocal skills. Ejae, who voices Lumi in the series, delivered the high notes flawlessly, while Audrey Nuna (Mira) and Rei Ami (Joy) maintained steady, confident harmonies throughout.
Despite being their first live stage performance, the three artists demonstrated perfect chemistry, earning praise from global audiences. Fans and critics alike highlighted the flawless blend of low notes and harmonies. Following the performance, Fallon conducted an interview with the trio, congratulating them warmly. “Even during rehearsal, the studio felt packed. It was like The Beatles were in the room,” he said with a smile.
The artists expressed their awe at the experience. “It feels unreal—like a dream,” they laughed. “Every time, we have to find new words like ‘ecstatic’ or ‘beautiful’ to describe it.”
Fallon asked about the most memorable reactions from fans. Rei Ami recalled, “Seeing a five-year-old sing ‘“GOLDEN”’ at the top of their lungs brought tears to my eyes.” Audrey Nuna shared, “I cried from the very start of the screening, especially during the kimbap scene. Growing up, I used to hide when eating kimbap, worried about being teased for the smell.” She added, “It’s amazing to see stories like this on screen. It made me feel that the world is changing. I think many Korean-Americans will resonate with it, too.”
Ejae, who co-composed “GOLDEN,” explained the song’s creation: “I got the demo while on a taxi ride to the dentist. An idea came to mind, so I recorded the melody on my phone.”
Fallon also announced that the ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ album had officially been certified platinum. “These artists are now officially platinum-certified,” he said, eliciting applause. The trio is already receiving increasing recognition in the United States, having previously appeared on popular shows including NBC’s ‘Saturday Night Live’ (Season 51).
“GOLDEN” continues to dominate charts, maintaining its No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 as of the October 11 chart, marking its eighth consecutive week at the top. Among K-pop songs, only BTS’s “Butter” previously achieved an eight-week run at No. 1 (10 weeks in total). The track entered the Hot 100 at No. 81 and has remained on the chart for 15 weeks.
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