K-Pop Demon Hunters OST Composer Lee Jae: "I Can't Think of an Adjective to Describe How I Feel"

Nominated for a Main Grammy Award

"I can't think of an adjective to describe how I feel right now."

Singer-songwriter Jae Lee, who wrote and composed the original soundtrack for the Netflix animated film "K-Pop Demon Hunters," expressed his joy at being nominated for a main category at the Grammy Awards, saying, "Something beyond imagination has come true."

Composer and singer Jae Lee (EJAE). Photo by Yonhap News

On November 8, Jae Lee wrote on his Instagram, "To be nominated for the Grammy's Song of the Year is something that surpasses everything I ever imagined. Saying it was a dream come true doesn't even begin to describe it."

According to the list of nominees for the 68th Grammy Awards announced on November 7 (local time), the original soundtrack for the Netflix animated film "K-Pop Demon Hunters" was nominated in five categories, including "Golden," which made the shortlist for the main category, Song of the Year.

Jae Lee performed the singing parts for Lumi, a member of the in-film girl group Huntress, lending his voice to the character. He also participated in writing and composing "Golden." Jae Lee credited the fans of the film and fellow singers Ray Army (Joy part) and Audrey Nuna (Mira part), who sang Huntress's songs together, for the nomination.

K-Pop Demon Hunters Huntress song performed by Audrey Nuna, Lee Jae, Ray Army. (From left) AP Yonhap News Photo by AP

Jae Lee stated, "This would not have been possible without the fans who loved the film. I want to thank Ray Army, Audrey Nuna, and everyone involved."

As "Golden," known for its high-pitched chorus, gained global popularity, a "challenge" craze swept the Korean music scene, with singers known for their vocal skills attempting to cover the song.

Jae Lee was asked by director Maggie Kang and the production team to create an OST that would express Lumi's hidden struggles and earnestness, leading to the creation of "Golden." At the time, he was going through a difficult period personally, and on his way to the dentist, he immediately came up with the hopeful highlight melody for the chorus after receiving the track. To match the film's story about closing the "Golden Gate," he insisted on including the word "Golden" in the lyrics. Wanting to incorporate Korean lyrics, he added the phrase "unbreakable forever" to fit the rhythm. Director Kang also insisted that Korean lyrics were essential.

On October 15, Jae Lee visited Korea and spent time communicating with his Korean fans. At a meeting held in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, he said, "Recently, K-pop has been leaning more toward pop styles, and there are a lot of English lyrics. I understand, since it's about entering the U.S. market," he said, "but Korean is such a beautiful language. If it's K-pop, it should include Korean lyrics."

Jae Lee offered advice to aspiring K-pop artists, saying, "Even if you feel frustrated, it's important to give 100% when a small opportunity comes your way. To become a K-pop composer, you need to be proactive, such as sending a direct message (DM) to your favorite composer on Instagram, and you must be able to put your all into even the smallest chance. That's how I was able to get the opportunity for 'K-Pop Demon Hunters.'"

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.