Ejae Talks 'KPop Demon Hunters,' Locking Eyes With Leo DiCaprio

EJ and her music have been really breaking barriers. Golden, currently nominated for an Oscar, while the song has already earned her a Golden Globe and a Grammy, marking the first time a K-pop song has won that award. So we are so honored to have EJ with us this morning. Congratulations, by the way. Thank you. Oh, an honor to be here. All the things. Like, you know, I was just telling you, my daughter listened to that doggone song a couple hundred times over a three-week span, like a lot of other people around the world. What's it like to know that your music is having that kind of effect on so many people? Well, it means a lot because, you know, we worked really hard on the song. We worked super hard on the film. You know, shout out to our directors, Maggie King and Chris Appelhans. It was very collaborative work. And Golden was the last song that we wrote. And, you know, it was just, you know, there's Korean in it and it's a K-pop song, and to have people from all races singing the lyrics, English and Korean. Yeah. Because when I grew up, like, people didn't know where Korea was. No. Genuinely. They'd be like, oh, like, they never knew what kind of Asian I was. And Korea, like, oh, where's that? Oh, North Korea or South Korea. You know, that was all common questions. So now seeing Korea celebrated through this beautiful animated film is just... Representation matters. And you know what I love about your story, EJ, is you're a person... People think, oh, you're this overnight success, but you toiled for 10 years trying to break into K-pop as a singer. And eventually you kind of say, okay, I'm going to be a songwriter. And yet this moment happens that transforms you into not just a songwriter, but a singer as well. Thanksgiving Day Parade, all of this. You know, what was it that kept you going to just believe in yourself? It was 20 years, actually. Yeah. So I think it was just, you know... That's a great question. It was just, you know, family and loved one leaning on them. My brother helped me a lot. But I think at the end of the day, it's like you have to, even if it's a little drop of it, believe in yourself. Yes. That can change a lot. And people who believe in you. They were. You know, something that I always hear, I see Lady Gaga's interviews, and she was like, that one person who believes in you can change everything. One person. Yeah. That could be yourself. And now as we talk Oscars, Grammys, Golden Globes, I find it very hard to believe, but you say you have stage fright? Yes. Really bad stage fright. Yeah. Matter of fact, I recently had a performance where I cracked on the first four in a beat, right? It's the highest note in the song. And it's unfortunate because during the rehearsals, I was amazing. Fantastic vocals. Feeling it. So good. And then even my music executive producer, Ian, he was just like, wow, EJ, you sound amazing. So I was like, I want to crush this stage. Like, oh. And I'm like singing it, and so right before Born To Be, it's, I'm done hiding, right? I'll be shining. And right at shining, unfortunately I opened my eyes and locked eyes with Leonardo DiCaprio. Oh! Oh, no. That was it every time. Those eyes. He was like. And I was like, no! I was just like. I could not. But like, I had to stay resilient, so I like kept true to the song. Like, focus on the lyrics, girl. That Leo. EJ, thank you. Those beautiful eyes. Beautiful eyes. By the way, in case you didn't know, K-Pop Demon Hunters, it's on Netflix. You know, you have those same eyes. Third hour, stay right back after this. You're dreaming. Oh, just follow the Today Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.