'K-Pop Demon Hunters' artist EJAE expressed his respect for his maternal grandfather, actor Shin Young-kyun.
On the morning of the 15th at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul, a press conference for the Netflix film "K-pop Demon Hunters" was held. Attending was EJAE (Lee Jae), the composer and singer of the mega-hit OST "Golden".
The Netflix film "K-pop Demon Hunters" is an action-fantasy animation set in Korea that tells the story of K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira, and Joy acting as hidden heroes who protect the world behind their dazzling stages. Since its initial release on Jun. 20, it has continued to enjoy explosive popularity and has become a worldwide craze. Since its release, it has consistently held a place on Netflix's global top 10 list in the English films institutional sector, and with the OST "Golden" it achieved eight consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. In addition, its addictive music, details infused with uniquely Korean culture, and the original genre of "K-pop demon-hunting action" have received tremendous acclaim.
Especially, Korean American EJAE spent more than 10 years as a trainee at SM Entertainment before focusing on composing. In addition to "Golden," he also personally composed Red Velvet's "Psycho," released in 2019.
Recently, it drew attention that EJAE's maternal grandfather is actor Shin Young-kyun, and on this he said, "My grandfather is from the acting side, but what I felt is that singing also feels like acting. Definitely acting."
He continued, "You have to be 100% immersed for listeners to feel the emotion. My grandfather said that singing is also acting. That's important, and he told me to immerse myself in the lyrics. The most honest thing I learned from my grandfather is that he worked very hard. He is where he is because he worked very hard. I was inspired by seeing him work so hard. Even now he tells me, 'Work hard.' He meant it," he said.
Asked, "Do you have any advice for aspiring K-pop artists?", EJAE said, "There is a saying that rejection helps you find a new direction. I believe that. Even if you are rejected, don't take it negatively; think, 'Ah, there is a reason,' and growing from that is most important." He emphasized, "And be proactive. If you want to be a K-pop composer, you should at least send the best direct message to a composer you like. Even for a very small opportunity, put 100% of your ability into it. Because I did that, I was given the opportunity for 'K-Pop Demon Hunters.' Even small things must be handled delicately and with detail for people to notice. That's the most important thing."
Meanwhile, "K-pop Demon Hunters" surpassed 300 million views, the first for Netflix, surpassing Squid Game's record, and attention is focused on whether it will win the Academy Award for best original song at next year's ceremony in the United States.<
[Photo] Provided by Netflix
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