Kpop Demon Hunters singer EJAE recently shared her experience performing at the BAFTA Film Awards, revealing that the presence of Leonardo DiCaprio in the audience significantly affected her performance. The singer recounted the moment she was set to deliver a challenging high note during her group’s mega-hit “Golden.”
EJAE’s Nerve-Wracking Encounter
“The BAFTAs haunt me,” EJAE confessed in a recent interview with the Times. She explained how DiCaprio’s serious demeanor heightened her nerves during the performance. “I made mistakes. I cracked a little bit on the high notes. Leonardo DiCaprio was [in the audience] right in front of me and he was not smiling,” she admitted.
EJAE elaborated that just before hitting the pivotal note “born to be,” she locked eyes with the renowned actor, which threw her off her game. “That’s what put me off,” she remarked. “It was already so nerve-racking to be in front of all these celebrities, and then I look up and lock eyes with Leonardo DiCaprio? Come on.”
Crossing Paths with Icons
Aside from her on-stage jitters, EJAE also shared a memorable encounter with music industry titans Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Recalling the experience, she said, “I was at their afterparty and Jay-Z came up to me and said, ‘Hi, my name’s Shawn.’” The moment was surreal for her, especially since Beyoncé, her idol, complimented her voice, saying, “You have an incredible voice.” To which EJAE added, “Do you know ‘Golden?’ She was like, ‘Yeah, my girls sing it.’”
The Journey of “Golden”
EJAE, who co-wrote “Golden” alongside Mark Sonnenblick, also lent her singing voice to Rumi, a character in the fictional K-pop group HUNTR/X. The song has achieved considerable success, winning the Oscar for Best Original Song and propelling EJAE, along with her group members Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, into the limelight at prestigious events like the BAFTA Film Awards, Brit Awards, Golden Globes, and Grammys.
Reflecting on her rapid rise to fame, EJAE shared, “I know [this kind of success] happens, I just didn’t think it would happen to me. I had no inkling at all that KPop Demon Hunters would be as big as it became.” She noted the whirlwind journey of the past year, stating, “In the past year I’ve lived five lives. It doesn’t stop. Who does this all in one year?”
Still coming to grips with her newfound fame, EJAE remarked, “It’s still crazy to me. I was a nobody and suddenly I’m a something.”
