There’s a moment in every great soundtrack when you realize you’ve stopped watching the film and started living inside its music. The KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack — released on June 20, 2025 via Republic Records alongside the Sony Pictures Animation Netflix film — did exactly that to millions of listeners worldwide. What began as an animated movie about demon-hunting K-pop idols became one of the most culturally seismic musical events in recent memory, producing the first film soundtrack to place four songs simultaneously in the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 and earning a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Golden Globe along the way. Whether you’re a longtime K-pop fan or someone who stumbled onto “Golden” through a friend’s playlist, there’s no denying the staying power of these songs. Here’s a deep dive into the 10 best KPop Demon Hunters songs that defined a year in music — and continue to dominate playlists to this day.
Golden
Let’s start where the world keeps returning. “Golden” is, by any measurable standard, the centerpiece of the entire KPop Demon Hunters universe. Written by EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Teddy Park, and collaborators, and produced with the kind of precision you’d expect from The Black Label’s mastermind behind BLACKPINK’s sound, this song carries an emotional gravity that few pop records manage to sustain across multiple listens. EJAE herself has spoken about how she cried recording the demo, channeling personal hardship into every rising note of the chorus — and you feel that vulnerability in every playback.
How It’s Done
If “Golden” is the emotional heart of the film, “How It’s Done” is its kinetic engine. Released as a single on August 27, 2025, this HUNTR/X banger opens the fictional group’s in-film performance with the confidence of a group that has absolutely nothing to prove — and everything to celebrate. Co-written and produced by the same all-star team responsible for the film’s sonic identity, “How It’s Done” leans heavily into contemporary K-pop’s love of dynamic contrast: whisper-soft verses that explode into thunderous choruses with zero warning.
For listeners looking to explore more standout tracks with this same energy, checking out GlobalMusicVibe’s curated song lists is a great starting point to find tracks that hit just as hard.
Soda Pop
Here’s where the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack truly shows its genius: its ability to make you root for the demons. “Soda Pop” by the fictional antagonist boy band Saja Boys is produced by a dream team of The Black Label’s KUSH, Vince, 24, and Dominsuk — exactly the kind of squad you’d assemble if you wanted to construct the world’s most dangerously catchy pop song. The result is a bubblegum bop that hides its emptiness in plain sight, a meta-commentary on manufactured idol culture wrapped in the most irresistible production of 2025.
Your Idol
The tonal shift from “Soda Pop” to “Your Idol” is one of the most dramatically satisfying arcs on the entire soundtrack. Where “Soda Pop” sells sweetness, “Your Idol” reveals the teeth underneath. Produced by Black Label’s IDO alongside Theater Camp songwriter Mark Sonnenblick and EJAE, this track introduces a harder-edged, more menacing dimension to the Saja Boys — pulsing synths, distorted bass, and an almost hypnotic lyrical hook that feels genuinely unsettling upon closer listen.
Takedown
“Takedown” exists in two official versions, and both are extraordinary for different reasons. The HUNTR/X version — written by German songwriter Lindgren (whose resume includes BTS’s “Boy with Luv” and TXT’s “CROWN”) and produced alongside Ian Eisendrath — is the one that carries the film’s narrative weight. In the context of the story, this is Rumi, Mira, and Zoey stepping into a battle they’ve been preparing for, and Lindgren’s production reflects that: massive percussion, anthemic melody, and an urgency that makes even a casual listen feel like a call to action. Lines about “patterns starting to show” hit with dramatic irony when you understand Rumi’s arc within the film.
What It Sounds Like
Co-written by Jenna Andrews and Stephen Kirk — the duo behind BTS’s global smashes “Butter” and “Permission to Dance” — “What It Sounds Like” is the soundtrack’s emotional zenith. It’s the kind of ballad that K-pop does at its absolute best: orchestral grandeur married to deeply personal lyricism, delivered by vocalists who understand how to make stadium-sized music feel intimate. EJAE, in particular, demonstrates her full range here, moving from hushed vulnerability in the verses to open-throated power in the climax.
Free
The best movie musicals reserve their duets for moments when two characters have traveled far enough in their journeys to deserve a shared song. “Free” earns that moment. Also co-written by Jenna Andrews and Stephen Kirk, this soulful ballad between Rumi (voiced and sung by EJAE) and Jinu (voiced by Ahn Hyo-seop, sung by Andrew Choi) is the emotional payoff of the film’s central quasi-romantic dynamic — and the production treats it with appropriate delicacy.
Prologue (Hunter’s Mantra)
The deluxe edition of the soundtrack, released September 5, 2025, opens a door into the film’s deeper musical world with “Prologue (Hunter’s Mantra)” — a short but extraordinary piece composed by Marcelo Zarvos that features EJAE incorporating elements of traditional Korean music, including pansori and the beloved folk song “Arirang.” EJAE has spoken about wanting to bring Korea’s rich traditional sounds into the piece with her own distinctive interpretation, and the result is unlike anything else on the soundtrack.
Jinu’s Lament
“Jinu’s Lament” is a genuine oddity in the best possible sense — a short piece performed almost entirely in spoken word by Ahn Hyo-seop, Jinu’s voice actor, rather than Andrew Choi who provides the character’s singing voice elsewhere. This deliberate choice gives the piece an intimacy and rawness that sets it apart from every other track on the album. Ahn Hyo-seop, a major K-drama star (known for Business Proposal, among others), brings an actor’s instinct for vulnerability to the delivery, making this feel less like a song and more like a confession. For the dedicated listeners who want to experience music like this with the clarity it deserves, exploring options at GlobalMusicVibe’s headphone comparisons could genuinely transform the listening experience.
Strategy
Closing out our list is TWICE’s 2024 track “Strategy” — one of three pre-existing songs licensed for the soundtrack alongside MeloMance’s “Love, Maybe” and Jokers’ “Path.” The inclusion of “Strategy” in the KPop Demon Hunters universe makes perfect narrative sense: TWICE, as one of the biggest real K-pop groups in the world, functions as a kind of ambassador figure connecting the film’s fictional K-pop universe to the real one. The song itself — a girl-crush anthem with a Neptunes-influenced clang-and-shuffle beat and confidently plotted romantic storytelling — fits the soundtrack’s overall energy with remarkable smoothness.
Meanwhile, for fans who want to catch every sonic nuance in these songs — from the low-end in “Your Idol” to the whispered harmonics in “Strategy” — comparing audio equipment options at GlobalMusicVibe’s earbud guide is a worthwhile investment in your listening life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack?
The KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack is the official album for the 2025 Netflix animated film produced by Sony Pictures Animation. Released on June 20, 2025 via Republic Records, it features nine original songs written by a team including Teddy Park, Lindgren, Jenna Andrews, and Stephen Kirk, as well as three pre-existing tracks from TWICE, MeloMance, and Jokers. A deluxe edition with additional tracks was released on September 5, 2025.
Who sings Golden in KPop Demon Hunters?
Golden is performed by HUNTR/X, the fictional girl group from the film. The three vocal performers are EJAE (singing as Rumi), Audrey Nuna (singing as Mira), and Rei Ami (singing as Zoey). The song won the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media and the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Is HUNTR/X a real K-pop group?
HUNTR/X is a fictional K-pop group from the KPop Demon Hunters film. However, their voices are provided by three real artists: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami. Despite being fictional, HUNTR/X made history by becoming the first fictional act to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200, and their music is available on all major streaming platforms.
Are the Saja Boys a real K-pop group?
The Saja Boys are the fictional antagonist boy band in KPop Demon Hunters. Their singing voices are provided by real artists including Andrew Choi, Neckwav, Danny Chung, Kevin Woo, and samUIL Lee. The Saja Boys songs Soda Pop and Your Idol charted on the Billboard Hot 100 alongside HUNTR/X tracks.
What real K-pop artists contributed to the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack?
Several real K-pop and Korean artists contributed to the soundtrack. TWICE members Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung performed a version of Takedown. EXO’s Love Me Right, MeloMance’s Love Maybe, and TWICE’s Strategy were licensed as pre-existing tracks. K-drama star Ahn Hyo-seop voices and performs Jinu’s Lament. On the production side, legendary Black Label producer Teddy Park contributed to multiple tracks.
How did the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack perform on charts?
The soundtrack was certified double Platinum by the RIAA and became the first soundtrack to place four songs simultaneously in the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10. The album peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and topped charts in Germany and Australia. Golden alone topped the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200.
Who produced the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack?
Executive music producer Ian Eisendrath oversaw the soundtrack, with a team of prominent producers including Teddy Park, Lindgren, Jenna Andrews and Stephen Kirk, and The Black Label producers KUSH, Vince, IDO, 24, and Dominsuk. The orchestral score was composed by Marcelo Zarvos.