KPop Demon Hunters: Why 'What It Sounds Like' Steals the Spotlight

Anyone who’s ventured out since June will have struggled to avoid the year’s most infectious tune: 'Golden' by Huntr/x, the fictional girl group at the centre of Netflix’s much-talked-about KPop Demon Hunters. The track has dominated the charts and its debut scene is among the film’s most replayed moments. Ostensibly, it’s a rousing number about embracing oneself and believing in your own worth. Yet, for protagonist Rumi, the reality is rather more complicated.

For Rumi, 'Golden' represents the very opposite of what it appears to champion. Instead, another song emerges as the true reflection of her journey—a vibrant anthem that celebrates authenticity, scars and all. That song is 'What It Sounds Like.'

The Double-Edged Sword of 'Golden'

There’s no denying the brilliance of 'Golden.' Beyond the film, it’s become a symbol of KPop Demon Hunters’ cultural reach (and, admittedly, it’s been on repeat in many households). Its real strength, though, lies in its layered songwriting and the complex role it plays within the narrative. Crafted to be both a pop sensation and a plot linchpin, 'Golden' is the key to Huntr/x’s mission: Rumi, Mira, and Zoey must perform it to transform the Honmoon—a magical barrier separating humans and demons—into gold, ensuring lasting protection for the human world. The pressure mounts when Rumi damages her voice before the crucial performance, highlighting the immense burden she carries.

Herein lies the clever twist. The lyrics speak of empowerment, yet Rumi is still hiding her true identity. Secretly part-demon, she conceals her shimmering patterns—the visible sign of her heritage—from everyone, making lines like

"I'm done hiding"

resonate with a poignant irony.

Rumi’s Struggle for Authenticity

Even Rumi seems to admit her own duplicity in the bridge:

"Waited so long to break these walls down / To wake up and feel like me / Put these patterns all in the past now / And finally live like the girl they all see."

She can only imagine freedom as conforming to others’ expectations. This tension is entirely deliberate, setting up her arc throughout the film. The conflict is underscored not just by the lyrics, but by EJAE’s remarkable vocal performance as Rumi. As EJAE explained on the Zach Sang Show,

"It had to strain her voice to metaphorically show she is singing in a voice that's not who she is... That was the point. That's why it was this non-human voice, a non-human note to reach. And that was all on purpose."

At this stage, Rumi isn’t being honest with herself, her friends, or her fans.

'What It Sounds Like': The True Anthem

As the story unfolds, Rumi confronts her heritage and the weight she places on herself, aided by her relationships with Mira, Zoey, and the Saja Boys’ enigmatic leader, Jinu. Matters come to a head when a dramatic confrontation exposes Rumi’s patterns and deepest fears. With the Honmoon shattered and Huntr/x disbanded, hope seems lost. Rumi’s confrontation with her mentor Celine—questioning why she could never love all of Rumi—finally sparks the realisation she’s needed.

Embracing her true self, Rumi returns to interrupt the Saja Boys’ concert with a new song—one that tells her real story. It begins, fittingly, with the words:

"Nothing but the truth now."

'What It Sounds Like' builds on the themes of 'Golden,' but this time, Rumi means every word. The style suits her voice, and lines such as

"The scars are part of me, darkness and harmony / My voice without the lies, this is what it sounds like"

finally ring true.

A Moment of Catharsis

No longer hiding, Rumi delivers a performance that is both joyful and cathartic. Huntr/x reunite on stage, free from secrets. The chorus—

"truth after all this time, our voices all combined / When darkness meets the light, this is what it sounds like"

—is impossible to hear without a shiver. The song’s stadium-filling energy is amplified by the crowd’s participation and the exuberant set-piece as Huntr/x triumph over the Saja Boys and Gwi-ma, forging a new Honmoon.

All told, 'What It Sounds Like' stands as the most stirring and uplifting track on the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack. While 'Golden' has certainly made its mark on pop culture, it’s this song that truly delivers on the film’s promise of self-acceptance and unity.

KPop Demon Hunters is available to stream now, with a sequel already in the works.