Ever wondered what it’s like to have a song go globally viral and then get Oscar buzz? Audrey Nuna spills all the details! From her K-Pop phenomenon hit ‘Golden’ to her unique take on genre-defying music, she’s an artist rewriting the rules. What’s next for this rising star?
Fresh off a demanding international tour, singer-rapper Audrey Nuna finds her exhaustion from jet lag overshadowed by the immense global impact of “Golden,” her breakout hit from the “KPop Demon Hunters” soundtrack. At 26, Nuna is not just adjusting to time zones but also to the whirlwind success that has firmly established her as a formidable presence in the contemporary music scene and a burgeoning K-Pop phenomenon.
The song’s Golden success has been nothing short of phenomenal. Nuna lends her voice to Mira, a member of the fictional K-pop group Huntr/X, alongside Ejae and Rei Ami. Together, their track “Golden” ascended to No. 1 on Spotify’s Daily Top Songs Global chart, propelling the “KPop Demon Hunters” soundtrack album to the top of the Billboard 200 with the biggest streaming week for a soundtrack in over three years.
Nuna herself recalls a profound premonition about the project’s potential. She distinctly remembers telling her mother, in Korean, that she believed the movie would do “really well.” This instinct proved incredibly prescient, as the song, initially intended for a niche audience, transcended expectations and achieved widespread global impact, becoming a viral sensation.
Adding to the whirlwind, “Golden” is now the subject of considerable Oscar buzz, thanks to a campaign by Netflix for the animated film. This prospect has left Nuna both amazed and philosophical, jokingly contemplating an EGOT—an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award—given the unexpected trajectory of her career thus far.
The potential Oscar nomination feels particularly surreal for Nuna, especially since it precedes any Grammy consideration. She draws a meaningful connection to her namesake, Audrey Hepburn, who was renowned for her multifaceted career in theater, acting, and music, suggesting a strangely prophetic alignment with her own artistic journey.
Central to Nuna’s artistic identity is her philosophy on genre-defying music. She firmly declares that “genre is dead,” viewing traditional musical boundaries as irrelevant. Her own work effortlessly blurs the lines between pop, R&B, and alternative, a testament to her lifelong interest in diverse musical styles and her commitment to artistic freedom.
Her recent international touring, marking her first performances outside the U.S., offered eye-opening experiences. From the electric energy of Korea’s Pentaport Festival to the deeply engaged, albeit more reserved, audiences in Tokyo, these encounters reinforced her belief in music’s universal power to transcend cultural barriers and forge deep connections.
As accolades continue to pour in and Oscar season approaches, Audrey Nuna remains in awe of the Golden success of “KPop Demon Hunters.” This genre-defying artist, whose work has already achieved significant global impact, is clearly just at the beginning of what promises to be an extraordinary and boundary-pushing career in music.
