October 1, 2025 • 47 mins
This is what it sounds like! We’re back with another deep dive into the smash hit, KPop Demon Hunters! First, we have an interview with songwriting duo Jenna Andrews and Stephen Kirk, the writers behind “Free” and “What It Sounds Like.” Jenna and Stephen share their inspiration and process behind the songs and how many different iterations they went through for the film’s climax.
Then, stick around for a discussion about the staying power of KPDH, is it a sensation or an instant classic? Plus, what does this mean for the other big musical on our horizons, Wicked: For Good?
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Warning, Today's episode contains minus spoilers for Netflix's hit movie
and likely Oscar pick for Best Animation, K Pop Demon Hunters.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
We're going up up up a moment.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Yes, Hello, I am Rosie Knight and I do love
K Pop Demon Hunters.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
I'm Joel Monikin I would date all of the Saga.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Boys a correct, they are all so beautiful And welcome
back to x ray Vision, the podcast where we dive
deep into your favorite shows, movies, comics and pop culture.
We are here at iHeart Podcasts as always, where we
will be bringing you three episodes a week.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
And news on Saturdays.
Speaker 5 (00:55):
In today's episode, first deep cuts an interview with Jenna
Andrew and Stephen Kirk, the songwriting team behind two of
the hit songs, including my favorite hit song from Netflix's
K Pop Demon Hunters. Aaron's gonna be sitting down with them.
It's a good discussion. You also stay tuned for that,
and then actor Rosie and I will be back for
a quick discussion on the staying power of K Pop
(01:18):
Demon Hunters, why the sing along works, and why if
you haven't given it a chance yet, totally sure.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
And now let's dive into Aaron's interview with Jenna Andrews
and Stephen Cook.
Speaker 6 (01:45):
All Right, we are here with two of the writers
from K pop Demon Hunters, who worked on a couple
of my favorite songs from it. We have Jenna Andrews
and Stephen Kirk. Thank you guys for joining.
Speaker 7 (01:55):
Hello, Hello, thanks for having me.
Speaker 6 (01:58):
So, I know, normally you're in Nashville, you have a
big farm with chickens and goats and all sorts of animals.
But right now you're calling us from where Soul.
Speaker 7 (02:09):
We're in Korea right now.
Speaker 6 (02:11):
And this is a this is a writing trip. You're
working on other pieces of music and stuff.
Speaker 7 (02:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (02:17):
Yeah, it's been crazy. It's so fun.
Speaker 9 (02:19):
We love it here.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
It's just yeah, I mean we basically come here and
we every time we're like, we have to get a
condo or something because we're.
Speaker 9 (02:27):
Basically we're Korean. Now. Awesome, awesome, great.
Speaker 6 (02:31):
Yeah, I'm sure like the kimchi scene in Nashville is
not quite as good as it is and so so yeah, no, no,
all right, So, between the two of you, you've written
and produced songs for everyone from BTS, Lil Nas X,
Sabrina Carpenter, Tory Kelly, like some incredible performers. You've done
a bunch of really great songs, some of my favorite
(02:52):
things on there as well, But we're here mostly to
talk about k pop Demon Hunters, which you wrote two
of the songs that are on there. Tell me and
did the two you realize like how big this project was, Like,
did you was there a moment when you heard someone
singing the song? What was it for you?
Speaker 9 (03:08):
I mean, I don't want to speak for you, but
we found out maybe like two days after it came out,
and it was just going crazy, Like we didn't know
what to expect.
Speaker 7 (03:16):
I don't think we had.
Speaker 9 (03:17):
I don't think anybody involved with the movie, whether it's
on the music side of the movie side, had any
idea at all.
Speaker 7 (03:25):
What a blessing has been pretty crazy.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
I mean I think we probably thought it was going
to do well, but just this is mind blowing. We
we've actually worked with two of the Soga boys the
singing voices since we've been in Korea, and they are
they feel the same way.
Speaker 8 (03:41):
I think we all just are like blown away with
the success.
Speaker 6 (03:44):
Yeah. I feel like I'll get into this when we
talk about what it sounds like, but I feel like
that when that song came on at the end is
when I was like, Wow, this is this is this
movie is something like this is not just like a
fun thing.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yeah, but we'll get to that.
Speaker 6 (04:01):
How did you too get involved with the movie in general?
Like were you given backstory and direction or did they
just like ask you to write a pop song? Like
what was the initial pitch to you?
Speaker 9 (04:12):
So we got approached by spring Aspers, who headed up
the music for the movie along with Ian Eisendrath, and
it was just something that we were really excited to
be a part of. I think, you know, when when
we got the call, it was just really like you
always know with the movie, especially an animated movie, it's
going to be a lot of work because things can
(04:34):
change and schedules change, and we have our own personal
schedule where we're a trying to live life and then
be trying to write songs for everyone in the world.
And then so with movies it's always like kind of
you just have to really fall in love with the
movie or or what they're saying about the movie to
really be invested in it. But since we've been lucky
(04:54):
enough to be part of the K pop culture and
just we've had some pretty big songs in that space,
and obviously we love Korean culture and Korea, so.
Speaker 7 (05:04):
When we were approached, we just were like, we have
we have to do this, We have to find a
way to do this. And then as far as the
songs are concerned, it was really like.
Speaker 9 (05:13):
The materials they gave us were very very very like
secretive and very like basic, like there were there was
no animation yet, and there was no we didn't really
see the script. We just kind of got an explanation
of the scene for free and what it sounds like,
and it was just kind of like give us your
interpretation of this, and that's what we did.
Speaker 6 (05:34):
And did they give you any sort of notes like
we want this one to feature rapping or we want
this one to not feature you know, really elaborate production,
like were there musical notes as well with it?
Speaker 9 (05:46):
They kind of gave us free rate in the beginning
to kind of just explore what the materials that we
were given and then just kind of like give our
take on that. And then as the movie was developing
on the animation side and the script side and things
would change, we would just have discourse back and forth
and kind of just you know, now this character is
(06:07):
doing this, and like, we need to change these lines
to fit this, and then add fifteen seconds to space
here because we need like score, and can you give
us an idea of what you want to do with
the score, like all sorts of I mean, so yeah,
there were it was kind of like give us your interpretation.
I think they trusted us a lot as far as
the creative part and the musical part, and they really
let us kind of just use all the colors that
(06:29):
we wanted to use for the scene. And then after
we gave them everything, it was just kind of like,
let's pick through things that we love and then let's
change things that we don't.
Speaker 6 (06:36):
So just for listeners to understand how uncommon is that,
because frequently if you're in a writing camp, if you
write something for bts and you send it to them,
how often they are sending back major notes like we
need to change this up, we need to change this up,
or is that something that's handled elsewhere?
Speaker 8 (06:53):
A lot I mean, yeah happens.
Speaker 7 (06:55):
I mean it happens a lot. But I mean, but
when you're writing for.
Speaker 9 (06:58):
Artists, it could go both ways. Really, so a lot
of the time, I mean, it does happen a lot.
We write a lot of songs though, and a lot
of the time it's just like this song is perfect,
we want this, and then you really get notes on
like the mix at the end of a song where
they're just like, oh, let's pull the drums up, let's
vocal up one dB or things like that. But I mean,
(07:18):
what it sounds like took a year and a half,
almost two years to complete. There was one hundred and
forty seven revisions. It was like it was just a
monstrous session. I think it was like three hundred I
think it was like three hundred and twenty something instrumental tracks,
and then it was about one hundred and seventy five
vocal tracks and just getting all of them to run,
and then it was changing the times.
Speaker 7 (07:39):
There's six different tempos in the song, and then it
was like.
Speaker 9 (07:42):
Oh, let's bump this one, and you have all this
MIDI and all this audio that you've rendered to.
Speaker 7 (07:47):
Audio from MIDI.
Speaker 9 (07:48):
It was just, I mean, it was I mean, it's
such a blessing. I can't call it a nightmare. But
we we were in the trenches for a while.
Speaker 7 (07:54):
It was crazy.
Speaker 6 (07:56):
And did you have I mean, like you had like
you're saying you had to redo lyrics as as characters
changed throughout. I think you did such an incredible job lyrically,
especially with that one where that song ties into the
rest of the movie so well. It is rare to
have a pop song quote your quote unquote, a pop
(08:16):
song that can say demons or patterns and make it
feel normal and not forced. And I like commend you
for having these non traditional pop lyrics that just works
so well because it fits with the story so well.
Speaker 9 (08:31):
But were there were there.
Speaker 6 (08:32):
Moments in it where you were like, I'm throwing out
my baby with this one line because this character has changed,
and now, like I really loved how I wrote this,
and we we got to lose it for something.
Speaker 8 (08:41):
That's a good question.
Speaker 9 (08:43):
Yeah, I think it was. Yeah, yeah, And that's that's
the thing too, is a lot of the time for us.
Speaker 7 (08:48):
I'm talking a lot.
Speaker 4 (08:49):
No, no, no, I think I love it much.
Speaker 7 (08:52):
I feel like insane right now.
Speaker 9 (08:53):
But I think I think, I think the biggest struggle
for anybody making music, especially at the level we make it,
is like killing your own agenda and your own ego
in sessions and writing and all the things. Right, And
so you know, we were invited to the movie to
(09:14):
be pop writers and K pop writers because we've had
some success in that, and so there were things that
we would go back and forth on and be like,
I don't know, this sounds insane, Like we can't say
this like we would. We should say it this way,
this is how we would say it. But in retrospect,
you know, they're making a ninety seven minute film or
however long it is, you know what I'm saying, and
(09:35):
we're we're just a few minutes here and there, and
it's like tying that massive story into small stories in
our songs. And it was really like an eye opening
experience because we were writing, you know together obviously we
write together all the time, but now we're writing with
people who are movie makers and we're trying.
Speaker 7 (09:54):
To figure out how they want to say things in
the movie.
Speaker 9 (09:57):
And it was just it was an interesting learning experience
because it was just like, oh, you know, the messaging
from the movie about self acceptance and being true to
yourself and loving yourself for who you are so that
you can be loved by others. It's such a powerful message,
and you know, just giving yourself into that message and
giving yourself into that whole thought process. First of all,
(10:19):
was healing while we worked on it, but it kind
of really took like, well, this is cool, we need
to say this. It really became about we need to
talk about this message. And I think that was probably
that's probably one of the biggest gifts of this whole thing.
Is it really just kind of regrounds you, recenters you
and reminds you why we started making music to begin with.
(10:41):
It's just for connection, you know what I'm saying. And
I think there's a lot of people in music and
outside of music who just enjoy music who really could
use that message.
Speaker 7 (10:51):
So it's just really it's really amazing.
Speaker 9 (10:54):
I think it's kind of.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
Cool how they how they were building the movie as
they like end music the same time, so it was
in tandem, so like the music really played into the storyline, right,
So it's yeah, I think a lot of times they'd
hear a song and then it would rework parts of
the movie as this, So I think the whole thing
was kind of building at the same time, which is really.
Speaker 8 (11:14):
Something pretty cool and yeah cool.
Speaker 7 (11:18):
I love that.
Speaker 6 (11:18):
I mean all that's great and speaking like going off that,
let's talk about free for a little bit that song.
I feel like you need to take Roomy and Janie's relationship,
not maybe not zero to sixty, but like twenty to sixty,
which which I feel like is very cinematic and like
you were saying, it's it's very movie musical based and
not necessarily like pop song based. How did that feel
(11:42):
approaching that writing as a pop writer, but something where
the messaging is like you're saying, like this larger story
and not necessarily this is a romance for one night.
This is like, you know how I'm feeling right now,
Like this felt grand I think.
Speaker 8 (12:00):
Is kind of like you said it.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
I loved how you said it, like the fact of
the messaging and then what the world needs a little bit.
I think that's actually so amazing that you said that,
because we actually talked about that today in our session
when we were like, just that that song makes people
feel hopeful.
Speaker 9 (12:15):
Yeah, and I think I mean, and this is probably
tea I don't know if you want me to spill
this on you can, but like we we started as
as co writers first time we met, and then being
co writers turned into like a real friendship, and then
our friendship turned to us dating and now we like live.
Speaker 7 (12:34):
Together and we have a whole life together.
Speaker 9 (12:36):
And I think with that song Free specifically, I think
that I think again, we didn't see the scene, but
we saw tiny clips of like just rough animation, like sketches, right,
and what they were trying to explain.
Speaker 7 (12:49):
And that scene is Ginu and Roomy.
Speaker 9 (12:54):
They had met and it had been like tense, but
it was like this moment of like, it's just us
and I don't have to hide who I am from
from the world, and you're not hiding who you are
from the world, and there's just an honesty.
Speaker 7 (13:07):
And I think in that moment they understood each.
Speaker 9 (13:09):
Other and with her for me, in the writing process,
for me, like I really connected with that moment because
you go through life and you you believe you know
what love is, and you believe you know how to
love or how to receive love. But there's a when
(13:30):
you're when you feel understood at your core, that's like
the greatest.
Speaker 7 (13:37):
Form of love. I feel like someone can receive and
with you.
Speaker 9 (13:43):
Our relationship, I really feel understood by her and I
really understand her. And obviously people change over time and
we're continuing to grow and we figure it out. But
that song is kind of like for us and then
and that's the thing, like Free really was for us
in the moments we were writing the song, it really
was like, at least for me, I felt like we
(14:05):
were writing for us and that that scene, you know,
because the entire world didn't understand us to begin with,
we kind of had like an interesting way to connect
and become like come together and date and it was
like a big thing. But yeah, like writing that scene
really felt like we were writing our story, so it
kind of came really easy.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
And it's kind of cool because it was like the
first song I believe right written for the movie.
Speaker 6 (14:31):
Oh wow, okay, wow, I love that. That's great real quick.
I mean, like we don't have to spend too much
time on Free. I love lyrically what you did there,
especially like your sort of slant rhymes secrets to keep
me in chains, damage that might be dangerous, really good rhymes,
and then second verse hitting imposter and monster loss inside it.
I love the o rhymes, mid words like really really
(14:56):
appreciate again, interesting lyrics that that are not going to
be your typical pop song, ending on a yeah hi
by like those kind of things. The fact that you
have like really complex words within your rhyme scheme.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
I love it.
Speaker 6 (15:10):
So I think that's one of the things that makes
these songs really hit.
Speaker 7 (15:14):
Wow.
Speaker 6 (15:15):
Yeah, I mean enough about lyrics. Let's talk about what
it sounds like. Where I think I think I said
this earlier. This is the moment in the movie when
I was like, this movie needs to land so many
planes at one time, and you it does. It lands
the story, it lands the animation, and it lands the
music there production wise, like I love it. It starts acapella,
(15:36):
you bring in the felt piano, you have these swelling strings,
you have a little symbol swells, and they use it.
Speaker 7 (15:41):
On it like this.
Speaker 6 (15:44):
No, I mean like I'm a musician, so there that
there's a lot of the stuff I connected with, But
like the electric guitar doing the rhythm. You don't bring
the drums in until like ninety seconds into the song. Crazy,
I mean, like, what a great build to have throughout
the whole thing. Like you were saying, there's the tempo change,
it changes.
Speaker 7 (16:02):
You've got like.
Speaker 6 (16:04):
The choir coming in, which can be incredibly, incredibly cheesy,
and it fits so fucking well. Like yeah, so I
just I love Also, I'm a sucker for you know,
I think it's four six five three progressions.
Speaker 9 (16:17):
Yeah, like yes, oh my god, I love so far.
Speaker 6 (16:22):
I love those progressions. That that in the middle of
a key is where it lives, and it's I think
that's great. But really, I think that song, I know
you said you rewrote it one hundred and forty seven
times or whatever, like not a single wasted line of lyrics.
Everything I think fits so well. I don't have any
questions about that song. Really, I just I love that song.
(16:43):
I think you did such a great job. Were there
things with it that like as you worked on that
thing knowing it's the climax, that it gave you a
certain sense of pressure, or there was something around it
like we do we need to incorporate other things? Or
was this another one where it was like, here's a
couple of notes, see what you can come up with,
and then we'll give you one hundred and forty seven
(17:05):
edits afterwards or what?
Speaker 9 (17:07):
Yeah, No, there was, Yeah, this one started different, the
first version, the first the name of the first song
that we did.
Speaker 7 (17:16):
I can say this right, it's okay to say, I
don't know, I'm gonna I think so.
Speaker 9 (17:19):
I think the first, the first song that we wrote
for it, which there's a lot of parts of this
song in what it sounds like, but it was called Kaleidoscope,
and we had the song. We had the idea of,
like when you're looking through kaleidoscope, all these different colors,
like make your image right, And so we had that
idea and we went for a while with that, and
(17:39):
then it kind of kept changing, and then you know,
the ending changed, and I don't know, like I wasn't
a part of all the conversations about how it was changing.
I just knew it. We just knew it was changing.
And so it was just like together. And the crazy
thing about working on movies like this is like you'll
send something in they'll be like, we need it tonight
by eleven pm.
Speaker 7 (17:56):
You're like, great, send it in by eleven pm.
Speaker 9 (17:58):
And then they just ghost you for like three weeks,
like you don't even hear you think, am I fired?
Am I?
Speaker 7 (18:03):
Like?
Speaker 1 (18:03):
Am I?
Speaker 4 (18:04):
Like?
Speaker 7 (18:04):
Is it over?
Speaker 4 (18:04):
Is the movie?
Speaker 7 (18:05):
Ben done?
Speaker 9 (18:05):
Like I don't, I don't, And then all of a
sudden they'll hit you back and they'll be like here's
twenty five notes and we need them in forty five minutes.
And you're like, ah, five minutes.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (18:13):
Yeah. But it was a lot of late nights with
with Ian and and Mark Son and Blick and we
and and obviously us and we we would just sit
there and and it was such a blessing to have
Ian and Mark because they were more on the movie side,
and they would talk to us and be like, this
is what's happening now, and this is what this is
the moment where she's exposing herself to the world and
(18:35):
her band and all the things. And it was really
like their storytelling was so inspiring, just like I felt
like I was watching the movie when we were hearing it.
So and then like I had to take a masterclass
on strings to figure out how to like voice strings
around like opposite of how I would voice them in
pop music.
Speaker 4 (18:52):
And so.
Speaker 9 (18:54):
That song was so hard. It's probably the hardest thing
that I've ever I mean, I don't you, I don't know,
but for me, it was like the hardest thing now.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
Oh yeah. And also the long I mean probably the
longest has to be.
Speaker 8 (19:07):
I mean, I mean really from beginning then it was
probably over a year.
Speaker 9 (19:11):
Yeah, it was, I mean, it was just crazy, and
there was so many changes and I just remember there
were points because, like I said, we're like busy in
regular life, right like so we have like the movie life,
and then we're like like one time they were like, hey,
we need five ideas by tonight for a chorus.
Speaker 7 (19:25):
When we started what it sounds like, And.
Speaker 9 (19:26):
We were in Bali working with another artist and it
was one studio at the resort we were staying at Bali.
So I was in I had this little uh uad
I guess it's a vault or a spark or whatever
it's called, like just a travel interface in my and
my headphones, and I had a thirty two key Archuria
(19:47):
like MIDI keyboard, and I'm just sitting no sustained, no nothing,
and I'm sitting here trying to make songs. I mean
it was stressful at times, really stressful at times, but
I mean it's just such a it's such a and
it was really just an honor to be a part of,
Like had the movie done nothing, had the movie been
(20:08):
seen one time, I still believe in my heart that
I feel like it'd be worth it because of what
that movie represents and and just the honor of being
invited to be a part of something so cultural and
or just to be invited to be a part of
K pop's story, and you know, in the in the
entirety of K pop story, like to just be a
part of that story and be a part of it's
(20:28):
such a beautiful culture and a beautiful story in beautiful
music that I mean, it's it was worth it either way,
but it really, I mean, it's a blessing that it's
done what it's done.
Speaker 6 (20:37):
Lucky for you, it's been seen a lot more than
once too, so you know what I'm saying. They talking
about some of these other artists you've written with. What's
the difference for you when you're writing with a developing
artist who still finding their sound versus when you're writing
with someone who really knows who they are. They have
a couple of hit songs they want to continue or
expand that. But the difference between someone who's established is
(21:00):
someone you're helping to grow.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
I mean, I think it's always I think it's it's
it can be the same and different, you know, because
I think when you're established, a lot of times you
want to grow, so you also don't want to stay stagnant, right,
So I think that a lot of times that is
a challenge in.
Speaker 8 (21:18):
Its own self.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
But then like when you're developing, you're trying to find
a sound, so it's like kind of it's like I think,
just because you found a sound doesn't mean like it
doesn't mean that you've like arrived, right, because you have
to keep doing this. So sometimes, honestly, that can be
harder because you don't because especially when an artist is
experience the music industry, I think they get in their
head a lot. Developing artists is really exciting to work
(21:40):
with because it's so like they're like probably the most
inspiring place in my opinion, Like I feel like they're
just like so like, oh, I can't wait, you know,
and it's like when it's like I hate to say it,
but sometimes you can get a little bit jaded or bitter,
not not I don't know if it's I'm using exactly
like the right word, and I don't know if everyone
feels this way, but my experience, I think you just
kind of like, I don't know, I just I think
(22:02):
that people are a little bit more afraid when they've
already had something as even if it's successful, because they're like, oh,
I have to repeat or you know, are people going
to judge me for this?
Speaker 8 (22:11):
Whereas it developing artists, it's like so open, you know.
Speaker 7 (22:14):
And also we're kind of known, like we're notorious for
ignoring the brief, so they'll.
Speaker 9 (22:19):
Be like, this is what we want, this, this, and this,
and they're like, no, we're gonna try this like we
and it works a lot of the time because I
think I think the thing about a true artist is
they're inspired by things that they don't even realize they're
being inspired by. So and as artists, I think everybody
who makes music is a version of artists. And we
see you know, like if I said, like like if I.
Speaker 7 (22:42):
Told you to paint, like to make the color red
and I.
Speaker 9 (22:46):
Got to make the color red, we probably have different
shades and they're both red either in its art right,
So nobody's ever wrong in art. It's just like it's subjective,
like some people will like it, some people won't. But
I think, yeah, we're kind of known for like we're
kind of like notorious for just here comes to A
and R and they're like, this is what we want,
This is what we want, this is what we're looking for,
and we're like, I think we'll do this and you know, yeah, yeah,
(23:10):
and that's the thing because we, like.
Speaker 8 (23:12):
I come from artists.
Speaker 9 (23:14):
Yeah, and also like the success of a song is
irrelevant if you don't get in the car after the
session and want to turn it up to a thousand
and listen all the way home. And for us, that's
I mean, I don't care how many more hits we've had,
or how many hits we have had, or how much
money we make or any of the things. I still
I still make music for that feeling, you know what
(23:35):
I'm saying.
Speaker 7 (23:35):
And we both make music for that feeling.
Speaker 9 (23:37):
And so like, yeah, with developing artists you can kind
of just be like, let's just try a hundred things,
and then with bigger artists just kind of like, let's
just take a shot, and if they hate it, they
hate it.
Speaker 7 (23:46):
If they don't, well we won.
Speaker 6 (23:48):
So yeah, I had another national artist one time tell
me the three greatest songs ever written are Yesterday, Amazing Grace,
and the song I just finished. And those are the
three best things I ever heard, you.
Speaker 9 (24:00):
Know what I'm saying.
Speaker 7 (24:01):
That's the thing. Yeah, it's so true.
Speaker 6 (24:03):
So, speaking of some other art are there things non
musical that you go to for inspiration, books, art, movies, TV,
et cetera.
Speaker 8 (24:12):
Oh, I think all of the above for me.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
I mean I think I think I don't know if
you like, well, for me personally, I don't know if
I go to them, but I feel like you definitely
just naturally take from them, if that makes sense. It's like,
you know, like if for me, if I'm watching a
show or a movie and I hear a line or
something like that, I'm definitely writing it.
Speaker 8 (24:33):
I'm like, oh, that's interesting, you know, like or even
just a feeling.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
And I think a lot of times just like there's
something to be said about just living life. Like you know,
it's just being out on the street seeing something, talking
to a stranger, and all of a sudden you're like,
oh my gosh, because there's so much.
Speaker 8 (24:47):
We were saying this the other day, like so much.
Speaker 4 (24:49):
Of what people love about songs is conversation, and just
like I just don't think like in the beginning of
becoming a songwriter, you think, oh, there's so much, like
you have to be so poetic, and so I don't know,
I think we overthink things, but I think like what
people want to hear is something that they like a
conversation that's just relatable and feels good. You know, it
just like kind of moves your soul, but like in
(25:10):
a very simple way. And I think those things are
really inspiring from things like the movies or conversation, simple
things like that.
Speaker 9 (25:17):
Yeah, I'm definitely one of those weird people that like
hold people up the grocery store because I'm trying to
find out what Judith is on in her life at
the moment, you know what I'm saying. So for me,
it's really a conversation and just complete stranger. Yeah, I like, yeah,
I think it's it's just like the human Like the
human experience is just such an inspiring thing because I mean,
(25:37):
you could have people on top of the world that
will be at the world be on top of them tomorrow.
And you have people that literally have nothing and they're
on the you know they and but tomorrow they're up.
And then you have people in both places, people who
are very successful who are unhappy, and you have people
who are very unsuccessful but are so happy.
Speaker 7 (25:55):
And so it's just.
Speaker 9 (25:56):
Like that experience of just like you are, you can
only be in this present moment and you can only
really take from this present moment and moments are so fleeting,
so like just experiencing people and just talking to people.
Speaker 7 (26:10):
And also I love hanging out with my horses and goats, chickens, dogs.
Speaker 8 (26:14):
Yeah, he's basically a part I mean, I'm like.
Speaker 9 (26:16):
A farmer halfway.
Speaker 7 (26:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (26:17):
LOOKI I'm kind of a farmer, like like this is
my whole. I love being home and taking care of
the animals is hard being away from them.
Speaker 8 (26:24):
But you are basically apart. So you're basically one hundred
percent a part time farmer.
Speaker 4 (26:29):
I will say, I I'm upset.
Speaker 8 (26:32):
I'm like, I love animals.
Speaker 4 (26:34):
In fact, he actually you got me the gohs and
the horses for my birthday.
Speaker 8 (26:38):
But he basically is like the lead farmer.
Speaker 9 (26:41):
It's like to give that. I had to keep giving
because I'm out there like cleaning up after him doing
a thing.
Speaker 7 (26:45):
But it's, uh, it's so worth it.
Speaker 9 (26:48):
Animals to take care of too.
Speaker 7 (26:49):
Yeah no, no, I mean yeah, they're reckless. It's crazy,
all right.
Speaker 6 (26:53):
So what is some other projects you have coming out
or that just came out that anyone who's listening who's
a fan of the songs you worked on for K
Pop Demon Hunters? What else can they check out from you.
Speaker 8 (27:02):
Recently, Big X the Plug with Thomas Rhett.
Speaker 9 (27:06):
Oh yeah, Big X Plug Thomas Rhett. Nate Smith has
a song coming out as country artist. There's a lot
I don't even know. Some of them we can't probably
even talk about. I will say so we started a
label and we have amazing artists. We got one girl
that was on American Idol. Her name is Maddy Prewett.
She's phenomenal, sixteen year old. She's amazing. And then we
(27:28):
have this girl, Kendall cut who's from North Carolina. She's
like insanely talented. Then we have a girl, Morgan Johnston,
she's a country singer. Well, I've signed so many girls
and we needed a boy on the roster. But those
things are like like at this point in our career
and what we're doing, like we're doing all the things right,
writing for big artists and writing for medium artists and
(27:51):
movies and all the things, but our heart really, well
my heart and I know i'm speaking, I don't meaning
to speak for you, but our heart is really in
these artists that we're developing, because it's like their family
and you're you're you're solving puzzles together. It's such a
beautiful experience to be like let's let's just let's get
in and and And the thing about it now is
(28:12):
is that, like we it's half about making music with
these artists, these young artists, but it's also half about
letting like helping them avoid the trauma and.
Speaker 7 (28:23):
The things that we had to go through to get here,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 9 (28:26):
And so that's like, you know, like a paying it
for a type situation, except for it pays us forward.
Speaker 7 (28:29):
It's like such a such a beautiful thing. It's like
it's amazing. So that's that's really what we're excited about.
Speaker 8 (28:36):
Yeah, And I think it's cool that you asked that question.
Speaker 4 (28:38):
That's why I was like, you know, the developing artists
versus like an artist that's been doing it, because I
think both of us when we met, like obviously, you know,
there's so many things that drew us to each other.
Speaker 8 (28:51):
Obviously, and creatively we work so well together.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
But I mean, I think one of the big things
is that we both came from being artists and really
have a deep passion for developing artists. So I think
it's so true what you're saying, because I think that's really.
Speaker 8 (29:03):
Where our heart is.
Speaker 4 (29:05):
It means it's it's so exciting to work with developing artist,
especially once that you actually like that feel so close
to your heart because it's just like, I don't know,
it's just this feeling that is like irreplaceable.
Speaker 9 (29:16):
Like we can work with a thousand artists and do
a thousand different things, but every day both of us
get at least one text from all of our artists,
and it's just such a beauty, Like we're across the
world right now, and it's just like it's it's rare
to have artists checking on you, like are you good?
Most of the artists like hey can I get this?
Speaker 7 (29:32):
Can I this? It's a.
Speaker 9 (29:35):
Yeah, you know what I'm saying, like yeah, they think
they think that we're doing for them, because we we
do really work hard for them and try.
Speaker 7 (29:43):
Our best, but they do a lot for us.
Speaker 9 (29:45):
So it's just like such a I love I love
developing the artists that we have such a blessing.
Speaker 4 (29:50):
And I will say, like lastly, it's so fun because
like any little success right because it's like like you
could get like let's say, you know, one song streams
a little bit ahead of the last song that feels
like a giant.
Speaker 9 (30:05):
It's like back when I start. It's like it's like
one of those things like we're back in the with
all this experience. We're back in the like the beginning stages,
and it's just so fired.
Speaker 10 (30:13):
It's like so exciting, like one little opening show, right,
like you get like one thing being like, oh, this
artist gets to like perform, like do this venue opening
for such and such Like to us, that's such.
Speaker 8 (30:23):
A win, you know, and that's such a cool feeling
to have.
Speaker 6 (30:26):
Well, thank you so much. I have three real quick,
rapid fire questions for you before we go. First, I
go to karaoke song.
Speaker 8 (30:34):
Oh oh my gosh. Okay, go to karaoke song.
Speaker 6 (30:40):
You're both incredible singers, so that that does change it.
Speaker 7 (30:44):
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (30:45):
It's got to be like I mean, I don't know
if I have a go to, but it's got to
be anything Mariah Carey.
Speaker 7 (30:50):
Okay, we couldn't be more opposite.
Speaker 9 (30:52):
Number one I got to. Number one is gonna be
you give Love a Bad Name bon joke.
Speaker 7 (30:57):
And then my.
Speaker 9 (30:58):
Second one and then my second one's got to be
Superstition by Stevie Wonder.
Speaker 6 (31:04):
Okay, yeah, yeah, I was not not expecting Bonjo at all.
Speaker 9 (31:09):
So far you're kind of drunk. Even everybody in the
bar just going crazy.
Speaker 7 (31:15):
Yeah, the bar will love that one.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
All right.
Speaker 6 (31:17):
Favorite movie musical non t pop Demon Hunters, bi okay.
Speaker 4 (31:23):
Favorite movie musical meaning like even like animated, sure.
Speaker 8 (31:29):
It could it be like okay, so like, oh god,
I mean Little.
Speaker 4 (31:33):
Mermaid Yeah, yeh count Yeah, it's gonna be Little Mermaid.
Speaker 8 (31:37):
Or Beauty and the Beast.
Speaker 9 (31:38):
I like the I mean those ones are Aladdin. It's Aladdin.
It's definitely Aladdin.
Speaker 6 (31:44):
I Ryan King, Yeah, Lion King, Aladdin, King's Fire.
Speaker 9 (31:48):
Yeah, there's too many good ones. I guess it's it's
impossible to like, but those are just so classic.
Speaker 7 (31:53):
Yeah, it's just I mean.
Speaker 6 (31:55):
I just rewatched West Side Story and I was like, man,
that's probably higher on my list.
Speaker 9 (31:58):
I thought, all right, it's going.
Speaker 6 (32:01):
You're non musical must have when you're in the studio
or you're writing. What do you need to have there
with you?
Speaker 8 (32:08):
Oh god, I mean heard? Okay, mine is heard a
non musical must have.
Speaker 9 (32:16):
Oh yeah, okay, here's the secret.
Speaker 7 (32:21):
I'll go first.
Speaker 9 (32:21):
So you could think, because I know you're struggling thing
I at all times in the studio. I don't care
if it's five thousand degrees.
Speaker 7 (32:28):
I have to have a hoodie in the studio. Like
I have to be in a hoodie.
Speaker 9 (32:31):
I'm superstitious, Like I used to play sports, so like
a lot of things. Like I just like like I
have the same routine all the things, Like I have
about nine thousand hoodies. And when I'm out, like I'll
leave the studio to go get food and they'll be like, bro,
it's it's two hundred and seventeen degrees outside. I'm like, sorry, Bro,
I'm in the studio. Like I always have to have
a hoodie in the studio, Like I'm.
Speaker 3 (32:50):
Always I love that.
Speaker 7 (32:51):
I love that.
Speaker 4 (32:52):
Yeah, okay, So for me, I'm a very like it's
like the I need to like have something, so like yeah,
like a coffee, a tea, a glass of wine, like something.
Speaker 1 (33:04):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (33:05):
It depends on the time, of course, but in the
day it's like you need like a coffee, your tea
or like at night it's like, yeah, just a low
glass of wine or something just to like kind of
have that like like the oral fixation or whatever.
Speaker 8 (33:15):
It's just like it helps your brain kind of move.
Speaker 4 (33:18):
Oh.
Speaker 6 (33:18):
One hundred percent all right. And last one, when's kop
DMI Hunter's two coming out.
Speaker 9 (33:22):
I'm kidding, hell, I promise you I will call you
on a side and tell you as soon as I
find out.
Speaker 7 (33:31):
Awesome.
Speaker 6 (33:31):
Thank you guys so much.
Speaker 7 (33:32):
This was great.
Speaker 6 (33:33):
Uh, congratulations again. The movie is incredible. The songs are incredible.
I had an argument with some coworkers because I was
saying I liked this is what it sounds like more
than free, and they're like, You're You're so wrong. Free
is so much better. So you guys have just done
such a great job.
Speaker 7 (33:48):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 9 (33:49):
Thank you, bro, Thank you so much for having us man,
thank you for what you do for just music community
and everything.
Speaker 7 (33:54):
Is such an honor and a blessing to be on
here with you, so thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
Thank you real quick, and let me come back.
Speaker 5 (34:01):
Rosie and I are going to discuss the staying power
Capeop Demon here.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
And we're back Rose eight weeks ago.
Speaker 5 (34:25):
Weeks ago, we got a coveted invite to Netflix the
Compound in Hollywood to watch the singalong version of Cape
Hop Demon Hunters. The sing along version is now on
Netflix for anyone to watch as long as it's in
your language. Sorry to my friend Azuko in Japan, who
was like, yeah, they didn't do a Japanese translation, girl,
(34:45):
so we ain't got no sing alongs over here in
every language. Please we need it. But that experience for
me was so I was like, oh, this is going
to be the movie and the segment. I think Cars
was the movie for a generation of kids in the
same way I think like for us, it's probably.
Speaker 3 (35:04):
The Lion King. Maybe was the movie.
Speaker 5 (35:07):
Shrek the generation after us, where there's a song that
sticks out that everyone has to know, where the music
is so on point and delicious, where the animation is
gorgeous and groundbreaking and totally different, that just cements within
a generation. I easily think K pop Demon Hunters could
be that film. There was a kid sitting behind us
who knew every line to the movie. I'm not saying songs,
(35:30):
I mean the line they're speaking in the cadence. When
Derby came out, he was screaming at the top.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
He's like, oh my god. I was like, they love it,
and I too love it. Talk a little bit about
your experience at the sing along, because you actually brought
a little person with you.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
I was lucky enough to bring one of my many
nieces and nephews with me, and yes, she loved it.
It definitely took her a little bit to warm up.
But I was also sitting next to Ardencho's family. They
were on the other.
Speaker 3 (35:58):
Side of me, and too.
Speaker 1 (36:00):
Of the kids, the two boys, they knew every word,
every dance move. It was so fun to get to
see them experience the movie that way. And I think,
like I already knew, because I have many children in
my life, that this movie was popular, because every child
liked it, Like every different kid who likes different stuff,
(36:21):
this was like a unifying thing.
Speaker 2 (36:22):
That they would ask me about.
Speaker 1 (36:24):
And now that we're a little bit further out, it
is very clear that the kids were onto something, because
we have now gotten the news that by the end
of August twenty twenty five, Kpop Theman Hunter had had
two hundred and thirty six million views on Netflix, which
made it the most popular title ever full stop movies, TV, anything,
(36:46):
And that was a month ago, so you know that
it's higher out. We're also in a situation where, again
months out, Hunterricks's golden iconic song, in my opinion, not
even the best song, but still a great song. It
Opster one hundred, Hot one hundred for the sixth week,
which means that it has broken its tie within canto
(37:09):
and it is now the most weeks at number one
for a soundtrack single since twenty fifteen. And it's probably
just going to keep breaking those records because I have
started to hear it in the car on the radio
now and that.
Speaker 3 (37:25):
Not just gold Stars the other day.
Speaker 1 (37:28):
Yeah, that is a huge moment too, because it is
rare that Disney is going to reach out and get
a song from a different space of a streamer that
is a competitor. But they needed it because they know
that this is like aj Audenna Reami.
Speaker 9 (37:44):
These are now the.
Speaker 1 (37:46):
Most popular girl band in the world. They had the
first number one hit single since Destiny's Child for a
girl band, it had been about fifteen years. Again, they
are also the sole longest leading hit by an animated
group in the Hot one hundred and sixty seven year
(38:08):
history and first ever soundtrack to generate four simultaneous top
top tens. And it's really yeah because right now Golden
is number one, Soda Pop by the Soger Boys is
number five, Your Idol is number six, and how it's
Done is number eight. So you're talking about the most.
Speaker 5 (38:27):
Respecting my favorite song and it bothers the shit out
of me.
Speaker 3 (38:30):
But okay, which one's your favorite?
Speaker 4 (38:31):
Mine? Uh?
Speaker 5 (38:33):
This is what it sounds like is the best song
on the album. I would fight a great street about this.
I would throw a lot in someone's eye over this,
like it is. It is a hill worth dying on.
That song makes me cry every time. It just it
uplifts me. I feel like it ties me to my friends,
like it is a perfect ending song. You know, I
think the finale for a musical can be really hit
(38:55):
or miss. It's a challenging song to write. It's probably
the only other sound song as challenging in a musical
is Wherever your love.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
Duet is trying to make that sound original.
Speaker 2 (39:05):
Which they did great with Free.
Speaker 5 (39:06):
They also nailed it you Go and y'all could put
Free back up on these charts too.
Speaker 3 (39:10):
I'm not gonna lie. I dig Free. But this is
what it sounds like.
Speaker 5 (39:14):
Is it's a chilling and it's also it's a stadium anthem,
like can you imagine actually hearing this is what it
sounds like in a stadium with a full But my
fucking got it would rock.
Speaker 1 (39:25):
It was emotional just hearing it in that theater where
there was maybe like one hundred people and everyone because
everyone's comfortable enough, everyone feels engaged and yet to me,
I just think that this is such an interesting movie
that proves the original musicals are great. It doesn't have
(39:47):
to be a jukebox musical. It doesn't have to be
tied to an ip that people already know. If you
actually pay great musicians to write great music, you can
make a great musical.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
I think it's very exactly.
Speaker 1 (40:00):
I also think it's very interesting because we know that Wicked,
another movie that both of us love, Wicked for Good,
will be coming out in a round a month. And
the interesting thing there is, though, there will be two
new songs, one for Alpha Bart and the Wizard and
one for Glinda about her turn to being good. And
(40:22):
for a while those were kind of seen as the
shoe him for best song of the year. But I
just I don't see anyway unless you've got like a
defying gravity level new edition, I don't see a way
that Golden doesn't win. And I think that this is
also going to be very interesting. I'm hoping this is
such an unusual situation for streaming. For Netflix, they put
(40:43):
the movie into theaters. And for directors. Maggie Kang is
female director, and if this movie had been in the
cinema as a real, you know release, she would probably
be up there with one of the most successful female
directors of all time financially.
Speaker 3 (40:59):
And I want to make.
Speaker 1 (41:00):
Sure that we are all in the industry and in
the FYC space, and in the streaming space and in
the cinematic space.
Speaker 2 (41:11):
Let's not let the women who.
Speaker 1 (41:12):
Made this movie a massive success disappear after this movie.
They have so many more stories to tell. And I
think that this is gonna be capeop. Demon Hunters is
going to be the story for the Oscars this year.
It's gonna be really interesting to see it up against,
you know, alongside I should say, one battle after another,
maybe Sinners, which I'm thinking is probably gonna do a
(41:34):
huge sweep. And if we have a huge Sinners sweep
alongside an animation sweep, that would be a big year
for horror for animation. I think it's going to continue
to be a conversation. I'm so glad Aaron got to
have this great chat, and we will definitely be covering
Capeop Demon Hunters again, because I think you're right, Joelle,
this is like a generational addition to the animated canon,
(41:56):
and the music is so good. We haven't had songs
like this, sins. It's that era of Disney Beauty and
the Beast Lion King Ariel where you really got those
huge banger songs. This is that, but taken to the
extreme pop level, you know, turn it up to eleven
spinal Tatyana.
Speaker 5 (42:15):
And this in the modern ken of like animated musicals. Really,
because as much as I like Incanto, I don't know
if the songs, I guess we don't talk about Brutal
did the rounds for quite a while, but it's like
and it got on. Every song was really hitting in
the same way that multiple songs are hitting for this
as well.
Speaker 3 (42:35):
Also the song about the sister. Oh, that's true, strong
sister Louisa.
Speaker 2 (42:39):
I will say my niece and nephew they loved in Canto.
Speaker 1 (42:42):
They loved those songs, but Golden has gotten more play,
I think because and Capop Demon Hunter is in general,
because in Canto was fun and for my niece, very formative.
She loves Luisa, she wants to be strong that is
like her icon, but Capop Demon Hunters offers up something
that I have found that kids are really really into,
(43:03):
which is a character who is seemingly monstrous but has
a redemptive arc that is like such a huge thing
that kids appeal to. Kids, whether they're watching something like
Five Nights at Freddy's or whether they're watching k Pop
Demon Hunters, they this is their version of the Sith
or wanting to be a you know, a death eater,
(43:26):
but without a lot of the horrible connotations that came
from those outdated ideas. Instead, here you get Genu, and
you get to see that exploration of somebody who ended
up sacrificing himself for someone else, even after getting to
be demonic and getting to make choices. And I think
that redemptive ark is so popular among kids, and every
kid I ask Ginu's their favorite character?
Speaker 3 (43:48):
Ugh, you could count? First of all, Wow, how could
you not know?
Speaker 4 (43:51):
Genie?
Speaker 3 (43:52):
He's so cool? Who are we throceing over?
Speaker 9 (43:54):
In which one man in the.
Speaker 5 (43:59):
Other Netflix animated TV show based off the video game
with the Super High Okay, yes, oh, I feel like
we have a repeat of our our sexy Piltover crew
m hmm.
Speaker 3 (44:10):
Let me ask you this.
Speaker 5 (44:11):
Do you think it's it's a no brainer that this
will be nominated for Best Animated Film at the Oscars.
Speaker 3 (44:17):
Do you think this has the juice to be nominated
for Best Picture?
Speaker 1 (44:21):
I think it as the juice and I think if
Netflix is smart, they will push for that because the
truth is, it's going to be an eclectic, weird year
and no movie has been in the conversation as much
as this movie, aside from Sinners. This is Sinners and
This are the two movies where people who don't usually
reach out to me about going to the theater have gone,
(44:42):
I need to go see this, Like is this tell
me about this?
Speaker 2 (44:45):
Where can I go see it?
Speaker 1 (44:46):
In seventy mil we took people to see Sinners and
seventy email at the b start it was like Monumental
and I feel like k Pop demon Hunt is making
that move from Netflix to the theater and then being
number one has to put it in contention because also
it's a gorgeous animated feature, so it should be in contention.
Speaker 2 (45:05):
It deserves it at every level.
Speaker 1 (45:07):
Is the Academy open to it? Let's see, especially because
this is very popular with young girls and we know,
they don't often take that stuff as seriously.
Speaker 4 (45:15):
They do not. They do not.
Speaker 3 (45:17):
It's animated.
Speaker 5 (45:17):
It's about K pop, which for some reason some people
feel still feel confused about, you know. I mean we
had talked when we did our K Pop breakdown that,
you know, when Sony sold this to Netflix, they were like,
We're just not even sure anyone's gonna watch it.
Speaker 3 (45:29):
Yeah, we don't think anyone will like their pennies. It's whatever.
This film has a lot of staying power.
Speaker 5 (45:35):
I think because it moves really quickly, because the characters
are interesting, because the music is fabulous, because you want
to dress like all the characters. Like, it's really a
full package film, Like I'm looking forward to Halloween and everyone.
I've already seen the girls getting their long purple braids together.
Speaker 3 (45:47):
The hot leagues have come out.
Speaker 5 (45:49):
People are trying to figure out how to make their
hair into space buns. Like it's really it's like what
at times, to just be alive and to experiences. I
love when a movie in the same way that we
saw with like Barbie, Like when a movie just.
Speaker 1 (45:59):
Hits as a whole, it's.
Speaker 5 (46:03):
All become fans, you know, it says walking down the
Stree my friend the other day, and this guy was
just hanging out. I think he was like changing his
kids diaper in the back of his car, and just
gold and it's just pouring out of his speakers. And
then we walked like two more blocks and someone else
was listening to Soda Pop and I was like, yeah,
this is these are the songs of the summer.
Speaker 3 (46:21):
You know these are It's.
Speaker 5 (46:23):
An enduring film, So yeah, I might actually just go
watch K Pop even Hunters right now.
Speaker 3 (46:27):
I mean, why not.
Speaker 2 (46:28):
Yeah, I was just thinking that too. I'm like, maybe
that's what we'll do this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (46:32):
Okay, I love this perfect. I think that's the show.
Did we do it?
Speaker 1 (46:37):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (46:38):
Oh, we did it.
Speaker 6 (46:39):
We did it.
Speaker 2 (46:41):
On the next episode of X ray Vision, We've got
another edition of x ray Vision group chat with a
check in on one of my favorite shows, gen V
and a ton more fun. That's the episode. Thanks for listening, guys,
Bye bye.
Speaker 6 (46:55):
X ray Vision is hosted by Jason steps Young and
Rosie Night and it's a production of Iheartpot.
Speaker 1 (47:00):
Our executive producers are Joel Monique and Aaron Kaufman.
Speaker 6 (47:04):
Our supervising producer is Abu zafar Our.
Speaker 1 (47:07):
Producers are Common, Laurent Dean Jonathan and Faye Wag.
Speaker 6 (47:11):
A theme song is by Brian Vasquez, with alternate theme
songs by Aaron Kauffman.
Speaker 1 (47:15):
Special thanks to Soul Rubin, Chris Lord, Kenny Goodman and
Heidi our discord moderator,
Warning, Today's episode contains minus spoilers for Netflix's hit movie
and likely Oscar pick for Best Animation, K Pop Demon Hunters.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
We're going up up up a moment.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Yes, Hello, I am Rosie Knight and I do love
K Pop Demon Hunters.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
I'm Joel Monikin I would date all of the Saga.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Boys a correct, they are all so beautiful And welcome
back to x ray Vision, the podcast where we dive
deep into your favorite shows, movies, comics and pop culture.
We are here at iHeart Podcasts as always, where we
will be bringing you three episodes a week.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
And news on Saturdays.
Speaker 5 (00:55):
In today's episode, first deep cuts an interview with Jenna
Andrew and Stephen Kirk, the songwriting team behind two of
the hit songs, including my favorite hit song from Netflix's
K Pop Demon Hunters. Aaron's gonna be sitting down with them.
It's a good discussion. You also stay tuned for that,
and then actor Rosie and I will be back for
a quick discussion on the staying power of K Pop
(01:18):
Demon Hunters, why the sing along works, and why if
you haven't given it a chance yet, totally sure.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
And now let's dive into Aaron's interview with Jenna Andrews
and Stephen Cook.
Speaker 6 (01:45):
All Right, we are here with two of the writers
from K pop Demon Hunters, who worked on a couple
of my favorite songs from it. We have Jenna Andrews
and Stephen Kirk. Thank you guys for joining.
Speaker 7 (01:55):
Hello, Hello, thanks for having me.
Speaker 6 (01:58):
So, I know, normally you're in Nashville, you have a
big farm with chickens and goats and all sorts of animals.
But right now you're calling us from where Soul.
Speaker 7 (02:09):
We're in Korea right now.
Speaker 6 (02:11):
And this is a this is a writing trip. You're
working on other pieces of music and stuff.
Speaker 7 (02:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (02:17):
Yeah, it's been crazy. It's so fun.
Speaker 9 (02:19):
We love it here.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
It's just yeah, I mean we basically come here and
we every time we're like, we have to get a
condo or something because we're.
Speaker 9 (02:27):
Basically we're Korean. Now. Awesome, awesome, great.
Speaker 6 (02:31):
Yeah, I'm sure like the kimchi scene in Nashville is
not quite as good as it is and so so yeah, no, no,
all right, So, between the two of you, you've written
and produced songs for everyone from BTS, Lil Nas X,
Sabrina Carpenter, Tory Kelly, like some incredible performers. You've done
a bunch of really great songs, some of my favorite
(02:52):
things on there as well, But we're here mostly to
talk about k pop Demon Hunters, which you wrote two
of the songs that are on there. Tell me and
did the two you realize like how big this project was, Like,
did you was there a moment when you heard someone
singing the song? What was it for you?
Speaker 9 (03:08):
I mean, I don't want to speak for you, but
we found out maybe like two days after it came out,
and it was just going crazy, Like we didn't know
what to expect.
Speaker 7 (03:16):
I don't think we had.
Speaker 9 (03:17):
I don't think anybody involved with the movie, whether it's
on the music side of the movie side, had any
idea at all.
Speaker 7 (03:25):
What a blessing has been pretty crazy.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
I mean I think we probably thought it was going
to do well, but just this is mind blowing. We
we've actually worked with two of the Soga boys the
singing voices since we've been in Korea, and they are
they feel the same way.
Speaker 8 (03:41):
I think we all just are like blown away with
the success.
Speaker 6 (03:44):
Yeah. I feel like I'll get into this when we
talk about what it sounds like, but I feel like
that when that song came on at the end is
when I was like, Wow, this is this is this
movie is something like this is not just like a
fun thing.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yeah, but we'll get to that.
Speaker 6 (04:01):
How did you too get involved with the movie in general?
Like were you given backstory and direction or did they
just like ask you to write a pop song? Like
what was the initial pitch to you?
Speaker 9 (04:12):
So we got approached by spring Aspers, who headed up
the music for the movie along with Ian Eisendrath, and
it was just something that we were really excited to
be a part of. I think, you know, when when
we got the call, it was just really like you
always know with the movie, especially an animated movie, it's
going to be a lot of work because things can
(04:34):
change and schedules change, and we have our own personal
schedule where we're a trying to live life and then
be trying to write songs for everyone in the world.
And then so with movies it's always like kind of
you just have to really fall in love with the
movie or or what they're saying about the movie to
really be invested in it. But since we've been lucky
(04:54):
enough to be part of the K pop culture and
just we've had some pretty big songs in that space,
and obviously we love Korean culture and Korea, so.
Speaker 7 (05:04):
When we were approached, we just were like, we have
we have to do this, We have to find a
way to do this. And then as far as the
songs are concerned, it was really like.
Speaker 9 (05:13):
The materials they gave us were very very very like
secretive and very like basic, like there were there was
no animation yet, and there was no we didn't really
see the script. We just kind of got an explanation
of the scene for free and what it sounds like,
and it was just kind of like give us your
interpretation of this, and that's what we did.
Speaker 6 (05:34):
And did they give you any sort of notes like
we want this one to feature rapping or we want
this one to not feature you know, really elaborate production,
like were there musical notes as well with it?
Speaker 9 (05:46):
They kind of gave us free rate in the beginning
to kind of just explore what the materials that we
were given and then just kind of like give our
take on that. And then as the movie was developing
on the animation side and the script side and things
would change, we would just have discourse back and forth
and kind of just you know, now this character is
(06:07):
doing this, and like, we need to change these lines
to fit this, and then add fifteen seconds to space
here because we need like score, and can you give
us an idea of what you want to do with
the score, like all sorts of I mean, so yeah,
there were it was kind of like give us your interpretation.
I think they trusted us a lot as far as
the creative part and the musical part, and they really
let us kind of just use all the colors that
(06:29):
we wanted to use for the scene. And then after
we gave them everything, it was just kind of like,
let's pick through things that we love and then let's
change things that we don't.
Speaker 6 (06:36):
So just for listeners to understand how uncommon is that,
because frequently if you're in a writing camp, if you
write something for bts and you send it to them,
how often they are sending back major notes like we
need to change this up, we need to change this up,
or is that something that's handled elsewhere?
Speaker 8 (06:53):
A lot I mean, yeah happens.
Speaker 7 (06:55):
I mean it happens a lot. But I mean, but
when you're writing for.
Speaker 9 (06:58):
Artists, it could go both ways. Really, so a lot
of the time, I mean, it does happen a lot.
We write a lot of songs though, and a lot
of the time it's just like this song is perfect,
we want this, and then you really get notes on
like the mix at the end of a song where
they're just like, oh, let's pull the drums up, let's
vocal up one dB or things like that. But I mean,
(07:18):
what it sounds like took a year and a half,
almost two years to complete. There was one hundred and
forty seven revisions. It was like it was just a
monstrous session. I think it was like three hundred I
think it was like three hundred and twenty something instrumental tracks,
and then it was about one hundred and seventy five
vocal tracks and just getting all of them to run,
and then it was changing the times.
Speaker 7 (07:39):
There's six different tempos in the song, and then it
was like.
Speaker 9 (07:42):
Oh, let's bump this one, and you have all this
MIDI and all this audio that you've rendered to.
Speaker 7 (07:47):
Audio from MIDI.
Speaker 9 (07:48):
It was just, I mean, it was I mean, it's
such a blessing. I can't call it a nightmare. But
we we were in the trenches for a while.
Speaker 7 (07:54):
It was crazy.
Speaker 6 (07:56):
And did you have I mean, like you had like
you're saying you had to redo lyrics as as characters
changed throughout. I think you did such an incredible job lyrically,
especially with that one where that song ties into the
rest of the movie so well. It is rare to
have a pop song quote your quote unquote, a pop
(08:16):
song that can say demons or patterns and make it
feel normal and not forced. And I like commend you
for having these non traditional pop lyrics that just works
so well because it fits with the story so well.
Speaker 9 (08:31):
But were there were there.
Speaker 6 (08:32):
Moments in it where you were like, I'm throwing out
my baby with this one line because this character has changed,
and now, like I really loved how I wrote this,
and we we got to lose it for something.
Speaker 8 (08:41):
That's a good question.
Speaker 9 (08:43):
Yeah, I think it was. Yeah, yeah, And that's that's
the thing too, is a lot of the time for us.
Speaker 7 (08:48):
I'm talking a lot.
Speaker 4 (08:49):
No, no, no, I think I love it much.
Speaker 7 (08:52):
I feel like insane right now.
Speaker 9 (08:53):
But I think I think, I think the biggest struggle
for anybody making music, especially at the level we make it,
is like killing your own agenda and your own ego
in sessions and writing and all the things. Right, And
so you know, we were invited to the movie to
(09:14):
be pop writers and K pop writers because we've had
some success in that, and so there were things that
we would go back and forth on and be like,
I don't know, this sounds insane, Like we can't say
this like we would. We should say it this way,
this is how we would say it. But in retrospect,
you know, they're making a ninety seven minute film or
however long it is, you know what I'm saying, and
(09:35):
we're we're just a few minutes here and there, and
it's like tying that massive story into small stories in
our songs. And it was really like an eye opening
experience because we were writing, you know together obviously we
write together all the time, but now we're writing with
people who are movie makers and we're trying.
Speaker 7 (09:54):
To figure out how they want to say things in
the movie.
Speaker 9 (09:57):
And it was just it was an interesting learning experience
because it was just like, oh, you know, the messaging
from the movie about self acceptance and being true to
yourself and loving yourself for who you are so that
you can be loved by others. It's such a powerful message,
and you know, just giving yourself into that message and
giving yourself into that whole thought process. First of all,
(10:19):
was healing while we worked on it, but it kind
of really took like, well, this is cool, we need
to say this. It really became about we need to
talk about this message. And I think that was probably
that's probably one of the biggest gifts of this whole thing.
Is it really just kind of regrounds you, recenters you
and reminds you why we started making music to begin with.
(10:41):
It's just for connection, you know what I'm saying. And
I think there's a lot of people in music and
outside of music who just enjoy music who really could
use that message.
Speaker 7 (10:51):
So it's just really it's really amazing.
Speaker 9 (10:54):
I think it's kind of.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
Cool how they how they were building the movie as
they like end music the same time, so it was
in tandem, so like the music really played into the storyline, right,
So it's yeah, I think a lot of times they'd
hear a song and then it would rework parts of
the movie as this, So I think the whole thing
was kind of building at the same time, which is really.
Speaker 8 (11:14):
Something pretty cool and yeah cool.
Speaker 7 (11:18):
I love that.
Speaker 6 (11:18):
I mean all that's great and speaking like going off that,
let's talk about free for a little bit that song.
I feel like you need to take Roomy and Janie's relationship,
not maybe not zero to sixty, but like twenty to sixty,
which which I feel like is very cinematic and like
you were saying, it's it's very movie musical based and
not necessarily like pop song based. How did that feel
(11:42):
approaching that writing as a pop writer, but something where
the messaging is like you're saying, like this larger story
and not necessarily this is a romance for one night.
This is like, you know how I'm feeling right now,
Like this felt grand I think.
Speaker 8 (12:00):
Is kind of like you said it.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
I loved how you said it, like the fact of
the messaging and then what the world needs a little bit.
I think that's actually so amazing that you said that,
because we actually talked about that today in our session
when we were like, just that that song makes people
feel hopeful.
Speaker 9 (12:15):
Yeah, and I think I mean, and this is probably
tea I don't know if you want me to spill
this on you can, but like we we started as
as co writers first time we met, and then being
co writers turned into like a real friendship, and then
our friendship turned to us dating and now we like live.
Speaker 7 (12:34):
Together and we have a whole life together.
Speaker 9 (12:36):
And I think with that song Free specifically, I think
that I think again, we didn't see the scene, but
we saw tiny clips of like just rough animation, like sketches, right,
and what they were trying to explain.
Speaker 7 (12:49):
And that scene is Ginu and Roomy.
Speaker 9 (12:54):
They had met and it had been like tense, but
it was like this moment of like, it's just us
and I don't have to hide who I am from
from the world, and you're not hiding who you are
from the world, and there's just an honesty.
Speaker 7 (13:07):
And I think in that moment they understood each.
Speaker 9 (13:09):
Other and with her for me, in the writing process,
for me, like I really connected with that moment because
you go through life and you you believe you know
what love is, and you believe you know how to
love or how to receive love. But there's a when
(13:30):
you're when you feel understood at your core, that's like
the greatest.
Speaker 7 (13:37):
Form of love. I feel like someone can receive and
with you.
Speaker 9 (13:43):
Our relationship, I really feel understood by her and I
really understand her. And obviously people change over time and
we're continuing to grow and we figure it out. But
that song is kind of like for us and then
and that's the thing, like Free really was for us
in the moments we were writing the song, it really
was like, at least for me, I felt like we
(14:05):
were writing for us and that that scene, you know,
because the entire world didn't understand us to begin with,
we kind of had like an interesting way to connect
and become like come together and date and it was
like a big thing. But yeah, like writing that scene
really felt like we were writing our story, so it
kind of came really easy.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
And it's kind of cool because it was like the
first song I believe right written for the movie.
Speaker 6 (14:31):
Oh wow, okay, wow, I love that. That's great real quick.
I mean, like we don't have to spend too much
time on Free. I love lyrically what you did there,
especially like your sort of slant rhymes secrets to keep
me in chains, damage that might be dangerous, really good rhymes,
and then second verse hitting imposter and monster loss inside it.
I love the o rhymes, mid words like really really
(14:56):
appreciate again, interesting lyrics that that are not going to
be your typical pop song, ending on a yeah hi
by like those kind of things. The fact that you
have like really complex words within your rhyme scheme.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
I love it.
Speaker 6 (15:10):
So I think that's one of the things that makes
these songs really hit.
Speaker 7 (15:14):
Wow.
Speaker 6 (15:15):
Yeah, I mean enough about lyrics. Let's talk about what
it sounds like. Where I think I think I said
this earlier. This is the moment in the movie when
I was like, this movie needs to land so many
planes at one time, and you it does. It lands
the story, it lands the animation, and it lands the
music there production wise, like I love it. It starts acapella,
(15:36):
you bring in the felt piano, you have these swelling strings,
you have a little symbol swells, and they use it.
Speaker 7 (15:41):
On it like this.
Speaker 6 (15:44):
No, I mean like I'm a musician, so there that
there's a lot of the stuff I connected with, But
like the electric guitar doing the rhythm. You don't bring
the drums in until like ninety seconds into the song. Crazy,
I mean, like, what a great build to have throughout
the whole thing. Like you were saying, there's the tempo change,
it changes.
Speaker 7 (16:02):
You've got like.
Speaker 6 (16:04):
The choir coming in, which can be incredibly, incredibly cheesy,
and it fits so fucking well. Like yeah, so I
just I love Also, I'm a sucker for you know,
I think it's four six five three progressions.
Speaker 9 (16:17):
Yeah, like yes, oh my god, I love so far.
Speaker 6 (16:22):
I love those progressions. That that in the middle of
a key is where it lives, and it's I think
that's great. But really, I think that song, I know
you said you rewrote it one hundred and forty seven
times or whatever, like not a single wasted line of lyrics.
Everything I think fits so well. I don't have any
questions about that song. Really, I just I love that song.
(16:43):
I think you did such a great job. Were there
things with it that like as you worked on that
thing knowing it's the climax, that it gave you a
certain sense of pressure, or there was something around it
like we do we need to incorporate other things? Or
was this another one where it was like, here's a
couple of notes, see what you can come up with,
and then we'll give you one hundred and forty seven
(17:05):
edits afterwards or what?
Speaker 9 (17:07):
Yeah, No, there was, Yeah, this one started different, the
first version, the first the name of the first song
that we did.
Speaker 7 (17:16):
I can say this right, it's okay to say, I
don't know, I'm gonna I think so.
Speaker 9 (17:19):
I think the first, the first song that we wrote
for it, which there's a lot of parts of this
song in what it sounds like, but it was called Kaleidoscope,
and we had the song. We had the idea of,
like when you're looking through kaleidoscope, all these different colors,
like make your image right, And so we had that
idea and we went for a while with that, and
(17:39):
then it kind of kept changing, and then you know,
the ending changed, and I don't know, like I wasn't
a part of all the conversations about how it was changing.
I just knew it. We just knew it was changing.
And so it was just like together. And the crazy
thing about working on movies like this is like you'll
send something in they'll be like, we need it tonight
by eleven pm.
Speaker 7 (17:56):
You're like, great, send it in by eleven pm.
Speaker 9 (17:58):
And then they just ghost you for like three weeks,
like you don't even hear you think, am I fired?
Am I?
Speaker 7 (18:03):
Like?
Speaker 1 (18:03):
Am I?
Speaker 4 (18:04):
Like?
Speaker 7 (18:04):
Is it over?
Speaker 4 (18:04):
Is the movie?
Speaker 7 (18:05):
Ben done?
Speaker 9 (18:05):
Like I don't, I don't, And then all of a
sudden they'll hit you back and they'll be like here's
twenty five notes and we need them in forty five minutes.
And you're like, ah, five minutes.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (18:13):
Yeah. But it was a lot of late nights with
with Ian and and Mark Son and Blick and we
and and obviously us and we we would just sit
there and and it was such a blessing to have
Ian and Mark because they were more on the movie side,
and they would talk to us and be like, this
is what's happening now, and this is what this is
the moment where she's exposing herself to the world and
(18:35):
her band and all the things. And it was really
like their storytelling was so inspiring, just like I felt
like I was watching the movie when we were hearing it.
So and then like I had to take a masterclass
on strings to figure out how to like voice strings
around like opposite of how I would voice them in
pop music.
Speaker 4 (18:52):
And so.
Speaker 9 (18:54):
That song was so hard. It's probably the hardest thing
that I've ever I mean, I don't you, I don't know,
but for me, it was like the hardest thing now.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
Oh yeah. And also the long I mean probably the
longest has to be.
Speaker 8 (19:07):
I mean, I mean really from beginning then it was
probably over a year.
Speaker 9 (19:11):
Yeah, it was, I mean, it was just crazy, and
there was so many changes and I just remember there
were points because, like I said, we're like busy in
regular life, right like so we have like the movie life,
and then we're like like one time they were like, hey,
we need five ideas by tonight for a chorus.
Speaker 7 (19:25):
When we started what it sounds like, And.
Speaker 9 (19:26):
We were in Bali working with another artist and it
was one studio at the resort we were staying at Bali.
So I was in I had this little uh uad
I guess it's a vault or a spark or whatever
it's called, like just a travel interface in my and
my headphones, and I had a thirty two key Archuria
(19:47):
like MIDI keyboard, and I'm just sitting no sustained, no nothing,
and I'm sitting here trying to make songs. I mean
it was stressful at times, really stressful at times, but
I mean it's just such a it's such a and
it was really just an honor to be a part of,
Like had the movie done nothing, had the movie been
(20:08):
seen one time, I still believe in my heart that
I feel like it'd be worth it because of what
that movie represents and and just the honor of being
invited to be a part of something so cultural and
or just to be invited to be a part of
K pop's story, and you know, in the in the
entirety of K pop story, like to just be a
part of that story and be a part of it's
(20:28):
such a beautiful culture and a beautiful story in beautiful
music that I mean, it's it was worth it either way,
but it really, I mean, it's a blessing that it's
done what it's done.
Speaker 6 (20:37):
Lucky for you, it's been seen a lot more than
once too, so you know what I'm saying. They talking
about some of these other artists you've written with. What's
the difference for you when you're writing with a developing
artist who still finding their sound versus when you're writing
with someone who really knows who they are. They have
a couple of hit songs they want to continue or
expand that. But the difference between someone who's established is
(21:00):
someone you're helping to grow.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
I mean, I think it's always I think it's it's
it can be the same and different, you know, because
I think when you're established, a lot of times you
want to grow, so you also don't want to stay stagnant, right,
So I think that a lot of times that is
a challenge in.
Speaker 8 (21:18):
Its own self.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
But then like when you're developing, you're trying to find
a sound, so it's like kind of it's like I think,
just because you found a sound doesn't mean like it
doesn't mean that you've like arrived, right, because you have
to keep doing this. So sometimes, honestly, that can be
harder because you don't because especially when an artist is
experience the music industry, I think they get in their
head a lot. Developing artists is really exciting to work
(21:40):
with because it's so like they're like probably the most
inspiring place in my opinion, Like I feel like they're
just like so like, oh, I can't wait, you know,
and it's like when it's like I hate to say it,
but sometimes you can get a little bit jaded or bitter,
not not I don't know if it's I'm using exactly
like the right word, and I don't know if everyone
feels this way, but my experience, I think you just
kind of like, I don't know, I just I think
(22:02):
that people are a little bit more afraid when they've
already had something as even if it's successful, because they're like, oh,
I have to repeat or you know, are people going
to judge me for this?
Speaker 8 (22:11):
Whereas it developing artists, it's like so open, you know.
Speaker 7 (22:14):
And also we're kind of known, like we're notorious for
ignoring the brief, so they'll.
Speaker 9 (22:19):
Be like, this is what we want, this, this, and this,
and they're like, no, we're gonna try this like we
and it works a lot of the time because I
think I think the thing about a true artist is
they're inspired by things that they don't even realize they're
being inspired by. So and as artists, I think everybody
who makes music is a version of artists. And we
see you know, like if I said, like like if I.
Speaker 7 (22:42):
Told you to paint, like to make the color red
and I.
Speaker 9 (22:46):
Got to make the color red, we probably have different
shades and they're both red either in its art right,
So nobody's ever wrong in art. It's just like it's subjective,
like some people will like it, some people won't. But
I think, yeah, we're kind of known for like we're
kind of like notorious for just here comes to A
and R and they're like, this is what we want,
This is what we want, this is what we're looking for,
and we're like, I think we'll do this and you know, yeah, yeah,
(23:10):
and that's the thing because we, like.
Speaker 8 (23:12):
I come from artists.
Speaker 9 (23:14):
Yeah, and also like the success of a song is
irrelevant if you don't get in the car after the
session and want to turn it up to a thousand
and listen all the way home. And for us, that's
I mean, I don't care how many more hits we've had,
or how many hits we have had, or how much
money we make or any of the things. I still
I still make music for that feeling, you know what
(23:35):
I'm saying.
Speaker 7 (23:35):
And we both make music for that feeling.
Speaker 9 (23:37):
And so like, yeah, with developing artists you can kind
of just be like, let's just try a hundred things,
and then with bigger artists just kind of like, let's
just take a shot, and if they hate it, they
hate it.
Speaker 7 (23:46):
If they don't, well we won.
Speaker 6 (23:48):
So yeah, I had another national artist one time tell
me the three greatest songs ever written are Yesterday, Amazing Grace,
and the song I just finished. And those are the
three best things I ever heard, you.
Speaker 9 (24:00):
Know what I'm saying.
Speaker 7 (24:01):
That's the thing. Yeah, it's so true.
Speaker 6 (24:03):
So, speaking of some other art are there things non
musical that you go to for inspiration, books, art, movies, TV,
et cetera.
Speaker 8 (24:12):
Oh, I think all of the above for me.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
I mean I think I think I don't know if
you like, well, for me personally, I don't know if
I go to them, but I feel like you definitely
just naturally take from them, if that makes sense. It's like,
you know, like if for me, if I'm watching a
show or a movie and I hear a line or
something like that, I'm definitely writing it.
Speaker 8 (24:33):
I'm like, oh, that's interesting, you know, like or even
just a feeling.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
And I think a lot of times just like there's
something to be said about just living life. Like you know,
it's just being out on the street seeing something, talking
to a stranger, and all of a sudden you're like,
oh my gosh, because there's so much.
Speaker 8 (24:47):
We were saying this the other day, like so much.
Speaker 4 (24:49):
Of what people love about songs is conversation, and just
like I just don't think like in the beginning of
becoming a songwriter, you think, oh, there's so much, like
you have to be so poetic, and so I don't know,
I think we overthink things, but I think like what
people want to hear is something that they like a
conversation that's just relatable and feels good. You know, it
just like kind of moves your soul, but like in
(25:10):
a very simple way. And I think those things are
really inspiring from things like the movies or conversation, simple
things like that.
Speaker 9 (25:17):
Yeah, I'm definitely one of those weird people that like
hold people up the grocery store because I'm trying to
find out what Judith is on in her life at
the moment, you know what I'm saying. So for me,
it's really a conversation and just complete stranger. Yeah, I like, yeah,
I think it's it's just like the human Like the
human experience is just such an inspiring thing because I mean,
(25:37):
you could have people on top of the world that
will be at the world be on top of them tomorrow.
And you have people that literally have nothing and they're
on the you know they and but tomorrow they're up.
And then you have people in both places, people who
are very successful who are unhappy, and you have people
who are very unsuccessful but are so happy.
Speaker 7 (25:55):
And so it's just.
Speaker 9 (25:56):
Like that experience of just like you are, you can
only be in this present moment and you can only
really take from this present moment and moments are so fleeting,
so like just experiencing people and just talking to people.
Speaker 7 (26:10):
And also I love hanging out with my horses and goats, chickens, dogs.
Speaker 8 (26:14):
Yeah, he's basically a part I mean, I'm like.
Speaker 9 (26:16):
A farmer halfway.
Speaker 7 (26:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (26:17):
LOOKI I'm kind of a farmer, like like this is
my whole. I love being home and taking care of
the animals is hard being away from them.
Speaker 8 (26:24):
But you are basically apart. So you're basically one hundred
percent a part time farmer.
Speaker 4 (26:29):
I will say, I I'm upset.
Speaker 8 (26:32):
I'm like, I love animals.
Speaker 4 (26:34):
In fact, he actually you got me the gohs and
the horses for my birthday.
Speaker 8 (26:38):
But he basically is like the lead farmer.
Speaker 9 (26:41):
It's like to give that. I had to keep giving
because I'm out there like cleaning up after him doing
a thing.
Speaker 7 (26:45):
But it's, uh, it's so worth it.
Speaker 9 (26:48):
Animals to take care of too.
Speaker 7 (26:49):
Yeah no, no, I mean yeah, they're reckless. It's crazy,
all right.
Speaker 6 (26:53):
So what is some other projects you have coming out
or that just came out that anyone who's listening who's
a fan of the songs you worked on for K
Pop Demon Hunters? What else can they check out from you.
Speaker 8 (27:02):
Recently, Big X the Plug with Thomas Rhett.
Speaker 9 (27:06):
Oh yeah, Big X Plug Thomas Rhett. Nate Smith has
a song coming out as country artist. There's a lot
I don't even know. Some of them we can't probably
even talk about. I will say so we started a
label and we have amazing artists. We got one girl
that was on American Idol. Her name is Maddy Prewett.
She's phenomenal, sixteen year old. She's amazing. And then we
(27:28):
have this girl, Kendall cut who's from North Carolina. She's
like insanely talented. Then we have a girl, Morgan Johnston,
she's a country singer. Well, I've signed so many girls
and we needed a boy on the roster. But those
things are like like at this point in our career
and what we're doing, like we're doing all the things right,
writing for big artists and writing for medium artists and
(27:51):
movies and all the things, but our heart really, well
my heart and I know i'm speaking, I don't meaning
to speak for you, but our heart is really in
these artists that we're developing, because it's like their family
and you're you're you're solving puzzles together. It's such a
beautiful experience to be like let's let's just let's get
in and and And the thing about it now is
(28:12):
is that, like we it's half about making music with
these artists, these young artists, but it's also half about
letting like helping them avoid the trauma and.
Speaker 7 (28:23):
The things that we had to go through to get here,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 9 (28:26):
And so that's like, you know, like a paying it
for a type situation, except for it pays us forward.
Speaker 7 (28:29):
It's like such a such a beautiful thing. It's like
it's amazing. So that's that's really what we're excited about.
Speaker 8 (28:36):
Yeah, And I think it's cool that you asked that question.
Speaker 4 (28:38):
That's why I was like, you know, the developing artists
versus like an artist that's been doing it, because I
think both of us when we met, like obviously, you know,
there's so many things that drew us to each other.
Speaker 8 (28:51):
Obviously, and creatively we work so well together.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
But I mean, I think one of the big things
is that we both came from being artists and really
have a deep passion for developing artists. So I think
it's so true what you're saying, because I think that's really.
Speaker 8 (29:03):
Where our heart is.
Speaker 4 (29:05):
It means it's it's so exciting to work with developing artist,
especially once that you actually like that feel so close
to your heart because it's just like, I don't know,
it's just this feeling that is like irreplaceable.
Speaker 9 (29:16):
Like we can work with a thousand artists and do
a thousand different things, but every day both of us
get at least one text from all of our artists,
and it's just such a beauty, Like we're across the
world right now, and it's just like it's it's rare
to have artists checking on you, like are you good?
Most of the artists like hey can I get this?
Speaker 7 (29:32):
Can I this? It's a.
Speaker 9 (29:35):
Yeah, you know what I'm saying, like yeah, they think
they think that we're doing for them, because we we
do really work hard for them and try.
Speaker 7 (29:43):
Our best, but they do a lot for us.
Speaker 9 (29:45):
So it's just like such a I love I love
developing the artists that we have such a blessing.
Speaker 4 (29:50):
And I will say, like lastly, it's so fun because
like any little success right because it's like like you
could get like let's say, you know, one song streams
a little bit ahead of the last song that feels
like a giant.
Speaker 9 (30:05):
It's like back when I start. It's like it's like
one of those things like we're back in the with
all this experience. We're back in the like the beginning stages,
and it's just so fired.
Speaker 10 (30:13):
It's like so exciting, like one little opening show, right,
like you get like one thing being like, oh, this
artist gets to like perform, like do this venue opening
for such and such Like to us, that's such.
Speaker 8 (30:23):
A win, you know, and that's such a cool feeling
to have.
Speaker 6 (30:26):
Well, thank you so much. I have three real quick,
rapid fire questions for you before we go. First, I
go to karaoke song.
Speaker 8 (30:34):
Oh oh my gosh. Okay, go to karaoke song.
Speaker 6 (30:40):
You're both incredible singers, so that that does change it.
Speaker 7 (30:44):
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (30:45):
It's got to be like I mean, I don't know
if I have a go to, but it's got to
be anything Mariah Carey.
Speaker 7 (30:50):
Okay, we couldn't be more opposite.
Speaker 9 (30:52):
Number one I got to. Number one is gonna be
you give Love a Bad Name bon joke.
Speaker 7 (30:57):
And then my.
Speaker 9 (30:58):
Second one and then my second one's got to be
Superstition by Stevie Wonder.
Speaker 6 (31:04):
Okay, yeah, yeah, I was not not expecting Bonjo at all.
Speaker 9 (31:09):
So far you're kind of drunk. Even everybody in the
bar just going crazy.
Speaker 7 (31:15):
Yeah, the bar will love that one.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
All right.
Speaker 6 (31:17):
Favorite movie musical non t pop Demon Hunters, bi okay.
Speaker 4 (31:23):
Favorite movie musical meaning like even like animated, sure.
Speaker 8 (31:29):
It could it be like okay, so like, oh god,
I mean Little.
Speaker 4 (31:33):
Mermaid Yeah, yeh count Yeah, it's gonna be Little Mermaid.
Speaker 8 (31:37):
Or Beauty and the Beast.
Speaker 9 (31:38):
I like the I mean those ones are Aladdin. It's Aladdin.
It's definitely Aladdin.
Speaker 6 (31:44):
I Ryan King, Yeah, Lion King, Aladdin, King's Fire.
Speaker 9 (31:48):
Yeah, there's too many good ones. I guess it's it's
impossible to like, but those are just so classic.
Speaker 7 (31:53):
Yeah, it's just I mean.
Speaker 6 (31:55):
I just rewatched West Side Story and I was like, man,
that's probably higher on my list.
Speaker 9 (31:58):
I thought, all right, it's going.
Speaker 6 (32:01):
You're non musical must have when you're in the studio
or you're writing. What do you need to have there
with you?
Speaker 8 (32:08):
Oh god, I mean heard? Okay, mine is heard a
non musical must have.
Speaker 9 (32:16):
Oh yeah, okay, here's the secret.
Speaker 7 (32:21):
I'll go first.
Speaker 9 (32:21):
So you could think, because I know you're struggling thing
I at all times in the studio. I don't care
if it's five thousand degrees.
Speaker 7 (32:28):
I have to have a hoodie in the studio. Like
I have to be in a hoodie.
Speaker 9 (32:31):
I'm superstitious, Like I used to play sports, so like
a lot of things. Like I just like like I
have the same routine all the things, Like I have
about nine thousand hoodies. And when I'm out, like I'll
leave the studio to go get food and they'll be like, bro,
it's it's two hundred and seventeen degrees outside. I'm like, sorry, Bro,
I'm in the studio. Like I always have to have
a hoodie in the studio, Like I'm.
Speaker 3 (32:50):
Always I love that.
Speaker 7 (32:51):
I love that.
Speaker 4 (32:52):
Yeah, okay, So for me, I'm a very like it's
like the I need to like have something, so like yeah,
like a coffee, a tea, a glass of wine, like something.
Speaker 1 (33:04):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (33:05):
It depends on the time, of course, but in the
day it's like you need like a coffee, your tea
or like at night it's like, yeah, just a low
glass of wine or something just to like kind of
have that like like the oral fixation or whatever.
Speaker 8 (33:15):
It's just like it helps your brain kind of move.
Speaker 4 (33:18):
Oh.
Speaker 6 (33:18):
One hundred percent all right. And last one, when's kop
DMI Hunter's two coming out.
Speaker 9 (33:22):
I'm kidding, hell, I promise you I will call you
on a side and tell you as soon as I
find out.
Speaker 7 (33:31):
Awesome.
Speaker 6 (33:31):
Thank you guys so much.
Speaker 7 (33:32):
This was great.
Speaker 6 (33:33):
Uh, congratulations again. The movie is incredible. The songs are incredible.
I had an argument with some coworkers because I was
saying I liked this is what it sounds like more
than free, and they're like, You're You're so wrong. Free
is so much better. So you guys have just done
such a great job.
Speaker 7 (33:48):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 9 (33:49):
Thank you, bro, Thank you so much for having us man,
thank you for what you do for just music community
and everything.
Speaker 7 (33:54):
Is such an honor and a blessing to be on
here with you, so thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
Thank you real quick, and let me come back.
Speaker 5 (34:01):
Rosie and I are going to discuss the staying power
Capeop Demon here.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
And we're back Rose eight weeks ago.
Speaker 5 (34:25):
Weeks ago, we got a coveted invite to Netflix the
Compound in Hollywood to watch the singalong version of Cape
Hop Demon Hunters. The sing along version is now on
Netflix for anyone to watch as long as it's in
your language. Sorry to my friend Azuko in Japan, who
was like, yeah, they didn't do a Japanese translation, girl,
(34:45):
so we ain't got no sing alongs over here in
every language. Please we need it. But that experience for
me was so I was like, oh, this is going
to be the movie and the segment. I think Cars
was the movie for a generation of kids in the
same way I think like for us, it's probably.
Speaker 3 (35:04):
The Lion King. Maybe was the movie.
Speaker 5 (35:07):
Shrek the generation after us, where there's a song that
sticks out that everyone has to know, where the music
is so on point and delicious, where the animation is
gorgeous and groundbreaking and totally different, that just cements within
a generation. I easily think K pop Demon Hunters could
be that film. There was a kid sitting behind us
who knew every line to the movie. I'm not saying songs,
(35:30):
I mean the line they're speaking in the cadence. When
Derby came out, he was screaming at the top.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
He's like, oh my god. I was like, they love it,
and I too love it. Talk a little bit about
your experience at the sing along, because you actually brought
a little person with you.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
I was lucky enough to bring one of my many
nieces and nephews with me, and yes, she loved it.
It definitely took her a little bit to warm up.
But I was also sitting next to Ardencho's family. They
were on the other.
Speaker 3 (35:58):
Side of me, and too.
Speaker 1 (36:00):
Of the kids, the two boys, they knew every word,
every dance move. It was so fun to get to
see them experience the movie that way. And I think,
like I already knew, because I have many children in
my life, that this movie was popular, because every child
liked it, Like every different kid who likes different stuff,
(36:21):
this was like a unifying thing.
Speaker 2 (36:22):
That they would ask me about.
Speaker 1 (36:24):
And now that we're a little bit further out, it
is very clear that the kids were onto something, because
we have now gotten the news that by the end
of August twenty twenty five, Kpop Theman Hunter had had
two hundred and thirty six million views on Netflix, which
made it the most popular title ever full stop movies, TV, anything,
(36:46):
And that was a month ago, so you know that
it's higher out. We're also in a situation where, again
months out, Hunterricks's golden iconic song, in my opinion, not
even the best song, but still a great song. It
Opster one hundred, Hot one hundred for the sixth week,
which means that it has broken its tie within canto
(37:09):
and it is now the most weeks at number one
for a soundtrack single since twenty fifteen. And it's probably
just going to keep breaking those records because I have
started to hear it in the car on the radio
now and that.
Speaker 3 (37:25):
Not just gold Stars the other day.
Speaker 1 (37:28):
Yeah, that is a huge moment too, because it is
rare that Disney is going to reach out and get
a song from a different space of a streamer that
is a competitor. But they needed it because they know
that this is like aj Audenna Reami.
Speaker 9 (37:44):
These are now the.
Speaker 1 (37:46):
Most popular girl band in the world. They had the
first number one hit single since Destiny's Child for a
girl band, it had been about fifteen years. Again, they
are also the sole longest leading hit by an animated
group in the Hot one hundred and sixty seven year
(38:08):
history and first ever soundtrack to generate four simultaneous top
top tens. And it's really yeah because right now Golden
is number one, Soda Pop by the Soger Boys is
number five, Your Idol is number six, and how it's
Done is number eight. So you're talking about the most.
Speaker 5 (38:27):
Respecting my favorite song and it bothers the shit out
of me.
Speaker 3 (38:30):
But okay, which one's your favorite?
Speaker 4 (38:31):
Mine? Uh?
Speaker 5 (38:33):
This is what it sounds like is the best song
on the album. I would fight a great street about this.
I would throw a lot in someone's eye over this,
like it is. It is a hill worth dying on.
That song makes me cry every time. It just it
uplifts me. I feel like it ties me to my friends,
like it is a perfect ending song. You know, I
think the finale for a musical can be really hit
(38:55):
or miss. It's a challenging song to write. It's probably
the only other sound song as challenging in a musical
is Wherever your love.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
Duet is trying to make that sound original.
Speaker 2 (39:05):
Which they did great with Free.
Speaker 5 (39:06):
They also nailed it you Go and y'all could put
Free back up on these charts too.
Speaker 3 (39:10):
I'm not gonna lie. I dig Free. But this is
what it sounds like.
Speaker 5 (39:14):
Is it's a chilling and it's also it's a stadium anthem,
like can you imagine actually hearing this is what it
sounds like in a stadium with a full But my
fucking got it would rock.
Speaker 1 (39:25):
It was emotional just hearing it in that theater where
there was maybe like one hundred people and everyone because
everyone's comfortable enough, everyone feels engaged and yet to me,
I just think that this is such an interesting movie
that proves the original musicals are great. It doesn't have
(39:47):
to be a jukebox musical. It doesn't have to be
tied to an ip that people already know. If you
actually pay great musicians to write great music, you can
make a great musical.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
I think it's very exactly.
Speaker 1 (40:00):
I also think it's very interesting because we know that Wicked,
another movie that both of us love, Wicked for Good,
will be coming out in a round a month. And
the interesting thing there is, though, there will be two
new songs, one for Alpha Bart and the Wizard and
one for Glinda about her turn to being good. And
(40:22):
for a while those were kind of seen as the
shoe him for best song of the year. But I
just I don't see anyway unless you've got like a
defying gravity level new edition, I don't see a way
that Golden doesn't win. And I think that this is
also going to be very interesting. I'm hoping this is
such an unusual situation for streaming. For Netflix, they put
(40:43):
the movie into theaters. And for directors. Maggie Kang is
female director, and if this movie had been in the
cinema as a real, you know release, she would probably
be up there with one of the most successful female
directors of all time financially.
Speaker 3 (40:59):
And I want to make.
Speaker 1 (41:00):
Sure that we are all in the industry and in
the FYC space, and in the streaming space and in
the cinematic space.
Speaker 2 (41:11):
Let's not let the women who.
Speaker 1 (41:12):
Made this movie a massive success disappear after this movie.
They have so many more stories to tell. And I
think that this is gonna be capeop. Demon Hunters is
going to be the story for the Oscars this year.
It's gonna be really interesting to see it up against,
you know, alongside I should say, one battle after another,
maybe Sinners, which I'm thinking is probably gonna do a
(41:34):
huge sweep. And if we have a huge Sinners sweep
alongside an animation sweep, that would be a big year
for horror for animation. I think it's going to continue
to be a conversation. I'm so glad Aaron got to
have this great chat, and we will definitely be covering
Capeop Demon Hunters again, because I think you're right, Joelle,
this is like a generational addition to the animated canon,
(41:56):
and the music is so good. We haven't had songs
like this, sins. It's that era of Disney Beauty and
the Beast Lion King Ariel where you really got those
huge banger songs. This is that, but taken to the
extreme pop level, you know, turn it up to eleven
spinal Tatyana.
Speaker 5 (42:15):
And this in the modern ken of like animated musicals. Really,
because as much as I like Incanto, I don't know
if the songs, I guess we don't talk about Brutal
did the rounds for quite a while, but it's like
and it got on. Every song was really hitting in
the same way that multiple songs are hitting for this
as well.
Speaker 3 (42:35):
Also the song about the sister. Oh, that's true, strong
sister Louisa.
Speaker 2 (42:39):
I will say my niece and nephew they loved in Canto.
Speaker 1 (42:42):
They loved those songs, but Golden has gotten more play,
I think because and Capop Demon Hunter is in general,
because in Canto was fun and for my niece, very formative.
She loves Luisa, she wants to be strong that is
like her icon, but Capop Demon Hunters offers up something
that I have found that kids are really really into,
(43:03):
which is a character who is seemingly monstrous but has
a redemptive arc that is like such a huge thing
that kids appeal to. Kids, whether they're watching something like
Five Nights at Freddy's or whether they're watching k Pop
Demon Hunters, they this is their version of the Sith
or wanting to be a you know, a death eater,
(43:26):
but without a lot of the horrible connotations that came
from those outdated ideas. Instead, here you get Genu, and
you get to see that exploration of somebody who ended
up sacrificing himself for someone else, even after getting to
be demonic and getting to make choices. And I think
that redemptive ark is so popular among kids, and every
kid I ask Ginu's their favorite character?
Speaker 3 (43:48):
Ugh, you could count? First of all, Wow, how could
you not know?
Speaker 4 (43:51):
Genie?
Speaker 3 (43:52):
He's so cool? Who are we throceing over?
Speaker 9 (43:54):
In which one man in the.
Speaker 5 (43:59):
Other Netflix animated TV show based off the video game
with the Super High Okay, yes, oh, I feel like
we have a repeat of our our sexy Piltover crew
m hmm.
Speaker 3 (44:10):
Let me ask you this.
Speaker 5 (44:11):
Do you think it's it's a no brainer that this
will be nominated for Best Animated Film at the Oscars.
Speaker 3 (44:17):
Do you think this has the juice to be nominated
for Best Picture?
Speaker 1 (44:21):
I think it as the juice and I think if
Netflix is smart, they will push for that because the
truth is, it's going to be an eclectic, weird year
and no movie has been in the conversation as much
as this movie, aside from Sinners. This is Sinners and
This are the two movies where people who don't usually
reach out to me about going to the theater have gone,
(44:42):
I need to go see this, Like is this tell
me about this?
Speaker 2 (44:45):
Where can I go see it?
Speaker 1 (44:46):
In seventy mil we took people to see Sinners and
seventy email at the b start it was like Monumental
and I feel like k Pop demon Hunt is making
that move from Netflix to the theater and then being
number one has to put it in contention because also
it's a gorgeous animated feature, so it should be in contention.
Speaker 2 (45:05):
It deserves it at every level.
Speaker 1 (45:07):
Is the Academy open to it? Let's see, especially because
this is very popular with young girls and we know,
they don't often take that stuff as seriously.
Speaker 4 (45:15):
They do not. They do not.
Speaker 3 (45:17):
It's animated.
Speaker 5 (45:17):
It's about K pop, which for some reason some people
feel still feel confused about, you know. I mean we
had talked when we did our K Pop breakdown that,
you know, when Sony sold this to Netflix, they were like,
We're just not even sure anyone's gonna watch it.
Speaker 3 (45:29):
Yeah, we don't think anyone will like their pennies. It's whatever.
This film has a lot of staying power.
Speaker 5 (45:35):
I think because it moves really quickly, because the characters
are interesting, because the music is fabulous, because you want
to dress like all the characters. Like, it's really a
full package film, Like I'm looking forward to Halloween and everyone.
I've already seen the girls getting their long purple braids together.
Speaker 3 (45:47):
The hot leagues have come out.
Speaker 5 (45:49):
People are trying to figure out how to make their
hair into space buns. Like it's really it's like what
at times, to just be alive and to experiences. I
love when a movie in the same way that we
saw with like Barbie, Like when a movie just.
Speaker 1 (45:59):
Hits as a whole, it's.
Speaker 5 (46:03):
All become fans, you know, it says walking down the
Stree my friend the other day, and this guy was
just hanging out. I think he was like changing his
kids diaper in the back of his car, and just
gold and it's just pouring out of his speakers. And
then we walked like two more blocks and someone else
was listening to Soda Pop and I was like, yeah,
this is these are the songs of the summer.
Speaker 3 (46:21):
You know these are It's.
Speaker 5 (46:23):
An enduring film, So yeah, I might actually just go
watch K Pop even Hunters right now.
Speaker 3 (46:27):
I mean, why not.
Speaker 2 (46:28):
Yeah, I was just thinking that too. I'm like, maybe
that's what we'll do this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (46:32):
Okay, I love this perfect. I think that's the show.
Did we do it?
Speaker 1 (46:37):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (46:38):
Oh, we did it.
Speaker 6 (46:39):
We did it.
Speaker 2 (46:41):
On the next episode of X ray Vision, We've got
another edition of x ray Vision group chat with a
check in on one of my favorite shows, gen V
and a ton more fun. That's the episode. Thanks for listening, guys,
Bye bye.
Speaker 6 (46:55):
X ray Vision is hosted by Jason steps Young and
Rosie Night and it's a production of Iheartpot.
Speaker 1 (47:00):
Our executive producers are Joel Monique and Aaron Kaufman.
Speaker 6 (47:04):
Our supervising producer is Abu zafar Our.
Speaker 1 (47:07):
Producers are Common, Laurent Dean Jonathan and Faye Wag.
Speaker 6 (47:11):
A theme song is by Brian Vasquez, with alternate theme
songs by Aaron Kauffman.
Speaker 1 (47:15):
Special thanks to Soul Rubin, Chris Lord, Kenny Goodman and
Heidi our discord moderator,
Hosts And Creators
Jason Concepcion
Rosie Knight
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