Huntr/x Joins Katseye at Coachella for Oscar-Winning 'Golden' Performance

Cast members from the animated series "KPop Demon Hunters" made a surprise appearance at Coachella on April 10, joining K-pop group Katseye on stage to perform "Golden," a song that won the Academy Award for best original song this year.

Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami — the singers behind the characters Rumi, Mira, and Zoey in the animated series — performed alongside Katseye during the group's opening-night set at the Sahara stage. The collaboration marked a rare live pairing of the two acts. "Golden" has dominated charts since its debut on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 2025, spending eight non-consecutive weeks at number one and setting a record as the longest-leading hit by an animated act on that chart.

The song won multiple major awards beyond the Oscar, including the Golden Globe, Critics Choice Award, and Grammy Award for best song written for visual media. It was written by EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, IDO, 24, and Teddy Park. In an interview with Variety, Rei Ami described the song's success as "vindicating," saying the recognition felt "long overdue" after years of facing industry rejection. "We worked our asses off. We've had the door shut in our faces. We were told we were too little, too much," she said.

Katseye performed additional tracks during their opening-night set, including "Internet Girl," "Pinky Up," and "Mean Girls." The five-member group — Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Megan Skiendiel, Sophia Laforteza, and Yoonchae Jeung — will perform at both weekends of the festival. Earlier this year, Katseye earned a Grammy nomination for best new artist, with their song "Gabriela" nominated for best pop duo/group performance.

Context

Katseye emerged from the 2023 Netflix reality competition series "Dream Academy," where contestants trained to become K-pop performers. The group gained wider recognition following the Netflix docuseries "Popstar Academy: Katseye" and their debut single of the same name. Since then, they have released two EPs: "SIS (Soft Is Strong)" in 2024 and "Beautiful Chaos" in 2025. Their track "Gnarly," co-written by Alice Longyu Gao, became their first Billboard Hot 100 entry in 2025, followed by "Gabriela," "Gameboy," and "Internet Girl," which debuted at number 29 on the chart.

The "KPop Demon Hunters" animated series features the voices of these singers performing original music, blending animation with K-pop production. The project represents a growing crossover between animated content and music releases, with "Golden" becoming a cultural touchstone by achieving sustained chart dominance typically reserved for traditional pop acts.

What's Next

Katseye is scheduled to perform at both weekends of Coachella 2026, providing additional opportunities for the group to reach festival audiences. The success of "Golden" and the surprise collaboration suggests potential for future live performances combining the animated series cast with Katseye, though no additional dates have been announced. The group's Grammy nomination for best new artist and their chart momentum position them as contenders in the K-pop and pop crossover space heading into the remainder of 2026.