KPop Demon Hunters singer-songwriter Ejae gunning for a Grammy

Everyone has a dream. Some see it through. Others are forced to let go.

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For 33-year-old Korean-American singer-songwriter Ejae, born Kim Eun-jae, the dream was to debut as a K-pop idol after spending 10 years training at SM Entertainment. But the call never came. Neither in a group nor as a soloist did the South Korean powerhouse label see her fit to debut.

Instead of turning her back on music, Ejae found another path - one that would lead her to co-write Golden, the soaring anthem from Netflix's megahit movie KPop Demon Hunters.

The song has made history, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping both the Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. US charts - a rare feat for a song from an animated film soundtrack. It also claimed No. 1 on the UK Official Singles Chart, becoming the first K-pop track to do so since South Korean singer Psy's Gangnam Style in 2012.

Netflix has also reportedly submitted Golden for awards consideration.

Ejae's next goal is no longer about becoming a famous singer. It is about winning a Grammy - an achievement she says would carry a meaning far beyond her own career.

"It wouldn't just be a personal milestone," she said in an e-mail interview. "It would be a message to every Asian-American girl who's ever felt impostor syndrome in this industry."

FROM TRAINEE TO SONGWRITER

Ejae describes her years at SM Entertainment as "incredible" and "character-defining", instilling in her a work ethic and perseverance that would later sustain her. Learning dance and performance at such a high level also proved invaluable when she began writing for K-pop idols.