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For the performers of the KPop Demon Hunters song “Golden,” the lyrics probably couldn’t feel more apt right about now: “We’re goin’ up, up, up, it’s our moment / You know together we’re glowin’ / Gonna be, gonna be golden.”
Tonight, singers Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami—of the fictional K-pop girl group Huntrix—arrived to the 98th Academy Awards to celebrate their Oscar-nominated, and chart-topping, track in gold-tinged ensembles that winked to the title of their nominated hit.
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Ejae at the 98th Academy Awards in Dior.
For her part, songwriter and singer Ejae chose a shimmering golden dress from Dior, which featured crisscrossing, wrap-style fabric that created a high slit in front, while the strapless bodice was decorated with a few black pom-pom-like tufts. At the bottom, the gown spread out into a circular train, with some fringe decorating the hem. To complete her look, Ejae wore pointy black pumps and tied her hair up into a bun.
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Audrey Nuna at the 98th Academy Awards in Thom Browne.
Fellow singer Audrey Nina chose a custom dress from Thom Browne, which featured a military-esque blazer on top, with lines of gold sequins trailing down the bodice like rain. At the waist, the design transformed into a voluptuous, artful skirt, part of which was decorated with a moiré effect that scrunched up to reveal layers of a nylonlike material underneath.
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Rei Ami at the 98th Academy Awards.
As for final member Rei Ami, she chose a sequined black-and-gold minidress with an ombré effect and double straps on each side, which she layered under a dramatic opera coat embroidered with golden images of birds and nature that extended partly beyond the fabric.
“Golden” is nominated for Best Music (Original Song) at this year’s ceremony, and Ejae, Nuna, and Ami will perform the single alongside Miles Caton and Raphael Saadiq, who will perform the Sinners track “I Lied to You.” (Traditionally, all the nominees in the Original Song category perform during the ceremony, but this year—due to time restraints and other structural changes—a controversial decision was made to exclude the other three nominees from taking the stage during the broadcast.)
KPop Demon Hunters is also nominated in the category for Best Animated Feature Film.
There is a good chance that the songwriters of “Golden”—including Ejae, Mark Sonnenblick, 24, Ido, and Teddy Park—will walk home with the prize, given that the song has been sweeping award season so far, winning in equivalent categories at the Grammys, Golden Globes, and Critics Choice Awards.
If it does, this will be an especially good week for fans of the film, because just days prior, it was announced that a sequel is on its way.