‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’: Sound, story, and the songs that shape them

'K-Pop Demon Hunters' is a vibrant animated film where music isn't just background noise – it's literally the armor and weapon wielded by its characters. The story centers on HUNTR/X, a fierce K-pop girl group with a secret life as demon slayers, clashing with their equally famous, albeit sinister, rivals, the Saja Boys. The narrative explores themes of fandom, identity, and the internal and external demons threatening their world, all underscored by a dynamic soundtrack.

This deep dive explores the film's original songs, drawing parallels to real-world K-pop hits that share similar vibes, aesthetics, or underlying concepts. These sonic connections do more than just offer familiar sounds; they are integral to shaping the film's narrative, establishing its mood, building the world, and even hinting at future plot developments.

The film kicks off with "HOW IT’S DONE," the opening track for HUNTR/X. It's an anthem of arrival, designed to be lightning-fast and precise, showcasing the group's fierce confidence. Producer Ian Eisendrath highlighted its role in setting a unique sonic stage for the trio and serving as an undeniable opening number.

With its aggressive trap elements, industrial touches, chant-like delivery, and bold charisma, "How It's Done" distinctly echoes the "Blackpink formula," a signature sound partly crafted by producer TEDDY, who also contributed to this soundtrack. Think of the progression from sparse, beat-driven verses to powerful, layered choruses found in hits like "DDU-DU DDU-DU," "The Girls," or Lisa's "LALISA."

This resemblance isn't a critique; the 'girl crush' concept embodies confidence and polished power, making it a fitting choice for an opening that needs to project unity, strength, and theatrical impact. The song declares HUNTR/X's intent to dominate, much like the defiant tones of ITZY’s “Born to Be” or aespa’s “Armageddon.”

Like tracks such as TWICE’s “ICON,” EVERGLOW’s “Dun Dun,” or XG’s “Woke Up,” “How It’s Done” thrives at the intersection of empowerment and performance, blending attitude with a striking aesthetic.

If HUNTR/X's opener channels Blackpink, the Saja Boys' entrance with "SODA POP" feels decidedly like TXT. This addictive track is all pop and fizz on the surface, but carries a subtle undercurrent of danger. As Eisendrath explained, the demons adopt the guise of an innocent, charming K-pop boy group, yet the lyrics cleverly hint at their sinister intentions beneath the bubbly facade.

Sonically, "Soda Pop" shares structural similarities with The Boyz’s “Lip Gloss,” featuring chirpy melodies, a bubbly bassline, and smooth falsettos. However, its overall feel aligns more closely with TXT’s “Drama” or “Blue Hour,” both of which masterfully balance brightness with darker, more melancholic undertones, presenting youthful concepts alongside lyrics hinting at isolation or yearning. This duality is a common TXT motif and perfectly mirrors the Saja Boys' deceptive nature.

Fans have also noted a connection to IVE’s “Not Your Girl,” highlighting a broader trend in K-pop where traditional concepts have shifted – girl groups embracing edgy styles, while boy groups explore vulnerability. "Soda Pop" is a prime example of a boy group track wrapped in an innocent package, giving its underlying menace extra bite.

Interestingly, a Tagalog version of "Soda Pop" was also released, which softens the original's edges. While the English lyrics carry a sly, even predatory undertone, the Tagalog interpretation feels more playful and earnest, further enhancing the illusion rather than revealing the Saja Boys' true nature. This demonstrates how language, like music, can entirely reshape the perception of intent.

Other tracks that share this glittering, slightly unsettling sound include ASTRO’s “Candy Sugar Pop” and “Breathless,” TXT’s “Poppin’ Star,” NCT Dream’s “Boom,” NCT 127’s “Replay (PM 1:27),” and SHINee’s “View.” An imagined boy group rendition of IZ*ONE’s “Panorama” would also fit this category.

"GOLDEN" for HUNTR/X arrives shimmering with synths and sweeping vocals, its melody open and earnest. It serves as a powerful declaration of belief in themselves and their bond. Eisendrath described it as the classic 'I want' song in a musical structure, centered on the aspiration, "It's all going to be golden. We want to fulfill our destiny."

Songs like IVE’s “I Am” and “Rebel Heart” come to mind, sharing a sense of triumph tempered with emotional depth. BTS’s “Mikrokosmos” and Taeyeon’s “Spark” also resonate, using celestial metaphors to map themes of self-discovery. Sonically, "Golden" feels light and luminous, suggesting potential and destiny within reach, rather than a victory already secured.

However, this soaring, open quality also leaves member Rumi vulnerable. As Eisendrath noted, a bridge features Rumi alone, where the song shifts from inspirational pop to a quiet, slightly darker tone, reflecting her internal struggle.

Like EVERGLOW’s “La Di Da,” "Golden" embodies an optimism rooted in determination, not naivety. It shines with the conviction that success is achievable and their goal is just on the horizon.

Following their entrance anthem, HUNTR/X delivers "TAKEDOWN," an explosive track. This is presented as a diss track, sharp and venomous, fueled by intense emotion like hate and rage, specifically designed to intimidate and drive away the demons. However, Rumi's half-demon identity complicates its performance; she struggles to deliver the lyrics as intended.

Musically, the song evokes the powerful, maximalist arrangements used to channel female rage in tracks like BLACKPINK’s “How You Like That” or DREAMCATCHER’s “Scream.” Yet, the film also uses this song to subtly critique the 'girl crush' concept itself, questioning whether these anthems truly empower all women or if they can inadvertently punish vulnerability or difference.

This tension peaks dramatically when the demons, impersonating Mira and Zoey, perform the song's lyrics to Rumi. Their gleeful, unyielding delivery starkly contrasts with Rumi's anguish, transforming the track from a simple diss into a complex commentary on who is allowed to express rage and the consequences when it's turned inward.

Aggressive musical counterparts include EVERGLOW’s “First,” 4MINUTE’s “Crazy,” LOONA’s “Paint the Town,” and K/DA’s “MORE,” though the latter is technically not K-pop but shares a similar high-impact sound.

In "YOUR IDOL," the Saja Boys drop their innocent facade. This track reveals them at their most powerful, exuding danger, seduction, and unapologetic dominance. As Eisendrath explained, having gained significant power over their fans, they openly declare their control: "I’m going to be your idol. I’m going to be in charge of you. I’m going to rule you. You are no longer powerful. You are powerless."

This song heavily features ATEEZ's influence, particularly their militant, symphonic, and mythic sound often associated with apocalyptic themes, seen in tracks like “Deja Vu,” “Halazia,” “Cyberpunk,” and “Answer.” Elements of later TXT tracks, such as “Frost” and “Good Boy Gone Bad,” are also present, reflecting TXT's maturation towards themes of chaos and existentialism, aligning with their lore of shattered innocence and deals with darkness.

Lyrically, "Your Idol" turns fandom into a weapon, serving as both a dark love letter and a threat, transforming fan worship into a tool for control. The song is as hypnotic and oppressive as it is catchy, reminiscent of Stray Kids’ “MANIAC” or “Red Lights,” or SHINee’s “Lucifer.”

Expanding on this seductive, theatrical darkness, other songs in this vein include Kang Daniel’s “Paranoia,” PENTAGON’s “Dr. BeBe,” and ENHYPEN’s “Bite Me,” all exploring dynamics of power, control, and vulnerability, often blurring the lines between devotion and domination.

Offering a moment of quiet intimacy within the film's dynamic score is "FREE," a tender duet between Rumi and Jinu. Here, they sing to each other not as idols or demons, but simply as individuals longing for something more. Eisendrath described it as a song about the walls between them and the desire to be together and truly free from their circumstances.

This fits the classic duet mold, similar to Taemin and Taeyeon’s “If I Could Tell You,” or Key and Taeyeon’s “Hate That”—tracks that rely on restraint, emotional honesty, and vocal chemistry. The delicate instrumentation mirrors their vulnerability, building to a crescendo that enhances rather than overwhelms the emotion.

Songs like BTS’s “Butterfly” and “Let Me Know,” Jero and Jamie’s “Save Me,” and Bernard Park and Luna’s “Still” evoke similar feelings of soft ache and fragile hope. As Rumi and Jinu contemplate an impossible plan—to overcome the darkness within themselves—the song acts almost as a lullaby, gently cradling that unlikely dream.

The film's emotional peak arrives with "WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE." What begins as Rumi's solo expression of pain and realization expands into a shared anthem, joined by HUNTR/X, then the crowd, and finally, the very soundscape of their world. Rumi makes a crucial decision to confront the source of the demonic influence, deconstructing the strict demon-versus-human divide and acknowledging the value of individual uniqueness, which, as Eisendrath notes, is the true source of harmony.

The pivotal line, "This is what it sounds like," forms the core of the track. The melody finds resolution on a stable note, grounding the preceding chaos in something restorative and authentic. This musical resolution parallels the group's action of restoring balance through their music. It’s akin to how the melody for the line "I can make it right" resolves in BTS’s song of the same name, signifying Rumi's desperate plea to "fix it" finally coming true.

Sonically, IVE feat. Saweetie’s “All Night” serves as a close comparison, while tracks like IU’s “Love Poem” and Red Velvet’s “LP” share its tenderness. Despite its emotional depth, the song retains an urgency, building towards a powerful moment of transformation and acceptance. That is, indeed, what it sounds like.

'K-Pop Demon Hunters' is more than just a visually striking action film; it's a sincere homage to the K-pop genre that fuels its narrative. By weaving in musical echoes of popular K-pop hits, the film doesn't merely reference the industry—it subtly examines it. These thoughtful sonic parallels reward fans, deepen the story's emotional impact, and underscore the film's exploration of identity, performance, and power dynamics. In this vibrant world, music proves itself to be a potent force: a weapon, a shield, and ultimately, a promise of authenticity.