Arzen Rose Dulzura

EJAE reveals why she never debuted with SM Entertainment despite being a K-Pop trainee for 12 years

Article (news)

Alyana De Guzman

Push Team

<p>On November 14, EJAE, the Grammy-nominated composer behind the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit “Golden” from <em>KPop Demon Hunters</em> and the singing vocals of Rumi, appeared on the Zach Sang Show where she discussed her journey from being a longtime trainee to one of K-pop’s most in-demand singer-songwriters. She looked back on her early years at SM Entertainment, where she trained from age 11 until she left her trainee years after finishing college, and explained why debuting as an idol ultimately did not happen. </p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/music/2025/11/8/ejae-on-five-grammy-nominations-this-is-beyond-anything-i-ever-imagined-1253"><strong><u>READ: EJAE on five Grammy nominations: ‘This is beyond anything I ever imagined’</u></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:600px;display:block" width="600"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764381860901New Project.jpg" style="width:600px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="600"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo courtesy: Kbizoom</span></span></span></div><p>According to her, SM Entertainment definitely discussed why she never debuted as a K-Pop idol. “They were like, because again it&#x27;s like, ‘it&#x27;s a business’. Like I said right now, I get why completely. I wasn&#x27;t that good at singing at that time. I really wasn&#x27;t,” she shared.</p><p>EJAE added that her improvement came later through constant songwriting. “I&#x27;ve been writing for K-Pop. You have to do so many different genres. So, I had to really go vocal gymnastics with my vocals.”  </p><p>She also noted factors considered by the company at the time. “But I think during that time it was first of all, truly it was my height [that] was another thing interesting. And you know SM has a very specific vision and sonic sound and I just didn&#x27;t really fit that. Again I completely understand. I don&#x27;t have any hard feelings about that at all to be honest.” </p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/music/2025/8/21/ejae-describes-golden-landing-the-no-1-spot-on-billboard-as-a-dream-come-true-1616"><strong><u>READ: EJAE describes &#x27;Golden&#x27; landing the No. 1 spot on Billboard as a dream come true</u></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>Even with the demanding schedule, she described her training years as necessary steps toward her current career. “Yes. 100%. I mean, it was hard, but I think it got me here.” She recalled the routine during her trainee days, which often stretched long after school hours. “It was like very early in the morning or right after school. I was there till like midnight. It was memories.” </p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-16" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQr3jWhj2CX/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A16%2C%22os%22%3A6324717.399999976%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="847" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-16" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Her reflections aligned with what she previously shared on the October 20 episode of tvN’s <em>You Quiz on the Block</em>. In a preview segment, she revisited her time at SM Entertainment. “I was a trainee at SM Entertainment for 12 years. Back then, Super Junior, Girls&#x27; Generation, SHINee, and f(x) were active. I trained really hard, too.” </p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/music/2025/10/7/ejae-of-kpop-demon-hunters-fame-to-drop-new-song-on-oct-24-1210"><strong><u>READ: EJAE of &#x27;KPop Demon Hunters&#x27; fame to drop new song on Oct. 24</u></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>Despite her aspirations and hard work, she recalled how heartbreaking it was for her after her contract ended without even debuting. “I cried in the taxi on my way home after my contract ended. I realized no matter how hard I tried, sometimes things just don&#x27;t work out.”  </p><blockquote cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@ejae_k/video/7562032477443820830" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="7562032477443820830" id="v92993150007825400" style="max-width:605px;min-width:325px"><iframe name="__tt_embed__v92993150007825400" sandbox="allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-scripts allow-top-navigation allow-same-origin" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7562032477443820830?lang=en-US&amp;referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-11-29T00%3A34%3A32.604117%3A044d1191-25f8-41b7-b713-632e1d6a87c4%26action%3Dedit" style="width:100%;height:722px;display:block;visibility:unset"></iframe></blockquote><script async="" src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><p>&quot;I felt so sorry for myself and hated myself for not being able to achieve my dream of becoming a singer.&quot;  EJAE then confessed, &quot;For a month, I kept crying and just slept. I had deep emotional wounds related to idols and K-pop. I resented the industry a lot.&quot; </p><p>After leaving SM, EJAE shifted her focus to creating her own music. “Since I loved music, I decided to try making it myself. I stayed at cafes until closing time, constantly making beats.”  </p><p>That decision led to her producing the most loved K-Pop tracks this day such as Red Velvet’s “Psycho”, aespa’s “Drama” and “Armageddon”, and kard’s “icky” among others. </p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-14" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRk2WbIkWgm/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A14%2C%22os%22%3A6243453.099999964%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="847" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-14" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/music/2025/8/15/before-rumi-5-k-pop-singles-penned-by-ejae-of-kpop-demon-hunters-0630"><strong><u>READ: Before Rumi: 5 K-pop singles penned by Ejae of ‘KPop Demon Hunters’</u></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>As she continues to dominate the music scene globally, EJAE recently joined the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 27 as part of HUNTR/X. The fictional girl group with vocals by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI, made its daytime television debut during the annual New York celebration performing their hit track “Golden”.  </p><p>When asked what she was grateful for, she said, “Honestly just being able to finish the movie. We all worked really hard so [us] coming out and bringing everyone together, I’m so grateful for that. I’m grateful for my family too.” </p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-12" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQxIEYMkvNa/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A12%2C%22os%22%3A6203584.799999952%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="847" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-12" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Her work in music now extends to the global awards circuit. EJAE holds five nominations for the 2026 GRAMMYs, a notable milestone for her after all that she went through. “Golden” is nominated for Song of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Song Written for Visual Media, and Best Remixed Recording, while the <em>KPop Demon Hunters </em>soundtrack is nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media. The track, performed by EJAE with Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami as HUNTR/X, was written by EJAE herself, with Mark Sonnenblick, 24, Ido, and Teddy.</p>

<p>EJAE shares the real reason she never debuted under SM Entertainment despite 12 years of training. Today, she continues to rise in global music as a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and the vocals behind major 'KPop Demon Hunters' hits.</p>

EJAE shares the real reason she never debuted under SM Entertainment despite 12 years of training. Today, she continues to rise in global music as a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and the vocals behind major 'KPop Demon Hunters' hits.