Intro for October 23, 2025

Dear Gossips,   

All 12 of Taylor Swift’s songs from The Life of a Showgirl charted in the top 12 positions on the Billboard Hot 100 in the first week of release, lead by “The Fate of Ophelia”. This is no surprise. However, in 13th position that week, right behind Taylor’s tracks, was “Golden”, from Kpop Demon Hunters, which for some reason has never officially been given the title of Song of the Summer … even though it was totally the song of the summer with a total of eight weeks in the #1 spot. But let me not start off the day by bitching since there’s still more to celebrate – and it's not like “Golden” isn’t still hitting. 

Taylor’s “Ophelia” and “Opalite” continue to dominate on the Hot 100 this week, but guess what song climbed back up to #3? “Golden’s” endurance is impressive, that it can still hang with the juggernaut that is Taylor Swift is a testament to the song’s ongoing popularity. And, also, EJAE’s songwriting ability. 

EJAE co-wrote the track and also performs on it, as Rumi, alongside Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami who sing as Mira and Zoey respectively. She also co-wrote “Your Idol” and “How It’s Done”. And now more good news for EJAE as it was reported yesterday that she’s officially signed with WME for all areas of representation which, hopefully, means there will be a formal strategy in place to build on all this breakout success as she prepares to release her debut single “In Another World” tomorrow. Because EJAE deserves to be a popstar in her own right. And from the previews she’s posted so far, the song is fire. 

EJAE checks every box. She’s a talented musician, with songwriting ability and a voice. That voice! That low voice that can go up, up, up in the moment! And… well…she’s f-cking gorgeous. Here she is last weekend at the Academy Museum gala. She was there, of course, because Kpop Demon Hunters and especially “Golden” are serious contenders for Oscar nominations. It was so good to see the movie and EJAE have a presence at this critical campaign stop. I screamed at the fifth photo in the carousel – EJAE with Maggie Kang (the Mother of Huntr/x) and Greta Lee! 

Before the Oscars though, it’s the Grammy nominations coming in two weeks. “Golden” has been submitted for consideration in the Record of the Year and Song of the Year categories, which means EJAE could be nominated as a songwriter for her first Grammy. And it was just announced yesterday that EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami will be performing “Golden” at the Jingle Ball in December marking their first concert appearance. 

Up, up, up indeed. Can’t stop, won’t stop. EJAE’s time is just beginning. 

Yours in gossip, 

Lainey