What It Sounds Like

Last updated
"What It Sounds Like"
Huntrix - What It Sounds Like.png
Promotional single by Huntrix
from the album KPop Demon Hunters
ReleasedAugust 28, 2025 (2025-08-28)
Genre K-pop
Length4:10
Label
Songwriters
Producers
  • Stephen Kirk
  • Jenna Andrews
  • Ian Eisendrath

"What It Sounds Like" is a song performed by Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami as the fictional K-pop girl group Huntrix in the 2025 animated musical urban fantasy film KPop Demon Hunters . It was released on June 20, 2025, alongside the rest of the soundtrack album, and was released as a promotional single on August 28, 2025.

Contents

Composition and release

The animated musical fantasy film KPop Demon Hunters was released on Netflix on June 20, 2025. The film follows the fictional K-pop girl group Huntrix, consisting of members Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, whose singing voices are performed by Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, respectively. [1] The film's accompanying soundtrack album was released on the same day, with "What It Sounds Like" as the ninth track.

It is the final song of the film that serves to introduce the conclusion to the final battle against Gwi-Ma and the Saja Boys; while being an "inspirational pop song", it also dwells on Rumi's journey on battling her inner demons. [2] The team of composers was inspired by "Green Light" from Lorde, as both songs are about accepting hurt and learning to move on. [3] "Hide and Seek" from Imogen Heap was also an influence on the song due to its vocoder vocals and similar theme of finding true identity. [4] A previous iteration of the song, titled "Kaleidoscope", focused on "taking all the pieces of yourself and making it beautiful". [3] However, they felt "earlier versions of the song didn't ring true because the narrative was wrapped up too neatly" and what remains of "Kaleidoscope" are the lyrics on "broken pieces and finding yourself within those broken pieces" in "What It Sounds Like". [3]

Critical reception

What It Sounds Like received positive reviews from critics, with Billboard placing the song fifth in their rankings of the soundtrack and comparing to "Let It Go" and "How Far I'll Go". [5] Likewise, Rolling Stone described the song as "dreamy yet powerful one that heals and inspires you to accept and embrace who you are." [6]

Commercial performance

"What It Sounds Like" debuted at #55 on the Billboard Hot 100 [7] , spending 13 consecutive weeks on the chart, peaking at #15 on its 12th. [8]

"What It Sounds Like" debuted at #70 on the United Kingdom's Official Singles Chart. [9] It spent six consecutive weeks on the chart, peaking at #13 thrice. [10]

On October 8, the Recording Industry Association of America awarded "What It Sounds Like" a platinum certification. [11]

Cover versions

Various artists have covered "What It Sounds Like", including Kelly Clarkson. [12]

Track listing

  1. "What It Sounds Like" - 4:10
  2. "What It Sounds Like (Inst.)" - 4:10

References

  1. ↑ Milligan, Mercedes (April 24, 2025). "Sony's 'KPop Demon Hunters' Cast, Music Roster & Netflix Premiere Date Revealed". Animation Magazine. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  2. ↑ Hatchett, Keisha (June 20, 2025). "KPop Demon Hunters: Inside the Animated Film's Electrifying Original Songs". Tudum (Press release). Netflix. Archived from the original on June 25, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 Nguyen, Hanh (June 29, 2025). ""Keeping you obsessed": Netflix's demons vs. hunters movie captures the mystical allure of K-pop". Salon.com. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  4. ↑ "'KPop Demon Hunters': Creators Share Secrets in Reddit AMA". Resonate. July 12, 2025. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  5. ↑ Unterberger, Lyndsey Havens,Jason Lipshutz,Andrew (July 11, 2025). "'KPop Demon Hunters' Soundtrack: All 12 Tracks Ranked". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ Dutta, Debashree (July 9, 2025). "Hit Songs From 'KPop Demon Hunters' Soundtrack Ranked". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  7. ↑ Cha, E. (July 8, 2025). ""KPop Demon Hunters" Debuts 5 New Songs On Billboard Hot 100 As "Golden" And "Your Idol" Rise". Soompi. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  8. ↑ Cha, E. (September 30, 2025). "HUNTR/X's "Golden" Tops Billboard Hot 100 For 7th Week As Saja Boys' "Soda Pop" Bubbles To New Peak Of No. 3". Soompi. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  9. ↑ "WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE". Official Charts. October 30, 2025. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  10. ↑ "WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE". Official Charts. October 30, 2025. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  11. ↑ Cha, E. (October 8, 2025). ""KPop Demon Hunters" Soundtrack + 5 Of Its Songs Certified RIAA Platinum In U.S." Soompi. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  12. ↑ Paul, Larisha (January 14, 2026). "Kelly Clarkson Finds Her Voice Performing 'What It Sounds Like' From 'KPop Demon Hunters'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
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