Portugal. The Man Adds Fiddles, Folk to Kpop Demon Hunters’ ‘Golden’
Summary: Portugal. The Man has woven fiddles and folk textures into K‑pop group Demon Hunters’ new single “Golden.” The partnership was sparked when lead vocalist John Gourley, whose daughter introduced him to the Korean pop act Twice, began exploring K‑pop, inspiring him to blend his alternative roots with the genre’s polished pop sensibility.
The Origin of the Collaboration
Portugal. The Man reached out to Demon Hunters after a mutual producer noticed the duo’s complementary sonic palettes. Both acts share a penchant for genre‑blending, making the alliance a natural fit for a track that bridges American indie rock and contemporary K‑pop.
Musical Fusion and Arrangement
“Golden” opens with a crisp fiddle motif that echoes folk traditions before morphing into a pulsating K‑pop beat. The arrangement layers Gourley’s layered vocal harmonies with Demon Hunters’ signature synth stabs, creating a hybrid soundscape that feels both nostalgic and fresh.
John Gourley’s K‑pop Journey
Gourley credits his daughter’s enthusiasm for Twice as the catalyst for his immersion in K‑pop culture. He has since become an avid fan of the group, a passion that directly informs the melodic hooks and rhythmic structures present on “Golden.”
Release and Reception
The single was dropped on 18 November 2023 and immediately topped streaming charts in both the United States and South Korea. Early reviews praise the track’s seamless integration of folk instrumentation with K‑pop’s polished production, highlighting it as a standout example of cross‑cultural collaboration.