EJAE trades K-pop for classic rock in a new Liquid I.V. teaser, premiering exclusively with News Of Los Angeles, by delivering a bathroom-stall rendition of Phil Collins’ 1984 hit “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now).”
At a Glance
- The 34-year-old HUNTR/X vocalist covers the iconic ballad in a “Tiny Vanity Concert” teaser ahead of the electrolyte brand’s Super Bowl spot.
- She filmed the clip in a bathroom to spotlight “private, everyday moments where people reset,” according to Liquid I.V.
- EJAE’s own perseverance story-from K-pop trainee to chart-topping songwriter and Netflix film star-mirrors the song’s theme.
Why it matters: The teaser signals Liquid I.V.’s “new era” campaign and keeps EJAE in the spotlight while Oscar nomination voting looms for her Billboard-topping track “Golden.”
Inside the Bathroom Ballad
The teaser’s concept turns a bathroom into a concert hall.
- Liquid I.V. calls the setting “a nod to the private, everyday moments where people reset, recharge, and get ready to show up again.”
- EJAE praises the acoustics: “As a singer, the best acoustics are in the bathroom. I always sing in there.”
- She adds the echo and reverb made her voice “sound ten times better than it would raw.”
The 1984 track’s message of perseverance, she says, parallels the theme of HUNTR/X’s “Golden” and her own career arc.
From Trainee to Chart-Topper
EJAE’s path spans three phases:
- K-pop idol trainee
- Behind-the-scenes songwriting powerhouse
- Front-woman of the Demon Hunters phenomenon that has dominated the last seven months
“That’s why it felt serendipitous to be singing this song with these lyrics,” she tells Amanda S. Bennett. “It’s also a song that has grit, that’s like ‘don’t give up,’ that ‘Golden’ had too.”
Hydration on the Road
Liquid I.V. claims staple status in the singer’s routine.
- She sips it “on red carpets” and calls it “a necessity” because “you feel hydrated way longer” thanks to electrolytes.
- During performances of the demanding Collins cover, she kept the mix nearby.
- The brand promises a “fully integrated campaign” across media, retail, social platforms and live activations leading to the Super Bowl.
The complete ad spot rolls out like a “film,” with the full trailer dropping Feb. 2 and viewing details arriving via Liquid I.V.’s Instagram and TikTok.
Award Season Nerves
EJAE awaits Thursday, Jan. 22, when Oscar nomination voting ends. “Golden” is a strong contender for Best Original Song.
“I feel incredibly nervous. I’m gonna have my fiancé with me. It’s gonna be really early in the morning. I’m just like, no expectations, just let life lead the way,” she says.
Her 2025 highlights already include:
- Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
- Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve
- SNL
- Jimmy Fallon
- Countless fan events
Next Releases
Beyond the Super Bowl teaser, EJAE teases a new solo single “coming out soon” and additional tracks she’s penned for other artists.
“I want to keep getting better as a songwriter. I think song writing is my artistry. That will never stop. Song writing is in my blood,” she says. “I’ll continue writing for K-pop and pop and myself. So I will be releasing songs with my voice and some that will be through others’ voices.”
Demon Hunters Sequel
Netflix has confirmed its most-watched movie ever will return with a sequel set for 2029. EJAE hopes to weave Korean traditional music into the new soundtrack.
“Musically, I want to get more into the Korean traditional sounds. The pansori. I really want to experiment with that,” she says, laughing: “I know everyone’s talking about the sequel. But I genuinely have no idea!”
Key Takeaways
- Liquid I.V.’s Super Bowl campaign launches with EJAE’s bathroom-ballad teaser, emphasizing personal reset moments.
- The cover underscores her own underdog journey paralleling the 1984 classic.
- Fans can expect a full trailer Feb. 2 and a broader brand rollout across platforms.
- Meanwhile, EJAE juggles award-season anxiety, an impending solo single, and songwriting for multiple markets while preparing to reprise her Demon Hunters role in 2029.
