Vince on why ‘Soda Pop’ became a global hit: “It felt like a surprise gift”

Producer and artist Vince, one of the hottest figures in today’s K-pop scene / Courtesy of The Black Label

Producer and artist Vince has quietly become one of the most influential figures in today’s K-pop scene. From the breakout success of the Netflix animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack to chart-topping tracks for rookie acts, his fingerprints are everywhere.

The film’s soundtrack, led by the songs “Soda Pop” and “Your Idol” performed by the fictional demon boy band Saja Boys, has exploded beyond expectations, landing on the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200 as well as the U.K. Official Singles Chart. For Vince, the reception has been nothing short of surreal.

“'KPop Demon Hunters' was all finished last year, and honestly I had forgotten about it,” Vince said in an interview at a cafe in Seoul’s Yongsan District.

“When it finally came out and did so well, it felt like a surprise gift. I didn’t even know exactly when it was going to be released. Suddenly I saw clips of ‘Soda Pop’ being played in clubs overseas and sung in public squares, and I thought, 'wow.' I’m not usually in the media spotlight, but this project even put me in the news.”

A new kind of challenge

Although Vince has long been immersed in producing for K-pop acts, the soundtrack required a very different approach.

“When I got the request, all I had was the name Saja Boys, their concept as demon idols who feed on energy, and some rough 2D sketches,” he recalled. “At first, they wanted a lively track, so I made ‘Soda Pop.’ But the feedback kept coming back — ‘make it even more upbeat.’ It was unfamiliar at first, but also exciting. The animation team had a clear vision, so I kept refining the songs to match. In the end, the two tracks took almost two years to complete.”

Asked why “Soda Pop” and “Your Idol” struck such a chord, Vince credited the synergy inside The Black Label as well as the film itself.

“The influence of the animation was huge,” he said. “One of the strengths of The Black Label is that nobody pushes their own ego. Everyone shares ideas, and Teddy guides us. That teamwork really showed in the music.”

The global appeal of K-pop

The soundtrack's success also reinforced to Vince how far K-pop has come. “There was a time when we looked up to famous Western artists as distant icons,” he said. “Now it’s the opposite — we’re getting proposals from overseas, working side by side on equal footing. Even for me, it still feels hard to believe.”

For Vince, the secret to K-pop’s worldwide pull lies in its all-encompassing nature.

“I don’t think of it as making ‘K-pop,’” he said. “I just try to make pop music that everyone can enjoy. But with K-pop, it’s not only about the songs. The visuals, choreography, fashion, and videos all come together as a total package. That’s what excites people around the world. I think the 'KPpop Demon Hunters' soundtrack succeeded for exactly that reason.”

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.