How do you make a demon sound scary but still fit in a musical? That was the puzzle Michael Babcock had to solve when he designed the sound for K-pop Demon Hunters. He pulled inspiration from Billie Eilish’s haunting vocal processing to build the voices of GWMA and her army of monsters. It was not just sound design, it was music living inside the movie’s fight scenes.
Babcock explained that the voices had to be eerie but also blend with the film’s songs. He used pitch shifting, chorus effects, and tremolo stutters so the demons sounded musical but not too human. There is a strange beauty in that balance, like a harmony that is slightly broken but still hypnotic. The entire soundscape was built to “handshake” with the film’s music, as Babcock described.
Billie Eilish, Pillows, And Tuning Forks: The Sound Of KPop Demon Hunters
Fans loved hearing how detailed the process was. One said the pillow trick for the tiger’s footsteps was “weirdly genius”. Someone even commented that the sword sounds being based on tuning forks made them rewatch the entire movie with headphones.
The way Babcock connected K-pop’s clean production style to monster growls feels like a perfect match for Billie Eilish’s own journey. In a recent interview, she talked about stepping away from her brother Finneas on tour and learning to write music solo. It mirrors the risk-taking spirit of a sound designer turning household objects into magical weapons.
Billie Eilish on finding her voice
Billie said she has been taking singing lessons and pushing her vocal limits, something she had not done before. She now feels more like a songwriter than ever. Fans picked up on this growth and calling her recent performances “her most confident yet”. It feels like watching someone step into a brighter version of themselves one note at a time.
Billie Eilish has built her career on chasing new sounds and bending rules until they fit her. Whether she is inspiring a movie demon or reinventing her own voice, she is always searching for what feels true. Follow Billie Eilish on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Her next creative experiment might be the one that completely surprises you.