Katseye bring Huntr/x on stage for viral ‘Golden’ moment at COACHELLA set

Katseye delivered one of the most talked about moments of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival when they were joined on stage by the vocal trio Huntr/x for a surprise performance of the track ‘Golden’ during their Sahara stage set.

The appearance came during Katseye’s opening night performance at the festival in Indio, California, where the group were already performing a high energy set featuring songs such as ‘Internet Girl’, ‘Pinky Up’ and ‘Mean Girls’. Midway through the show, the crowd was caught off guard as Huntr/x members Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami stepped onto the stage.

The collaboration quickly turned into one of the defining moments of the night as the artists performed "Golden" together, sending the audience into a wave of excitement. The track itself has already had a significant cultural impact, having earned major recognition across awards season, including wins at the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards and Grammy Awards in the category of best original song or best song written for visual media depending on the ceremony.

‘Golden’ was written by EJAE alongside Mark Sonnenblick, IDO, 24 and Teddy Park, and became a global chart success after its release, spending multiple weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and breaking records for an animated music act. Its continued popularity has made it a frequent highlight in live performances and festival appearances.

Katseye’s Coachella set also marked a key moment in the group’s rising career. Formed through the reality competition series ‘Dream Academy’ and later featured in the documentary series Popstar Academy: Katseye, the group have rapidly moved from trainees to international performers. Their growing discography includes EPs such as SIS (Soft Is Strong) and Beautiful Chaos, along with singles like ‘Gnarly’ and ‘Gabriela’, which helped them gain mainstream chart attention.

The surprise collaboration was widely shared across social media within minutes of the performance, with fans praising the energy and chemistry between Katseye and Huntr/x. Many viewers highlighted the seamless transition into ‘Golden’ as a standout moment of the festival’s opening night, reinforcing Coachella’s reputation for unexpected live collaborations.

The Sahara stage set positioned Katseye as one of the emerging acts to watch at the festival, with their performance schedule continuing across both weekends of the event. With additional headline appearances from major artists planned across the lineup, the surprise guest moment added an early highlight to an already closely watched festival programme.

The collaboration also underscored the growing crossover between pop acts and soundtrack driven hits, as ‘Golden’ continues to expand beyond its original release context into live performance spaces and global festival stages.