Laval-based producer, director, songwriter and mixer John Nathaniel has reached a significant milestone in his international career. He was selected by the creative team behind the global phenomenon K-Pop Demon Hunters to reinterpret Golden, the franchise’s iconic song. Number 1 on the American Billboard Hot 100 in 2025, Golden has become a global cultural phenomenon. Choosing to entrust a new version of the song to a Quebecer is significant. It recognizes Nathaniel’s talent, artistic signature, and level of credibility in the highest spheres of the international industry.
Nathaniel’s version stands out for its cinematic, deeply musical approach, where immersive arrangements, modern textures and attention to detail converge. Produced and mixed primarily in Montreal, this reinterpretation also highlights his versatility, as he played most of the instruments, from conception to execution, supported by a team of Quebec collaborators.
Even though the K-Pop Demon Hunters’ team discussed various versions of the song with other prominent mixers, including David Guetta, Nathaniel’s stood out as a strong artistic proposition, driven by a clear vision and a unique audio identity. This recognition has led to exceptional visibility on American television, with the song and voices (EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami) being featured Jan. 12 on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, after a notable first performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! January 8. Being featured on these two iconic platforms confirms Nathaniel’s place among the creators shaping popular music around the globe today.
KPop Demon Hunters centers around a fictional Kpop girl group named Huntrix, composed of three global idols: Rumi, Mira, and Zoey. By day, they perform in soldout stadiums, captivating fans with their music and charm. However, by night, they transform into covert warriors, battling demons that threaten their world. Their main adversaries are the Saja Boys, a rival boy band whose members are secretly demons in disguise. The wildly popular animated film on Netflix explores themes of fame, friendship, and the struggle to balance their public personas with their secret lives as protectors of humanity.
I wanted to know if Nathaniel had met EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami ? “No,” he responded. “It is very common that you don’t get to meet the actual artists. Your job when you get picked for something like this is not to get blinded by the famous people. I have worked with a lot of them. I do not get star struck.”
A Grammy Awards nominee, Nathaniel is recognized internationally for his ability to mix acoustic and electronic elements, combining strings, percussions, andmovie-like arrangements for high-calibre contemporary productions. A long-time collaborator of One Republic, he notably co-produced and mixed the international hit IAin’t Worried from the film Top Gun: Maverick, which has more than 2.1 billion streams on Spotify. He also worked on multiple titles for their albums Human and Artificial Paradise, which topped international charts. Throughout his career, Nathaniel has collaborated with major artists such as Jennifer Hudson, Shawn Mendes, Kygo, GwenStefani, Madison Beer, Josh Ross and Akon, both on pop music and on music for cinema and television. To date, he has cumulated more than 7.6 billion streams on digital platforms, received 8 SOCAN awards for his #1 songs in the Top 100 radiocharts, as well as the prestigious SOCAN Songwriter of the Year Award. Ranked among the world’s most successful producers and mixers by Jaxsta and honoured in 2024 by Muso AI for having surpassed 6 billion streams.
CERVICAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH: Is 2026 is going to be the year women’s health finally catches up in Quebec? For too long women’s health has been underfunded and under-researched and when women’s health needs go unmet, the effects ripple outward—affecting families, careers, and communities.
January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, and the MUHC Foundation is highlighting the work of Dr. Annie Leung, gynecologic oncologist at the McGill University Health Centre. By the middle of 2026, Quebec will complete the rollout of a new human papillomavirus (HPV) screening test, catching up with Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and British Columbia. This is not the traditional Pap test. The new HPV screening is more sensitive, more accurate, and can detect HPV before cells become abnormal— changing how cervical cancer is identified and prevented. This shift is at the heart of Dr. Leung’s work, especially in Northern and remote Indigenous communities, where cervical cancer rates remain among the highest in Canada. The reason is not genetics, but long-standing barriers to access. Self-swabbing is helping to change that. It allows women to take part in life-saving screening without the need to travel long distances, making care more accessible and helping close an important equity gap that has existed for far too long.
THE BELL FUND: On February 4, 2016, Judy Martin provided a bell to the MUHC so cancer patients could celebrate the end of their treatments and launched a fund that has since provided a “comfort kit” to over 10,000 newly diagnosed cancer patients on their first day of treatment. This year, “The Bell” Fund turns 10 years old. It has made a huge difference in the lives of thousands of MUHC cancer patients, by making them feel less alone and making their treatments a bit more comfortable. Martin will be talking about the history and impact of the “The Bell’”Fund at a public lecture on Wed. Feb. 4 (7 pm) at Victoria Hall in Westmount to mark World Cancer Day. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments can be long, uncomfortable and exhausting. The idea behind the comfort kits is to make these treatments more pleasant and to make patients feel supported and less alone. Each kit comes in a large, sturdy tote bag and includes: a soft fleece blanket, to help patients stay warm; a reusable water bottle, so they can stay hydrated; a notepad and pen, so they can take notes during meetings with doctors and nurses; a box of mints, to soothe their throats and remove metal taste that some patients experience during treatment; a colouring book, to help pass the time; and hand-drawn card with an inspirational message, designed by students from a local school.
Left to right Carl Sexton, Councillor Anastasia Assimakopoulos, Yolks founder Steve Ewing and staff at the VIP opening.
YOLKS ARRIVAL: I was among those on hand Sunday for a VIP Friends and Family event at the brand new Yolks all-day breakfast spot at Galeries des Sources in Dollard des Ormeaux. What makes this place unique is that it is open from 7 pm through dinner hour. Finally, a place where you can eat breakfast for supper. DDO’s dynamic city counciilor Anastasia Assimakopoulos joined me with two of her four children, James and Zoe. This is the first Yolks in Quebec. The BC-based chain is owned by Happy Belly Food Group. Developing the brand in Quebec are the team that brought us Pizzeria Bros, headed by Carl Sexton. The franchisee is Tony Aoude, who by day is an optician in Kirkland. The restaurant is located right next to Homers Donuts in a former SAQ storefront. Yolks currently has a presence in B.C. and Ontario. Sexton plans to expand elsewhere in the Montreal area.
FRAUDS AND SCAMS: The Cummings Centre Social Action Committee will present Frauds and Scams: Friends, Family and Financial Exploitation, a free online presentation, Mon. Jan. 26 (4 pm.). An expert panel will include Chloé Van Uytfanck and Lidia Volvich from the Ligne Aide Maltraitance Adultes Aînés and Lawyer Margherita Morsella, LLB. The issue of financial exploitation perpetuated by someone you trust will be discussed. Among the points that will be raised include: What are the warning signs and red flags? What are some simple and practical safeguards to put into place that will help you protect yourself? What can you do if you suspect fraud? To register email social.action@cummingscentre.org or call Joy Lawee at 514-734-1805. Simultaneous translation will be offered (English to French). This session is made possible through a grant from NEW HORIZONS for Seniors Program.
ROYALMOUNT WELLNESS: With the New Year comes a natural moment to recalibrate, refresh, and reset. This January, Royalmount invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and move with intention. Through a curated series of high-impact wellness experiences created with our premium brand partners, discover moments designed for your body, your mind, and the connections that ground you. This includes Alo Yoga Jan. 25 (9 am), ice skate sessions Feb. 14 and March 7 (4 pm to 7 pm) with free rentals on site and a midday reset with Big Daddy Fitness + Rise Pilates Jan 21 and 27 (noon). Guests can refuel at Royalmount’s selection of health-forward restaurants such as Olive & Gourmando, Tommy Café (located in the Urban Park), and Spirulina (located in Le Fou Fou). Wellness-focused retailers further extend the experience, from performance and lifestyle apparel at Alo Yoga, Nike, and Sports Experts to restorative treatments and thermal wellness rituals at RENNAÏ, making it easy to carry the reset mindset beyond the class and into everyday rituals. Info: https://www.royalmount.com/en/guest-experiences/events
COMIC ARTS: The Montreal Comic Arts Festival (MCAF) has announced the theme of its 15th edition, which will be held from May 15 to 17, in collaboration with the SDC Rue Saint-Denis and Télé-Québec: ALIVE! This theme will bring to light comic book representations of flora and fauna, memorable characters, and breathtaking worlds, as well as more challenging topics such as the environment, politics, and other current issues.
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