The Black Skirts

Jo Hyu-il (; born 1982), better known as The Black Skirts , is an indie rock musician based in South Korea. In 2010, he released his debut album, 201, which won Best Modern Rock Album at the 2010 Korean Music Awards. Team Baby, Thirsty (2019) and Teen Troubles (2022).

Background Jo was born in Seoul, South Korea, on December 5, 1982. He moved to the United States when he was 12 years old and grew up in New Jersey. His musical taste was influenced at an early age by what he would learn from American music media such as MTV and Rolling Stone. He was also heavily influenced by Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill and the first album he ever purchased was Michael Jackson's Dangerous.

Career In 2004, Jo formed a three-member punk rock band called Castel Prayon while living in New York City. The band eventually dissolved as members went on to pursue their individual endeavors, leaving Jo to become a one-man band.

In 2006, Jo returned to South Korea and began making music as a one-man band under the name, The Black Skirts. In 2009, Jo released an unofficial album titled My Feet Don't Touch the Ground (And I Am So Winded I Can't Sing for You Today). In 2010, Jo gained notoriety in the Korean indie rock scene upon releasing 201, his first album as The Black Skirts Produced by Kia Eshghi. The album was recorded in his basement. Later that year, he won Best Modern Rock Album at the Korean Music Awards. A special edition of 201 was released on March 18, 2010. On July 13, 2011, Jo released his second album, Don't You Worry Baby (I'm Only Swimming). On January 7, 2016, Jo signed to Highgrnd. On May 30, 2017, Jo released his third album part 1, Team Baby, whose album cover features Jo's parents. He announced that this album is composed of three parts.

In 2018, Jo left Highgrnd and started working under his own company Doggy Rich. On February 12, 2019, Jo released his third album part 2, Thirsty, with his label partner Bespok. Two years later, Jo released an English-language EP titled Good Luck To You, Girl Scout!. The EP was said to be “inspired by my friends who got dumped last summer during the height of Corona Virus.” The same year The Black Skirts released The Japanese version of their Team Baby album.

Later in 2022,In Mid September The Black Skirts Released The 3rd Part of The Love Trilogy as TEEN TROUBLES .The Black Skirts described the album as "This is a love letter from the summer of 1999. And also a story of teenage anxiety, minor heartache, wet dreams of rock and roll encouraged by MTV, and happily wasted youth." He also released the short film Teen Troubles in Dirty Jersey with the release of the album.

Discography Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales KOR 201 (Special Edition)Released: March 18, 2010 Label: Sony Music Entertainment Korea Formats: CD, digital download 9 KOR: 6,194 Don't You Worry Baby (I'm Only Swimming)Released: July 13, 2011 Label: Sony Music Entertainment Korea Formats: CD, digital download 3 KOR: 12,484 Team Baby Released: May 30, 2017 Label: HIGHGRND Formats: CD, LP, digital download 8 KOR: 10,283 ThirstyReleased: February 12, 2019 Label: BESPOK Formats: CD, digital download 13KOR: 14,422 Good Luck to You, Girl Scout!Released: April 30, 2021 Label: Doggy Rich Formats: CD, digital download 17 KOR: 2,823 Teen TroublesReleased: September 23, 2022 Label: Doggy Rich, Bespok Formats: CD, digital download 11 KOR: 17,845

Single albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales KOR EverythingReleased: January 29, 2016 Label: HIGHGRND Formats: CD, digital download 7 KOR: 1,771 In My City of Seoul (내 고향 서울엔)Released: March 15, 2016 Label: HIGHGRND Formats: CD, digital download 5 KOR: 3,000

Singles

Other charted songs Title Year Peak chart positions Album KOR "Antifreeze" 2008 162 201 "1:05" (한시 오분) 2017 120 Team Baby

Awards and nominations