# The Black Skirts

Jo Hyu-il (Korean: 조휴일; born 1982), better known as The Black Skirts (Korean: 검정치마), 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. He has since released the albums, Don't You Worry Baby (I'm Only Swimming) (2011), Team Baby (2017), 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.”

## Discography
### Studio albums

| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
| Title | Album details | KOR | Sales |
| 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: 9,125 |
| Thirsty | Released: February 12, 2019 Label: BESPOK Formats: CD, digital download | 13 | KOR: 14,422 |
| Good Luck to You, Girl Scout! | Released: April 30, 2021 Label: Doggy Rich Formats: CD, digital download | 17 | KOR: 2,823 |
| Teen Troubles | Released: September 23, 2022 Label: Doggy Rich, Bespok Formats: CD, digital download | 11 | KOR: 17,845 |

### Single albums

| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
| Title | Album details | KOR | Sales |
| Hollywood | Released: April 9, 2015 Label: HIGHGRND Formats: CD, digital download | 8 | KOR: 2,670 |
| Everything | Released: 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

| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR | Sales | Album |
| As lead artist |||||
| "Dientes" | 2010 | — | — | 201 |
| "Love Shine" | 2011 | 92 | KOR: 73,803 | Don't You Worry Baby (I'm Only Swimming) |
| "Hollywood" | 2015 | — | KOR: 15,019 | Hollywood |
| "Everything" | 2016 | 69 | KOR: 59,935 | Everything |
| "In My City of Seoul" | 2016 | — | KOR: 18,781 | In My City of Seoul |
| "Who Do You Love?" (나랑 아니면) | 2017 | 66 | KOR: 37,406 | Team Baby |
| "Queen of Diamonds" (섬) | 2019 | 193 | — | Thirsty |
| "Two Days" | 2021 | — | — | Good Luck to You, Girl Scout! |
| "Dream Like Me" (with Crowd Lu) | 2022 | — | — | Non-album single |
| "My Little Lambs" (어린양) | 2022 | — | — | Teen Troubles |
| As featured artist |||||
| "You Look Good" (좋아보여) Verbal Jint feat. The Black Skirts | 2011 | 5 | KOR: 2,500,000 | Go Easy |
| Soundtrack appearances |||||
| "Till the End of Time" (기다린 만큼, 더) | 2016 | 21 | KOR: 128,548 | Another Miss Oh OST |
| "Someday" (어떤 날) | 2019 | — | — | Romance Is a Bonus Book OST |
| "Ling Ling" | 2021 | — | — | Yumi's Cells OST |
| "—" denotes release did not chart. |||||

## Awards and nominations

| Award | Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| Korean Music Awards | 2010 | Album of the Year | 201 | Nominated |
| Korean Music Awards | 2010 | Best Modern Rock Album | 201 | Won |
| Korean Music Awards | 2010 | Song of the Year | "Want Your Love" | Nominated |
| Korean Music Awards | 2010 | Best Modern Rock Song | "Want Your Love" | Nominated |
| Korean Music Awards | 2010 | Best New Artist | — | Nominated |
| Korean Music Awards | 2012 | Album of the Year | Don't You Worry Baby (I'm Only Swimming) | Nominated |
| Korean Music Awards | 2012 | Best Modern Rock Album | Don't You Worry Baby (I'm Only Swimming) | Nominated |
| Korean Music Awards | 2012 | Best Modern Rock Song | "Love Shine" | Nominated |
| Korean Music Awards | 2017 | Best Modern Rock Song | "Everything" | Nominated |
| Korean Music Awards | 2018 | Album of the Year | Team Baby | Nominated |
| Korean Music Awards | 2018 | Best Modern Rock Album | Team Baby | Nominated |
| Korean Music Awards | 2020 | Album of the Year | Thirsty | Nominated |
| Korean Music Awards | 2020 | Best Modern Rock Album | Thirsty | Won |
| Korean Music Awards | 2020 | Best Modern Rock Song | "Queen of Diamonds" | Nominated |
| Korean Music Awards | 2023 | Album of the Year | Teen Troubles | Nominated |
| Korean Music Awards | 2023 | Best Modern Rock Album | Teen Troubles | Won |
| MAMA Awards | 2022 | Best Band Performance | "My Little Lambs" | Nominated |