Let us be clear: The Black Skirts (검정치마) isn’t a band, but a project. It’s the brainchild of singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Bryan “Holiday” Cho. Hailing from Seoul but raised in New Jersey, Cho's musical journey was shaped by the punk rock ethos of bands like Misfits and Rancid. He moved back to Korea with a groundbreaking blend of American indie rock fused with retro elements and lyrics in Korean, English, and even Spanish.
“EVERYTHING” is an absolutely colossal hit. It comes from the landmark 2017 record TEAM BABY and has amassed a mind boggling 133 million streams on Spotify. It’s a classic, and a must listen to any fans of cinematic, chilled out K-indie. It’s a slow burn for sure, but its climactic falsetto soars as a hurricane of slow guitars swirl underneath it, with drums getting passionately thrashed in the pocket.
This is the kind of K-indie track with universal appeal. With its bilingual lyrics, it’s sure to please American and Korean audiences alike. To be honest, more American bands would do well to city The Black Skirts as a musical influence.
If you like what you hear, follow The Black Skirts on Instagram.