Byul.org

Byul.org is a South Korean collective whose creative pursuits include graphic and fashion design, art direction, branding, software development, and experimental pop music. Initially known as Byul (Korean for "star"), the collective formed in 2000 and later changed to Byul.org to differentiate itself from a K-pop star of the same name. The group's members, who include creative director TaeSang Cho as well as Yu Hur, Jowall, YunYi Yi, and SuhnJoo Yi, began as drinking buddies and soon expanded to creating -- and documenting their creations -- as much as possible. They started releasing music as a supplement to their art magazine, Monthly Vampire, and through their own label, Club Bidanbaem, and gained recognition outside of Korea thanks to their score for the 2001 movie Take Care of My Cat. Eventually, Byul.org's music made its way to Burnt Toast Vinyl, who first contacted the group in 2005 about releasing its first official album. In 2012, Secret Stories Heard from a Girl in an Opium Den, a double album that collected over a decade's worth of songs, was finally released. Byul.org continued to pursue other projects and returned in 2017 with another collection, Selected Tracks for Nacht Damonen, which Cho compiled with the Notwist's Markus Acher. ~ Heather Phares, Rovi