Love X Stereo

In 1998, Toby Hwang, then-bassist for Korean punk rock band 18Cruk, decided to quit to from a new 3-piece band, Skrew Attack.[2] Inspired by the faster-paced sounds of bands like NOFX, Black Flag, Bad Religion, and Minor Threat,[2] Hwang cycled through numerous lineup changes with Skrew Attack before meeting vocalist Annie Ko in the Hongdae neighborhood in 2005.[3] Ko had attended Ewha Women's University and Seoul National University (studying physics and astronomy, respectively), before pursuing a career as a singer.[3] Hwang and Ko remained core members of Skrew Attack until 2011.

Driven by a desire to branch out from their punk rock beginnings,[3] Hwang and Ko decided to change the band's name to Love X Stereo, a name derived from Hwang's record label Stereo City Records.[2] In a 2013 interview with Schoolkids Records' BLURT Magazine, Hwang states:

We did punk rock for years and years, so this time we wanted to do something different, something that isn’t necessarily punk rock, and something fresh and new. We love to add experimental flavor into our music, adding different elements from different genres that we like, such as trip hop, electro, alternative rock etc. So, changing band name was quite inevitable.[2]

Love X Stereo released their debut EP, Buzzin' on December 28, 2011, incorporating elements of electronic music not previously featured in Skrew Attack's music.[4] Subsequent releases have continued to feature heavy use of synthesizers and drum machines, further developing their electro-rock sound.