BIGHIT MUSIC’s CORTIS has officially debuted, becoming the label’s first boy group in six years and joining a roster that includes BTS and TOMORROW X TOGETHER.
‘Young creator crew’
To mark their official introduction to the K-pop scene, the five teenagers — MARTIN, JAMES, JUHOON, SEONGHYEON, and KEONHO — released ‘What You Want,’ the lead single from their upcoming debut EP, ‘Color Outside the Lines.’
‘What You Want’ blends 1960s psychedelic guitar riffs with gritty boom bap hip-hop rhythms, creating a sound that feels both nostalgic and modern. The track’s lyrics, including “What I want is something to make it race again / I mean my heart,” underscore CORTIS’s determination to pursue their vision without hesitation.
“We held a song camp in Los Angeles to create the lead track and B-side songs,” Keonho said during the debut press showcase in Seoul, citing Yonhap News Agency. “We initially planned for one month, but it didn’t go as smoothly as we thought, so we ended up working for three months.”
As part of debut preparations, CORTIS chose the lead track from a pool of over 300 songs.
Ahead of the prerelease track, CORTIS launched debut promotions with the music video for ‘GO!’ on August 11. The EP’s intro track — built on a minimal trap beat and sharp synth layers — stands out at the crossroads of hip-hop and pop, with all five members credited for writing the lyrics and composing the music, and co-directing the music video.
The rookie band’s name is a six-letter abstraction of the phrase “COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES,” embodying their mission to push beyond conventional boundaries. True to this spirit, the five-member group is described as a “young creator crew” who infuse authenticity into every aspect of their work, from music and choreography to video production. “It conveys the idea of thinking freely, beyond the standards and rules set by society,” Juhoon said on the group’s name.
Each member channels personal experiences into composition, videography, performance, and songwriting, making their artistry personal and expressive. “What sets them apart is their collaborative approach: rather than adhering to fixed roles, they work together as co-creators to bring their collective vision to life,” BIGHIT MUSIC said in a statement.
Regional performance
As of August 18, the quintet’s debut single ranked No. 3 on the iTunes K-Pop chart in Saudi Arabia and No. 7 in the UAE.
Did you know?
Martin and James contributed to both the music and choreography of labelmates, such as ENHYPEN, ILLIT, and TXT.
What to watch out for
‘COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES’ is set for release on September 8. According to BIGHIT MUSIC, the project was crafted through a “collaborative creation” approach, capturing the group’s beginnings as they carve a path of their own.
Alongside the lead track, the debut project features B-sides ‘GO!,’ ‘FaSHioN,’ ‘JoyRide,’ and ‘Lullaby.’
‘What You Want (feat. Teezo Touchdown)’ created during a songwriting camp with the American singer-songwriter, will be released as a digital-only track on August 22.