Who is CORTIS? A Look Back at Their First EP ‘COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES’
- Sarah Tan
- 4 hours ago
- 12 min read
“To be cringe is to be free.”
It’s a philosophy most idols might shy away from. Yet CORTIS lives by the phrase. For them, this mindset is the foundation of their raw and honest sound. Embracing cringe and weirdness is a huge part of their creative process and musical direction, as it allows them to be genuine, let go of external pressures, and choose to have fun rather than conforming to traditional expectations. As the group puts it, “Usually, the best things from our craft come from just having fun.”
CORTIS made their debut with “What You Want” on August 18, 2025. In less than a year, they’ve already skipped the typical rookie growing pains to become K-pop’s newest phenomenon—they were the most talked-about group last year and still are today. The quintet under BIGHIT MUSIC, consisting of leader MARTIN along with members JAMES, JUHOON, SEONGHYEON, and KEONHO, is dominating the 5th generation by ignoring the usual norms and writing their own.
The group’s success is rooted in their unique identity as a ‘Young Creator Crew.’ Long before their debut, MARTIN and JAMES were already making music and choreographies for HYBE labelmates, including ILLIT’s “Magnetic,” “Cherish (My Love),” and “Tick-Tack,” TXT’s “Deja Vu,” “Miracle,” and “Beautiful Strangers,” LE SSERAFIM’s “Pierrot,” and ENHYPEN’s “Outside.” They’re now pouring the same creative energy into their own group.
The self-producing stars didn’t blow up by accident. We can see and hear that same sentiment all over their debut EP, COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES. They found an audience because the honesty and rawness in their music is real. It’s refreshing and unconventional without being forced or over-polished, giving them a distinct sonic identity in an overcrowded K-pop scene.
In an industry often obsessed with perfection, CORTIS has built their whole identity on authenticity and artistic freedom. Along with groups like the four-member, Jay Park-produced newcomer LNGSHOT, they are one of the few names right now with a creative direction that feels truly intentional.
With the group’s second EP, GREENGREEN, out now, let’s take a look back at their first EP and the “JoyRide” thus far.
The Young Creator Crew Identity
The name CORTIS is an unconventional mix of six letters drawn from the phrase ‘COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES,’ reflecting their determination to think and create beyond the boundaries defined by the world and challenge convention.
What makes them different is that the members are not only performers, but they’re also fully involved in writing their music, crafting choreography, and even directing their own music videos. They do everything together, filming and editing draft versions of their music videos from scratch. From there, they take the core of these creative ideas to a production crew to enhance them for the final release, but every CORTIS project starts with the members’ raw vision.
They treat their music like an evolving personal diary and journal, drawing inspiration from everyday life and experiences, whether it’s from movies, anime, artists, and genres they grew up listening to, the weather, nature, new cities, or even SEONGHYEON’s favorite vanilla latte. This hands-on approach keeps their work unique and relatable, as they dislike doing anything repetitive or following what’s already been done.
They have a constant instinct to explore new things, and they aren't afraid to sound a bit nerdy or weird, because to them, faking coolness just isn't authentic. So sometimes they have to take a step back and ask, “Something like this is really cool, but is this us?”
Before they are idols or artists, they consider themselves five teenagers who love messing around and creating. Influenced by groups like BROCKHAMPTON, Odd Future, and A$AP Mob, CORTIS has created a culture of creative play within the team. To these five, K-pop is not a genre, but a culture with no limits.
Major Rookie Records and Shock Factor Achievements
CORTIS is already a double-million-seller! They remain the only 2025 rookie and the second group in K-pop history to surpass 2 million sales with a debut, after ZEROBASEONE. However, COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES is now the highest-selling debut album by a K-pop act on record, which proves their music has reached a mind-blowing number of global listeners in record time.
Aside from physical sales, their digital game is just as strong. Their debut EP soared to No. 15 on the Billboard 200, which is the highest debut ranking for a K-pop group not formed through a survival show. This made them the first boy group in over four years to break into the chart’s top 20.
They also became the fastest K-pop boy group to surpass 100 million cumulative streams on Spotify, hitting the milestone in just 56 days. Meanwhile, the EP has shown incredible longevity, topping the World Albums chart for the first time in its 32nd week, seven months after its release.
Of course, all those records led to CORTIS sweeping the awards during award season. The members won the Best New Artist at both the 2025 MAMA Awards and the 2025 Golden Disc Awards, took home AAA Rookie of the Year and AAA Best Performance at the 2025 Asia Artist Awards, and won Best New Artist (K-pop) at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards.
These accolades, along with their recent second music show win for their pre-release lead single “REDRED” on M Countdown, show that CORTIS is, without doubt, the complete package. With exceptional music and a captivating stage presence, they’ve locked in their status as a ‘Monster Rookie.’
Earlier this year, they further expanded their global reach by becoming the first K-pop group to headline the Opening Night of the NBA Crossover Concert Series and returning the next day to perform at the halftime show during the weekend of NBA All-Star 2026.
Named ‘Friends of the NBA,’ the five members also released “Mention Me” as an original soundtrack for the animated sports comedy, GOAT. NBA legend Stephen Curry co-produced and stars in this Sony Pictures Animation project from the same studio that created KPop Demon Hunters and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
The 5 Tracks That Started It All
Let’s get into the music!
“GO!”
Released as a pre-debut single, “GO!” was CORTIS’ first introduction to the world. It blew up as a viral trend on social media because of its easy-to-follow dance steps and catchy beats. Riding on a minimal trap beat layered with sharp synths, the track balances hip-hop and pop with youthful charm. SEONGHYEON opens the song, delivering their first declaration to the world to paint everything in the colors of CORTIS.
“We don't need any other sign
Paint the town with the green lights
Pedal to the metal, like a bike”
Its lyrics are about moving forward at full speed without waiting for permission. By saying they’ll “paint the town with the green lights,” they’re saying they want to cover everything in their own unique personal voice and self-expression.
All five members participated in writing the song during the first day of their songwriting camp in Los Angeles. It began at the very end of a session when producer Johnny Goldstein started playing the keys, and the word “Go” was the first lyric they came up with. The group felt that the word carried such a lively energy that it led them to experiment with repeating it as a core element of the song.
Their writing process was spontaneous, involving freestyling ‘alien’ or random words to find a melody first, then refining the lyrics later. One of those initial lines was, “I just gotta get it / Watch me go, go, go, go, go, go,” which became the repeated hook we all find ourselves humming to.
SEONGHYEON came up with the “bring the…” parts in the post-chorus, while JUHOON shared that the line, “When the olds see us, they give us a thumbs up,” always sticks with him. Because of its impact, the intro track earned a spot in being selected for Apple Music’s ‘Best Songs of 2025.’
“GO!” feels like a snapshot of their lifestyle, starting with them heading to the studio and showing their process. Similar to the song, the music video was recorded by the members themselves with no budget. For this project, they used only a borrowed camcorder from their documentary team and a 360-degree camera they bought themselves.
Running around with the 360 cam in their mouths to capture distorted, close-up face shots, they describe the video's aesthetic as intentionally weird and raw. It’s an unconventional take you wouldn't get from a standard creative agency, and while it’s strange, it’s brilliant in the best way possible.
Moving onto the title track, the constant question of “What do you want?” hammers throughout the lead single, bringing intense pressure and tension with it. CORTIS wanted to portray the feeling of breaking out of everyday life, like dozing off at work and finding yourself outside in a dream, only to wake up back at the office.
“Every day is another day to conquer”
Sonically, it’s a wild mix of iconic 1960s-style psychedelic rock guitar riffs with hip-hop’s boom-bap rhythm. The members revealed they wrote the lyrics based on real-life debates about their deepest desires—things like money, happiness, freedom, peace, fame, honor, and love.
When they first had the beat, it was originally nicknamed “BAE” after the B-A-E notes in the chorus chords. It lacked a clear concept and theme until a collaborative session with artist Teezo Touchdown. Teezo brought a blue balloon to the studio and asked the room, “What do you want most in life? What’s your life goal?” As each member shared their personal goals, Teezo would blow into the balloon to capture their collective desires. These responses became the core foundation and inspiration for the lyrics, and the members later added stylistic elements like the “crash, smash” pre-chorus to give it more edge, perfectly capturing the nostalgia they were aiming for.
The choreography is unforgettable, featuring the group performing on 35 moving treadmills, a mind-blowing stunt no K-pop group had ever attempted before. SEONGHYEON even struggled with motion sickness at first, having to take medicine while practicing until he got used to it.
This whole concept, inspired by movies like Inception and The Matrix, started with the members shooting and editing their own original draft of the music video around the HYBE offices. They went with an indoor setting to give off a claustrophobic image, as office spaces are usually boxy. This setting let the members express nervous behaviors, like hands trembling while typing or legs shaking nonstop, which in the end led to the dream idea.
To capture an unsettling “uncanny valley” vibe for viewers, they also filmed in a desert, believing the blazing sun and sand blowing into their eyes and mouths made it the ideal environment to express discomfort. These dreamlike and trancelike elements all found their way into the official MV version, alongside a digital-only release featuring Teezo Touchdown.
At the end of the day, the members identify “What You Want” as their favorite song on the EP, as it does reflect their desires and mirrors their creative DNA.
“FaSHioN”
Next up, “FaSHioN” is pure trap and southern hip-hop swagger, but with a hilarious, tongue-in-cheek twist. Forget those typical lyrics about expensive luxury brands. CORTIS raps about thrift shop finds and bargain-hunting in the streets of Dongmyo and Hongdae.
“Dongmyo’s where we gather, like a seminar
From the graves of clothes we’re revived
Vintage Jesus”
Lines like these turn budget shopping into a flex. Rather than showing off expensive labels, they’re showing that having your own personal style is much cooler than any price tag. SEONGHYEON shared that the lines, “Hongdae, Wassup” and “Hongdae got them inspired,” were inspired by their own trainee days shopping in Hongdae with their older friends.
On the other hand, MARTIN views fashion as a way to figure out your own vibe, where things that initially seem weird start looking unique. To him, what you wear is less about the cost and more about a daily check-in with yourself, whether you’re feeling colorful or dark.
“My tee, 5 bucks
My pants, 10,000 won”
This playful authenticity is a big reason their fandom, COERs, connect with them. In fact, before “FaSHioN” came to be, JAMES wrote a song for his monthly trainee evaluation about Dongmyo and having no spare cash for his allowance at the time. He later reworked that theme into “FaSHioN,” talking about how Dongmyo is packed with treasures you’d never find in a boutique, from vinyls to kitchenware.
All five members are passionate about vintage shopping and prefer hunting for discounts at spots like Second Street and Wasteland in LA over designer brands that lack the excitement of a great bargain.
The song was further sparked by a shopping trip to Fairfax in Los Angeles. When they showed up to the studio afterward, their producers were impressed by their upgraded style, which prompted them to write about the experience. Even though they identify this as their most traditional K-pop style track, the filming was anything but standard.
After shooting a DIY psychedelic performance version themselves, they flew to the snowy mountains of New Zealand for the official high-budget MV. Filming in the mountains involved taking a helicopter through glaciers and dancing in freezing conditions, which the members found physically draining due to the deep snow.
“JoyRide”
Taking things down a notch, “JoyRide” slows the pace with a breezy alternative rock-pop sound that instantly feels like an escape. Despite the title, it offers a distinctive, melancholy, emo-tinged vibe influenced by the LA atmosphere. It opens with a steady guitar riff that sets the mood for a late-night drive, quietly planning a break from boundaries and routine.
“My goody-two-shoes days are in past tense
Sped all day long”
These lyrics show a playful rebellion against the mundane. The song found its voice during a long, three-to-four-hour car ride along the Malibu coast. With their manager at the wheel, the members sat in the backseat looking for a way to refresh the lyrics, which hadn't been coming together smoothly. They even ended up in the middle of nowhere, stopping to pick up souvenirs while they worked. All five members contributed to the writing and composition, giving the record a personal, lived-in feel.
The track went through countless revisions to get there. Originally, the demo was a fast, 160 BPM pop track that didn't quite sit right with everyone. So, to give it a rawer undertone that sounded like CORTIS, they decided to slow it down and pitch it down. To balance that out, JAMES suggested pitching his voice up in the booth, which resulted in a moody final tempo that sits at an unconventional 127 BPM.
Though it’s mellow, the song still carries a bittersweet sting of youthful longing, showing a softer side of the group that was brought to life visually in New Zealand, where they filmed the music video alongside “FaSHioN.” On a side note, “JoyRide” is Mido’s all-time favorite track on the EP!
“Lullaby”
Finally, to close out the EP, “Lullaby” holds a special place as the very first record the boys crafted as a five-member group back in Seoul. The track was formed when they decided to experiment with jazz. Lacking a traditional jazz background, they simply messed around with the genre until they had a rough idea that they eventually played for producer Supreme Boi. He encouraged them to write a melody for it, and while the track underwent many revisions, the final result really came down to the specific groove they felt during that session.
“I GOT WORK / YOU GOT WORK”
JAMES revealed that this shout-chant originated as an inside joke he used to wake the members up. They even added the sound of a clinking can, giving the psychedelic soul track a sweet and experimental texture. Similar to “JoyRide,” this track captures more intimate moments through simple, dreamy guitars and vocal harmonies. It explores the pressure of uncertainty, but finds comfort in the fact that they’re all in it together. MARTIN, JAMES, and SEONGHYEON all contributed, making the song feel like a raw, honest look into their headspace at the time.
The group's youthful spirit shines through in the whistling and chant-like verses, evoking the carefree defiance of their teenage years. The minimal vibe is associated with their one-take pool video shot in LA. The idea came about as an excuse to use the swimming pool since they were too busy with the song camp to swim. While the video looks simple and quick, the shoot spanned several days and multiple takes to catch the prime golden hour sunlight.
Much like their other projects, the group took full ownership of the production, filming, and editing for the accompanying video. They propped a phone on a can to film their raw daily life, creating a visual that honestly feels like a vlog from the can’s perspective. Out of all their self-produced content, the members are most satisfied with this one because it shows their true selves without anything fancy.
What’s Next for CORTIS
CORTIS’ momentum isn't slowing down. They are slated to perform at several major festivals this year, including KCON Japan (May 8-10), Weverse Con Festival (June 6-7), and Music Bank in Barcelona (September 12). Above all, they will make their Lollapalooza Chicago debut on August 1, alongside Charli xcx, Tate McRae, Lorde, JENNIE, and other global acts, making them the only male K-pop act on the bill.
Even with this schedule, CORTIS continues to create. Given that their debut set such a high bar, and after writing over 300 songs during their trainee days, we know their next eras are already being prepared with the same level of creative focus and passion.
Pre-orders for their 2nd EP, GREENGREEN, surpassed 2 million copies as of April 16. CORTIS also made history with the new EP as the first 5th generation group and third K-pop boy group—following BTS and Stray Kids—to reach 1.03 million Spotify album pre-saves. This ranks them No. 3 on the Spotify Countdown Global chart and, overall, it’s the 4th highest pre-save record among all K-pop groups, only behind BTS, BLACKPINK, and Stray Kids.
To top it all off, CORTIS (9.3M) recently surpassed SEVENTEEN's Spotify ranking (9.2M) and now ranks as the fifth-highest for monthly listeners on Spotify among K-pop boy groups.
While the lead single “REDRED” has already garnered 12.19 million Spotify streams in its first week—the biggest first-week release by a 5th generation K-pop boy group—the full EP features the remaining five tracks “TNT,” “ACAI,” “YOUNGCREATORCREW (YOUNGKEUKEU),” “Wassup,” and “Blue Lips.”
GREENGREEN is now available to stream HERE!
What’s your favorite track from COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES, and how are you feeling about the new GREENGREEN release? Will you be seeing CORTIS at Lollapalooza or any of their festival stops this summer? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us on Instagram or X.
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Edited by Anderson Longenecker
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