Meet CORTIS

The Coolest K-Pop debut of the year

The days leading up to the launch of a new K-pop group are often hectic and intense. Years of training typically go into preparing a group — not just in music and dance, but also often in areas like English, all to get them ready for global stardom. Now BIGHIT MUSIC, the label behind BTS and Tomorrow x Together (TXT), has revealed its first new group in six years: CORTIS, a five-member group that launched with official social media accounts in early August.

Over the past couple of years, fans have speculated about “BIGHIT’s new boy group,” with sightings while filming in Los Angeles or attending label mates’ concerts. And Sunday morning, CORTIS released their first song, “GO!” Much like their label mates, Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyeon, and Keonho are heavily involved in production, and their other talents range from choreography to videography, allowing them to incorporate their creative ideas into everything the group will put out. 

While “GO!” marks CORTIS’ first release, some of the members have had real-world experience in music. Martin had a hand in producing ILLIT’s “Magnetic,” ENHYPEN’s “Outside,” and most recently, “Beautiful Strangers” by TXT, just to name a few, and James was involved in choreographing for a handful of HYBE artists as well, including the viral “Magnetic” dance. All of the members of CORTIS are true creators in different avenues, and their management has empowered them to have real input into their music, choreography, and videos. 

The group’s name derives from the phrase “color outside the lines,” a nod to limitless creativity; it also draws inspiration from the name of the hormone cortisol, a reference that they say is intended to reflect “the group’s commitment to resisting the pressures that come from the creative process.”

CORTIS are here to push boundaries and offer a freer, more unfiltered take on what a

K-pop group can be.

Korean-Canadian Martin, the group’s leader at age 17, is a natural creative who drives CORTIS’ sound, and cites Tyler, the Creator and Mac Miller as some of his favorite artists.

James, the oldest at 19, is a dance prodigy from Taipei with a black belt in taekwondo, as well as 10 years of ice hockey at a semi-pro level, an experience he credits with instilling discipline.

Juhoon has a background as a youth model, appearing in commercials and music videos, and attended an international middle school before getting scouted to join BIGHIT MUSIC, where he sharpened his English skills.

Seonghyeon, while soft-spoken at first, is a creative powerhouse with a sharp edge, and the ideas he brings to CORTIS as a topliner and a lyricist often come to fruition.

The youngest member, Keonho, at 16, is a key contributor to the group’s music videos, shapes up the group’s dynamic, and defines their current headspace perfectly curious about the future, wanting the whole world to know their names. 

As they step into the spotlight, CORTIS are entering a landscape more crowded and competitive than ever — but also one that’s hungry for new voices with something real to say. With a debut rooted in self-expression, creativity, and a willingness to take risks, the group isn’t just arriving; they’re declaring who they are from day one. And if “GO!” is any indication, CORTIS aren’t chasing trends. They’re here to make their own.

CREDIT

Article:https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/cortis-bighit-new-boy-group-debut-interview-1235396193/

Photos credit: BigHit Music