CORTIS Make Their Mark with COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES
Written by Sydney Reed | September 16, 2025
CORTIS, short for COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES, is a five-member group under BigHit Music, consisting of Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyeon, and Keonho. They first introduced themselves with the digital single What You Want on August 18, 2025, followed shortly by their debut EP COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES on September 8, 2025.
The five-track EP brings together the members’ own creative input with contributions from well-known producers like Johnny Goldstein, Supreme Boi, Hiss Noise, Zach Fogarty, and Slush Puppy. The project serves as an introduction to CORTIS’ identity as both a team and as musicians, signaling a willingness to experiment outside the typical K-pop lines.
The opener, “GO!”, acts as a bold mission statement, laying out the energy and attitude CORTIS plans to carry into the industry. Hinting at Western hip-hop influences, trap beats and synths are layered to create a fresh and playful anthem that captures the group’s personalities. Experimental yet grounded in traditional elements, “GO!” brings a strong hook, vocal clarity, and varied musical directions.
The lead single, “What You Want?”, blends vintage rock guitar with boom bap rhythms, making for a compelling genre fusion. Another full group collaboration, members were involved in the songwriting, production, choreography, and video direction. “What You Want?” shows CORTIS’ ambition—bold young artists bursting into the music scene, claiming what they want with no hesitation.
The third track, “FaSHioN”, takes a lighter tone, celebrating the group’s starting point while weaving in their bigger ambitions. The delivery throughout the song reinforces CORTIS’ identity, with storytelling drawn from their everyday lives. Listeners can hear stylistic throughlines from the earlier tracks: heavy beats and a steady cadence, establishing a recognizable theme for CORTIS.
“JoyRide” provides the emotional contrast needed to balance out the more aggressive tracks. The song captures not only the physical escape of joyriding but also its emotional resonance. “JoyRide” connects with listeners who crave freedom—literal or metaphorical. For CORTIS, the track embraces change and the thrill of new paths.
Closing track “Lullaby” softens the mood, offering a glimpse of the group’s more vulnerable side. It gives the listener a chance to slow down, reflect, and rest—even when the world says you shouldn’t.
As a debut, COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES leaves a strong impression. It sketches out who CORTIS are right now, hints at their artistic direction, and lays a foundation for what listeners can expect going forward. The sequence of the album is effective: a strong introduction, group and individual identity, and a close that invites escape and reflection. CORTIS are showing their true colors as artists.
