 |
| ▲ K-pop boy group Cortis poses for photos during a media showcase in Seoul on April 20, 2026, for "RedRed," the lead track for its upcoming second EP, "GreenGreen." (Yonhap) |
Cortis-press showcase
K-pop rookie Cortis drops raw-edged new release
By Shim Sun-ah
SEOUL, April 20 (Yonhap) -- Rising K-pop rookie Cortis returned Monday with a new release that leans into "raw" and unfiltered sounds, as the group seeks to break away from conventional genre boundaries.
The five-member act -- Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyeon and Keonho -- unveiled "RedRed," the lead track from its upcoming second EP "GreenGreen," at a media showcase in Seoul. The album is scheduled for release on May 4, marking the band's first comeback in eight months.
The song highlights Cortis' free-spirited style and "raw" sonic texture, the members said.
"The color red represents what we want to guard against, and green what we aim for," member Juhoon explained of the song's lyrics during the showcase.
The band kept removing things "that didn't feel like us" and things "the band didn't like" while working on the track, according to James. "That process helped us better understand what we really wanted."
When asked to specify what the members collectively disliked, Martin said the group consciously rejected fixed genre frameworks. "We excluded genre boundaries first," he said, noting that extensive discussions with producers and among members led to experimentation across a range of sounds and textures.
The resulting track is music "that cannot be defined by a single genre," according to the group's agency, BigHit Music. The lyrics also reflect what the group rejects, such as "being easily swayed by others' opinions," "constantly reading the room," and "pretending to be 'cool'," the agency said.
The accompanying music video also emphasizes realism, with minimal styling and filming in everyday locations, such as an old Korean barbecue restaurant, a game arcade and a vintage shop. "We wanted to show ourselves as we are, even revealing details like dark circles," James said.
The six-track EP includes "TNT," "ACAI," "YoungCreatorCrew," "Wassup" and "Blue Lips," with all members credited on multiple songs.
The group co-produced much of the album during a songwriting camp in Los Angeles and also contributed to choreography and video production.
"We wanted to deliver high quality while working with renowned producers, so we studied and worked intensely," Martin said.
James said he wanted to make music that sounded "truly raw," so he used instruments and rhythms the group had never tried before.
"While mixing, I wondered whether the sound could be broken this much," he said. "But when we finished, it felt so exciting, and the missing final touch was perfectly filled in. I became convinced it would be a hit. I really liked the raw sound."
Cortis debuted in August 2025 under BigHit Music, the label behind global K-pop sensation BTS, and is the company's first boy group since Tomorrow X Together in 2019. Cortis' debut EP "Color Outside the Lines" sold more than 2.06 million copies, according to Circle Chart, setting a record for a K-pop debut release.
Pre-orders for "GreenGreen" have already surpassed 2.02 million copies as of last Monday, raising expectations for the group to achieve a second consecutive double million-selling album.
Asked about the band's rapid rise, Martin cited the group's emphasis on authenticity. "We focus on showing our real, everyday selves," he said. "I think fans respond to that, as well as our chemistry as a team."
(END)
(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved
