The K-pop group Cortis has made their return with fresh music that highlights their identity as a “Young Creator Crew.”
The five-member act—comprising Martin, James, Juhoon, Sunghyun, and Gunho—held a showcase event in Seoul’s Gwangjin District at Yes24 Live Hall on the afternoon of the 20th to celebrate the release of their title track from their second mini-album.
Making their comeback after an eight-month hiatus, the group shared their excitement: “For this return, we’ve experimented and tried various approaches to tell our own unique story. We’re eager to see how everyone will receive it. We want to show you how much we’ve grown as a team and will give it our all.”
The upcoming album has already garnered significant global attention, with pre-orders surpassing 2 million copies ahead of its May 4th release. The title track was unveiled first to kick off promotional activities.
When asked about reaching the 2 million pre-order milestone, Gunho recalled: “The members were all in different places when we heard. I personally found out through a call from my mother—she was thrilled, and I felt incredibly proud and fulfilled.”
Martin added: “I discovered it through social media and immediately shared it in our group chat. The members’ reaction was memorable—they said they couldn’t believe it.”
Creative Concept and Production
The title song uses the metaphor of “green” to represent what the team pursues, while “red” symbolizes what they avoid. The lyrics convey a message about crossing boundaries without worrying if others might disapprove of their choices.
Juhoon discussed the creative process: “Setting the theme wasn’t easy—we really racked our brains. Then suddenly, James suggested an idea that unlocked everything.”
Gunho continued: “When the lyrics were finalized, I felt the song gained real power. The choreography and visuals aligned perfectly, and after mixing was complete, I thought, ‘This is title track material.'”
Continuing their approach from their debut, Cortis has once again co-created all aspects of their content—including music, visuals, and choreography—demonstrating their “Young Creator Crew” identity.
The group held a song camp in Los Angeles to work on their second mini-album, contributing not only to songwriting and composition but also offering input on music videos, performances, and album photography.
James explained their production approach: “We wanted to create something with a fresh texture and raw feeling. So we experimented with instruments and rhythms we’d never used before. Through research and experimentation, we developed songs with diverse textures. The entire album reflects this approach, so please give it a listen.”
Behind-the-Scenes Music Video Production
An interesting revelation was that before filming the official music video, the members created their own self-produced version.
Gunho noted: “We incorporated most of the overall composition and feel from our self-made version into the official music video.”
Juhoon added: “That’s why there are many improvised scenes. We’d follow the storyboard for the first shot, then film the next parts with ad-libs.”
Sunghyun shared a memorable moment from filming: “We shot at a traditional restaurant. Gunho and Martin wore the owner’s aprons for the shoot, and passersby were curious about what we were filming. We told them it was a university project.”
Future Aspirations
When asked about their ultimate goals, Cortis expressed: “We want to become artists with our own symbolic identity—like a brand—where people think, ‘I want to go see this team’s performance.’ Just as we’re doing now, we’ll continue to explore, research, and push boundaries to deliver something beyond what anyone has experienced before.”
The new track was released at 6 PM on the same day.