It’s normal for rookie debuts to play it safe. CORTIS don’t. The first boy band from BIGHIT MUSIC in six years launches with COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES, an EP that chooses risk over polish, grit over gloss, instinct over calculation. It’s a project with their fingerprints smudged all over it – from songwriting to production to co-directing their own visuals – and that DIY streak gives COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES a refreshingly raw, unfiltered charge.

“GO!” kicks the door open with lo-fi trap synths and shouted hooks, scrappy bravado and teenage chest-thumping: “I’m on the new shit.” Lead single “What You Want” lurches between psychedelic guitars and boom-bap drums, its screaming chants landing less like polished choruses and more like scribbled teenage declarations. “FaSHioN” thrifts its way from Dongmyo flea markets to Met Gala dreams with bratty defiance. “JoyRide” veers into breezy alt-rock escapism, while closer “Lullaby” sinks into a psychedelic haze, unvarnished in all the right ways.

CORTIS aren’t debuting by the rulebook – they’re kicking it out of their hands. To mark the release of COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES, MARTIN, JAMES, JUHOON, SEONGHYEON and KEONHO open up about the stories and impulses behind each track – read on for their track-by-track commentary, exclusively with tmrw.

1. Track One: “GO!”

MARTIN I think “GO!” has a very organic vibe to it. It quickly came together during one of our freestyle sessions, when the sound just flowed naturally. Writing the lyrics took a bit longer, but since it was the first track we all sat down to write together, it holds a deeper meaning and captures our story perfectly.

JAMES I really love the hook in “GO!” It’s an incredible feeling when our fans join in with an “Ayy!” during our live performances. It’s a song that connects us to our fans—a shared experience that brings us all together.

JUHOON The line, “When the olds see us they give us a thumbs up,” always sticks with me. Every time those lyrics play, I find myself throwing my thumbs up too. Since “GO!” is super catchy, it’s the track that’s been stuck in my head the most. The fact that I can play it on repeat, even if we spent the most time practicing it, is a testament to that.

SEONGHYEON I personally love the line "Pull up to the studio with our pants low, here we go," because it brings back the memory of our song camp in LA.

KEONHO The hook “I just gotta get it, watch me go” hits me the most. Performing it live, the energy we share with our fans is incredible—the crowd goes all out with us!

2. Track Two: “What You Want”

MARTIN My favorite line is “What I want is something to make it race again / I mean my heart.” There’s a rush of emotion when I shout, “make it race again,” and I think that’s why I love it so much. We screamed the chants “what you want” while recording, so it really feels like a bold declaration of our passion and ambition stepping into the world as CORTIS. The boom bap tempo also makes it fun to perform—no matter where we are, when we start hitting the beat up and down with our hands, our fans always join in, and the energy is just off the charts.

JAMES I love that “What You Want” perfectly captures our drive and ambition, representing who we are as artists. The repeated hook “what you want” is the part that has the most impact for me.

JUHOON I feel a rush when I sing the line “What I want is something to make it race again / I mean my heart”. When we were writing the lyrics, we aimed to be most honest, and I think those genuine emotions shine through every time we perform it live.

SEONGHYEON This was honestly the hardest song to record because of all the chants and shouts. But in the end, I always gain a lot of energy listening to it, and I hope that listeners feel the same.

KEONHO “I want the whole world to know my name.” That line says it all. This track is about our honest desire to show who we are and have the whole world know our name.

3. Track Three: “FaSHioN”

MARTIN The lyrics came together pretty quickly because they’re so straightforward. We had a lot of fun writing, so I really hope people can just enjoy the song without overthinking it. During live performances, I’d love to see the audience have a good time and jump along with us. One day, it’d be exciting to see a full mosh pit happening!

JAMES My favorite line is “Dongmyo, Wassup / Hongdae, Wassup.” It brings back memories of the times I went shopping there, which makes the song more personal.

JUHOON My favorite line is “My tee, 5 bucks / My pants, 10,000 won.” We’ve always loved thrifting—it’s affordable and there’s a unique charm in wearing worn pieces with a story behind them. I’m fond of this song because it reflects our lifestyle, not only as artists but also as teens.

SEONGHYEON My favorite line is “Hongdae got them inspired, Fashion,” because anyone who’s spent time there will get the vibe 👍

KEONHO The lyrics for this song came together pretty fast, and we really enjoyed reflecting our personal style into it. The vibe of “FaSHioN” is very different from “GO!” or “What You Want,” so I’m looking forward to seeing how it all comes to life on stage. I can’t wait to perform it live!

4. Track Four: “JoyRide”

MARTIN It’s a mellow pop track, but the lyrics are surprisingly bold and rebellious, and I think that contrast makes this song unique. The theme of “hopping over walls” really resonates with me—it’s like a small act of rebellion. Even when there is a clear road ahead, there’s an excitement to jumping over walls. I remember sneaking over the school walls late at night while listening to music to go play basketball. Even on days when the school gates were open, climbing over the fence was faster and just felt right with the playlist I was listening to.

JAMES “JoyRide” is an emotional song with a signature pop sound. My favorite lyric would be “fried eggs, pancakes” because it paints a clear picture in your head, almost like a scene from a movie.

JUHOON “JoyRide” has a poetic tone, but the lyrics carry a rebellious edge. Since it’s called “JoyRide,” we wanted to write the lyrics while driving, but unfortunately, none of us have our licenses. So, we worked on it from the back seat while our manager was driving us along the Malibu coast.

SEONGHYEON You should listen to this song at sunset. A stop at a drive-thru is a must! 🤗

KEONHO It’s a must-listen if you’re going to LA—perfect song to add to your playlist for a drive along the ocean at sunset!

5. Track Five: “Lullaby”

MARTIN I believe this song truly echoes my most unfiltered thoughts. That’s a sentiment shared across all our songs, but “Lullaby” especially stands out. We finished it after only one or two freestyle takes. The chorus actually came from the members just dozing off on the couch in the background, but it unexpectedly shaped the song’s message, capturing our tired, freestyle state of mind. It’s a little poetic, but in the music video, you can see us having fun through the perspective of a soda can. I think it’s the most raw and authentic video we’ve made so far, both in the camera work and in just us being completely ourselves.

JAMES I hope people enjoy “Lullaby” along with the music video we created. Out of all the videos we’ve made, this one feels the most natural and unpolished—simple, yet most memorable.

JUHOON “It’s cold already, why turn the A/C on?” is my favorite line. I actually get cold easily, so I don’t like using the A/C. It’s so relatable. The music video is a must-see, too. There’s such a raw feeling in the angles and our acting, and the fact that it was shot in a single take highlights that.

SEONGHYEON It’s a song you can listen to before going to bed, but personally, it reminds me of the pool. I recommend listening to it quietly while swimming alone or enjoying a meal outdoors on a nice day.

KEONHO This is my favorite track from COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES. It’s a perfect song to listen to while taking a bath or watching the sunset.