HYBE, the powerhouse behind BTS and TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT), is introducing its first new idol group in six years. Ahead of their debut, rookie act CORTIS has shared a glimpse of their months-long songwriting camp in Los Angeles.
At midnight on the 14th KST, CORTIS dropped the second set of concept images for their debut album, COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES, across their official social channels. Shot around Los Angeles, the photos capture an easy, high-energy vibe: the members burst into laughter leaning against the bed of a pickup and strike playful poses atop a pipeline―perfectly channeling their “color outside the lines” ethos.
L.A. isn’t just a backdrop; it’s part of CORTIS’ origin story. Before debut, the group spent three months in the city for an intensive camp, diving into songwriting, choreography, and visual production. It’s rare for an entire pre-debut rookie lineup to decamp overseas for a creative residency, underscoring their identity as a “young creators crew.”
CORTIS will make their official debut at 6 p.m. KST on the 18th, releasing the title track “What You Want” alongside a conceptual performance film.
Born out of the L.A. camp, “What You Want” plays like a manifesto―CORTIS staking their claim as they step into a new world. All five members―MARTIN, JAMES, JUHOON, SEONGHYEON, KEONHO―are credited across the album, signaling a distinct creative identity from the jump.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)