CORTIS: BigHit Music's New Boy Group Steps into the Spotlight

BigHit Music, the powerhouse behind BTS and TXT, has introduced its latest boy group, CORTIS, consisting of members Martin, James, Juhun, Sunghyun, and Gunho. This marks the first new group from BigHit in six years, drawing significant attention from the industry.

CORTIS debuted with their single 'What You Want' on the 18th, featuring a unique choreography that incorporates treadmills. During a media showcase, James shared, "We even took motion sickness pills while creating the choreography." Gunho added, "We wanted to create an impressive performance film, so we shot it in the American desert with 35 treadmills." Sunghyun noted, "After filming, my mouth was full of sand." Despite the support from their agency, the members put in tremendous effort to produce the final product.

CORTIS prides itself on being a 'creator' group, with all members contributing ideas to their music, choreography, and videos. Martin and James, in particular, have honed their skills as producers even before debut, having worked on projects for groups like I-LAND, ENHYPEN, and TXT. This experience has shaped CORTIS's identity as a self-producing group.

In the global music market, artists who write their own songs or participate in choreography often gain popularity, as seen with BTS, Stray Kids, and ATEEZ. CORTIS's lineup includes two foreign members, Martin and James, who are fluent in English, giving them an advantage on the international stage.

With Martin holding dual citizenship in Korea and Canada, and James hailing from Hong Kong, the group is well-equipped to overcome language barriers. Their debut track features easy-listening sounds, aiming to establish a foothold in the global market while appealing to domestic audiences.

CORTIS showcases their self-production capabilities, and all eyes are on whether these five members can become BigHit's next growth engine following BTS and TXT.

Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia one@tenasia.co.kr