They already pushed boundaries to paint the world in splashes of color like never before. Now, the five CORTIS boys are exploring the depths of their tastes and what music means to them. “GREENGREEN,” the group’s second mini album, opens up about the green and red lights that signal the sound they’re headed toward and what they’re hitting on the brakes on. Read on to hear more from the boys about the unconventional sound they found rooted in their own lives, plus some listening recommendations for songs that have influenced them.
“REDRED” (CORTIS)
MARTIN: This song’s a manifesto with lyrics that say it straight about what we’re after and where we draw the line. It’s also a total banger. You can’t shake just how hard the bass hits you right in the chest when you play it on nice big speakers.
JAMES: “REDRED” is the kind of song best enjoyed when you crank up the volume and dance like no one’s watching. Hope you’ll really get into it with us!
JUHOON: This is my favorite song off the album. There’s no way to describe how good it feels when the gritty sound and the lyrics to match come together. Recommended for anyone looking for a dopamine hit.
SEONGHYEON: “REDRED” is perfect for a nighttime “Joyride.” Sometimes you just get really hyped in the middle of the night, so put on this song and get moving to feel the refreshing and exhilarating vibe of the music. It’s meant to be played loud when you party, so I hope you enjoy it!
KEONHO: I really want to recommend this song, especially for the ride the second verse takes you on, which I love. You can feel the bass reverberating through your chest when it hits. Make sure you crank your speakers all the way up when you listen.
“TNT” (CORTIS)
JAMES: We wrote “TNT” with performing onstage to the audience in mind. We filled it with parts everyone can sing along to and be a part of the energy onstage. I hope you’ll sing your hearts out with us!
“ACAI” (CORTIS)
SEONGHYEON: The lyrics to “ACAI” are funny and full of highlights, but we also worked a deeper message in there to make it even more interesting to watch and listen to. There’s a vintage vibe to both the look and the sound, and I think it’s the song that best captures the raw feeling we wanted to convey with this album.
“YOUNGCREATORCREW” (CORTIS)
KEONHO: I really like the line, “Can’t feel it just yet / Bop your head.” I think it sums up the big message of the song. You’ll want to hear a live version to catch what makes it really special.
“Wassup” (CORTIS)
JUHOON: I think “Wassup” feels a bit different from the rest of the album. We wanted to talk about how our lives have changed since debuting, but the fast drumming keeps things light and makes the song even tastier.
“Blue Lips” (CORTIS)
MARTIN: I wrote this song back in 2022, when I was a trainee. I was a little lonely back then, and a lot of my friends were drifting away, and I sort of got at that by singing about how it feels coming out of the pool when you’ve been in that cold water a long time. I wrote a bunch of songs every day back then, pouring my heart into every line like a personal diary. I’m surprised when I listen to it now because I don’t know how I could write a song like that back then. I feel like I’m actually getting a lot of inspiration from the music I made back then.
“white keys” (Dominic Fike)
MARTIN: I personally love making bangers and I put a lot of effort into my lyrics, but I still tend to place more weight on the music side. Still, whenever I find the right inspiration or hit a turning point, I want to try writing lyrics that are a bit deeper. I really admire Dominic Fike for his lyrics, and this song feels like his epilogue. The lyrics really hit me whenever I listen to it. It shows me the true power of a metaphor and the different ways you can express the same thing.
“Parklife” (Blur)
JAMES: I love Blur. The lyrics to this song immediately paint a picture in your mind, and there’s a clear message they send about a lifestyle and stuff, plus it’s got a really singable chorus, so I listen to it a lot.
“Watching The Wheels” (John Lennon)
JUHOON: I ended up getting into the Beatles lately, which naturally led me to John Lennon’s music. That’s how I found out about this song. There’s something about it that just feels so human.
“Wrong Hand” (Jessica Pratt)
SEONGHYEON: I like to listen to this song a lot lately because it makes me feel refreshed when I put it on during my morning commute.
“Genie” (Girls’ Generation)
KEONHO: This song energizes me when I’m feeling down. It feels like it makes my heart ring out every time I listen to it. I think those high notes toward the end of the song are seriously legendary. It’s a good listen for when I’m working out or warming up.
MARTIN’s recommendation: Geese - “Au Pays du Cocaine”
JAMES’s recommendation: Michael Jackson - “Buttrerflies”
JUHOON’s recommendation: Nirvana - “Scentless Apprentice”
SEONGHYEON’s recommendation: sixzino - “Rock”
KEONHO’s recommendation: Hareem - “Incurable disease”