In Toronto, CORTIS encouraged fans to live in the moment
Preaching the message of "Put Your Phone Down", the quintet brought raw energy and connection to Canada
(Photo credit: BIG HIT MUSIC/CORTIS on X)
When CORTIS announced it was heading on tour, the title of the event immediately caught my attention.
“Put Your Phone Down.”
The irony was not lost on me. Members of CORTIS—Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyeon and Keonho—are all members of the online generation, or Gen Z. And since the band’s debut a year ago, the group has capitalized on marketing itself through internet memes and hilarious TikToks—all while releasing self-produced catchy bangers that resonate with young people today.
So much of CORTIS’s brand and image is rooted in internet culture—from the members’ casual street style, bleached and textured hairstyles to DIY approach to making music.
There is a bit of a rebellious approach to CORTIS, who go against the polished image of the typical K-pop idol formula. Dubbing themselves as the “Young Creator Crew” the quintet consider themselves hands-on, self-producing artists who are involved in the creative process of their music from art direction, choreography, production to songwriting.
But despite being so chronically online, it’s refreshing to see CORTIS rejecting screen culture through the message of its tour. At a time when attending a concert has become so ingrained with posting reels, fancams and pictures on social media, the band’s message of “Put your phone down” is simple.
“Put your phone down is a mindset. Just be in the moment. Please stick with us,” Keonho said during CORTIS’s recent concert at the Great Canadian Casino Toronto.
(Photo credit: BIG HIT MUSIC)
Toronto was the first stop of CORTIS’s highly anticipated <Put Your Phone Down> North American tour, with tickets selling out within minutes of going on sale in June. In 2025, CORTIS broke out onto the scene with a bang, following in the footsteps of BIG HIT MUSIC’s other groups like BTS and Tomorrow X Together.
CORTIS’ debut EP Color Outside the Lines debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200, marking the second highest entry for a K-pop act’s debut album. And less than six months since bursting onto the scene, CORTIS just about won every rookie award by the end of the year—taking home trophies at the MAMA Awards, Asia Artist Awards and the Golden Disc Awards.
Still CORTIS’s first solo concert for the tour in July was initially met with mixed reviews. In Korea, attendees expressed disappointment over the non-traditional format of CORTIS’s concert. Unlike most K-pop shows that follow a formula of costume changes, VCRs and a varied setlist, CORTIS featured none of that. Most rookie groups—who have ten songs or less— often fill out a setlist with live covers, longer speeches and dance covers. But CORTIS decided to go against the grain. Instead, the band filled out its setlist by repeating songs like “REDRED” and “YOUNG CREATOR CREW” four to five times.
While I understood the disappointment from fans, it also didn’t surprise me that CORTIS would go in this direction. Many of the indie punk and hip hop shows I attended in my teen years followed a similar format of repeating songs during encores. Oftentimes, this was a way for artists to vibe and bring fans along with them. I also did not have a cellphone in 2008 as a 16-year-old, so I vividly remember a time when I could jump and dance around with my favourite groups like Billy Talent and Good Charlotte. This is why I understood the vision and message of “Put Your Phone Down.” CORTIS is paying homage to simpler times when we weren’t always glued to our screens.
(Photo credit: BIG HIT MUSIC/ CORTIS on X)
I also think this type of concert is akin to something many North American fans are used to seeing, while those who traditionally have only attended K-pop shows will have different expectations.
Still, in Toronto, the vibes from the audience was loud and hype from start to finish. CORTIS indeed did not use VCRs, play cover songs or change costumes throughout the set. Instead, it felt like an intimate gathering of 5000 fans, with members of the band going into the crowd multiple times to shake hands and dance with the audience.
Sure, there were still plenty with phones in their hands filming moments from the concert. How could they not? But it was also refreshing to see people waving their lightsticks in hands and jumping around. I sat in the grandstands, and even I felt the bleachers shaking!
As part of the tour, CORTIS also launched an app called PYPD, which ironically is downloaded on mobile devices. The goal of the app is to measure the movements of audience members during the concert. And by the night’s end, the average energy level per city is ranked against other stops throughout the tour.
“The reason we launched the app is to show how connected we are,” Martin said during the show.
By the night’s end, Toronto measured an average of 3,157 movement units per fan. A good workout indeed!
While many HYBE groups haven’t typically toured in Canada in the last five years, the show was also particularly meaningful for Martin, whose father is Canadian. The 18-year-old also lived in Ottawa for some time in his youth before moving to Korea as a child. Perhaps this is why he wanted to kick off the tour in a country that is very much part of his identity.
“My dad is Canadian!” Martin said, addressing the crowd. “He will be really proud watching this.”
Martin added his cousins were also in the audience that night.
“To be in this country and feel this energy from y’all…I’m really truly honoured. Thank y’all so much,” the singer added later on in the show, with a signed Canadian flag draped around his shoulders.
What makes CORTIS so popular with people today is its relatability and casual demeanour. The members give off the energy of your younger brother or cousin. Their songs also document the ups and downs of teenage life, from calling out societal pressures (“REDRED”) to the struggles one faces in chasing their dreams (“Lullaby”). Even the simplicity of an açaí bowl has inspired the tune “ACAI”, which the members ate often during songwriting camps. The simple fruit snack serves as a metaphor of CORTIS’s work ethic. You don’t need to be flashy to deliver something great.
That exact lack of flashiness was showcased in CORTIS’s concert in Toronto, making way for raw connection between the band and audience members.
“In the beginning of the show, I said that I believe in you Toronto. I believe you can put your phone down,” James said towards the end of the concert.
“I’m so happy that I am able to see every single one of you. I’m able to look into each other’s eyes and have a human connection here.”
Given the energy CORTIS gave to Toronto, and how the city returned it, I can see exactly why this is the next band to watch.
This tour might feature the smallest venues CORTIS will ever play. This band is most definitely going places, and it’ll hit arenas and stadiums next.
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