CORTIS in Paris: Coffee, Records, Açaí Bowls and Vintage Hunting on a Day Off

Starting the Day With Coffee and Dessert

The video opens with the group introducing themselves as "a band named CORTIS" and asking viewers to search them up. Two members are missing at the start and are expected to join later, so the others begin at a café. Since they're in Paris, one member reasons, they should probably drink some coffee. One member orders an espresso, saying they had never tried one before, along with vanilla ice cream. Another admits to feeling nervous and says they'll definitely need the ice cream afterward. When the espresso arrives, they note how strong it smells.

The conversation turns to James's sweet tooth. One member says James loves dessert and sometimes doesn't want to eat regular food, which the member admits they don't understand, but accepts as "his style." They try the ice cream, joking that it's already melting and that they prefer it that way, and agree they needed something sweet.

First Impressions of Paris

On the way to a record shop, the members share how the city strikes them. One calls Paris a place with "its own vibe" and its own feeling, and describes it as a very inspiring city. They note that this is not only their first time in Paris as a group but their first time in Europe.

The details that stand out are mostly visual: the beauty of the buildings, and a couple they passed sitting in front of a building, which one member says looked romantic, "like a scene in a movie." Later, comparing Paris with Seoul, they describe both as very big cities, but Seoul as somewhat more modern and Paris as more classic.

Digging Through Classic Soul Records

At Classic Soul Records, the members browse widely. One says they listen to all kinds of music, and another says that since everything here is new to them, they try to accept the experience as it is.

Their picks are personal. One member says they used to listen to Debussy in Korea to get into a certain mood and have started listening to him again. Another names the Rolling Stones' Exile on Main St. as a favorite album, and "Rock of Ages" also comes up as something they've been listening to. One member picks up a record by Ralph Sutton. Another highlights a 1962 first pressing by someone they describe as one of the most famous singers in France.

The most personal choice is a Celine Dion CD. The member explains that their mother loves Celine Dion, describing the singer as a kind of spiritual figure for her, and that this love was passed down to them.

Açaí Bowls and the Idea of "Being the Base"

After the record shop, the group heads for açaí bowls. They explain that even in Paris they're eating açaí because it's their favorite food. One member adds, "Paris is the city of love. You got to do what you love."

The food turned out to have a real connection to their music. While making their second album, the members say, they were so into açaí bowls that they ate them almost every day. Over time they came to a conclusion: what makes a good açaí bowl is the base, and the toppings are "just decorations." They admit this sounds strange, but say they began to relate to it and wanted to write about it in their lyrics. The idea, as they put it, is that they want to be the base itself, "something good."

Adventurous and Picky Eaters

Asked who eats most adventurously, the members point to James, who often introduces the others to new food. That same morning, one member says, James was eating a panini, something the speaker had never tried. The two youngest members are named the pickiest eaters. When asked about French food they'd like to try, one member says they really want a very good éclair.

Naps Before the Stage

The members also describe how they prepare to perform. One says they nap a lot before going on stage, and the others describe the effect as if the brain has been restarted. They add that however tired they are, they forget it once they step on stage. Their mode changes, and meeting and engaging with fans is "always a different experience."

Vintage Shopping and Styling Each Other

On the way to a vintage store, the members admit they know almost no French. One offers "je ne sais pas français" and another tries "parlez-vous français?", while the others say they don't even know that much.

The members say almost all the clothes they buy are vintage. What draws them is the story behind a piece: a particular designer made it in a particular year, and it becomes an archive piece. They describe that history as the reason they "go crazy" about vintage, and one member cites a line they attribute to Kurt Cobain comparing it to finding gems. They also note that the vintage market seems to be growing in Korea, while in Paris it's already everywhere.

In the store, the members discuss each other's styles. One member is known for rock band T-shirts, which he customizes by cropping, distressing and cutting them everywhere. The others describe him as having set outfits and his own hairstyle, which they count as part of fashion, calling it "edgy," with one piece of hair left dangling. One member jokes that this "kind of pisses me off" but then says they respect it: "That's your style."

They then pick pieces for each other. One chooses a flamboyant Balenciaga item. An orange one-piece comes up, which one member thinks looks comfortable while another asks whether they have to wear it. When it's someone else's turn to choose, the member being styled says they're nervous. The picker promises not to repeat what they did to another member earlier and hands over a swimsuit, reasoning that the member is a swimmer. The others laugh and agree the choice suits him.

A Cruise and Thinking About Inspiration

The day ends with a cruise, where the members take photos for their fans. One says that simply feeling the air of Paris has been the best part of the trip. Another says they're curious to see how much inspiration and how many ideas they'll take from the trip and bring into their art.

Advice for Their Generation

Asked for a word of advice, one member hesitates, saying they don't want to give the cliché "be yourself." They grant that it helps, but argue that you have to find it yourself: "Advice doesn't work if you can't feel it yourself."

Another member adds that their generation tends to lose track of dreaming, sometimes dismissing it as corny or too cheesy. Their view is that people should dream anyway: "You got to live by something."