The new single "Monochrome/Two of us" has an unprecedented "Tomacchan"!

In June, two best albums, "Haruka Tomatsu Haruka BEST SELECTION -sunshine-" and "Haruka Tomatsu Haruka BEST SELECTION -starlight-" were released simultaneously. Haruka Tomatsu, who has compiled her eight years as an artist, is finally releasing a new single to follow this album. The two A-sides, "Monochrome," an unprecedented mature rock number, and "Two of us," a gentle ballad, will mark a fresh start for the artist as she moves forward into the future!

This single is a fitting new step forward after the best album!

─ ─ "Haruka Tomatsu BEST LIVE TOUR 2016~SunQ&Hoshi Sekai~" reached its finale at Pacifico Yokohama National Grand Hall on October 1. How was this tour?

Tomatsu This was my fourth tour as a solo artist, and the first time I toured two years in a row. Since it was after the release of my best album, it was more of a culmination of my eight years than a tour for this year. I was nervous about how I would evolve and present the songs I am used to singing and those I haven't sung in a long time, but I am relieved that I was able to incorporate everything I wanted to do and successfully complete the tour.

─ The songs "sunshine" and "starlight" on the best album were decided by fan votes. I think it must have been a special stage for the fans who came to the live concert.

Tomatsu: Those who have been supporting me for a long time said, "This song reminds me of the 1st live when I hear it," and I could feel that each audience had their own drama through my songs. Of course, I myself felt the same way. I remember how nervous I was when I sang this song for the first time, and I remember the mistakes and troubles I had experienced during the 8 years of the tour.

─ So there were songs that you sang with the feeling that now is the time to take revenge.

Tomatsu: Yes, there was revenge (laughs). For this tour, we decided to make it an Osaka-only song and declared during the MC, "The last time we sang it in Osaka, it didn't go well because of equipment trouble, so we'll do it perfectly today! The crowd went wild when I announced that I would perform it perfectly today.

─ By the way, what song was it?

Tomatsu: "Issai Gassai" (a coupling song for the single "Yume Sekai", also included in the 2nd album "Sunny Side Story") It was the first song we performed on the 2nd tour, so we were happy to get our revenge.

─ ─ Wasn't the structure of the live performance quite different from the usual tour?

Tomatsu: There were more ballad elements than usual. We clearly separated the exciting "sunshine" part and the quiet "starlight" part, and I think I was able to show people who came to my live for the first time that there are so many good ballads.

─ ─ After the release of your best album and the tour, you are now releasing a new single. What kind of single did you want to make?

Tomatsu: After I had completed my 8-year career as an artist, I wanted to release a single that would give me a fresh start. I thought it wouldn't be interesting to release a normal single, and when the staff said, "Let's do a double A-side," I thought it was a great idea.

───The composition of this single, the up-tempo "Monochrome" and the ballad "Two of us," is the same as the concept of the best album, isn't it?

Tomatsu That's right. The two contrasting songs are twice as good as one, and I think you can feel both sides of Haruka Tomatsu in this single.