Tomoko Kawase

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Tomoko Kawase
川瀬智子


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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name =
Alias = Tommy february⁶
Tommy heavenly⁶
Born = Birth date and age|1975|2|6|mf=y
Died =
Origin = Kyoto, Japan
Instruments = Singing
Genre = Japanese pop, Japanese rock
Occupation(s) = singer-songwriter
Years_active = 1997–Present
Label = DefSTAR Records
Notable_albums =
Notable_songs = EVERYDAY AT THE BUS STOP
MaGic in youR Eyes
I'm Gonna SCREAM+
Associated_acts = the brilliant green
URL = [http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Info/Tommy/ Official Site]
Current_members =
Past_members = nihongo|Tomoko Kawase|川瀬智子|"Kawase Tomoko"|born February 6, 1975 is a Japanese female singer and vocalist of musical group the brilliant green. As a solo artist, she has released music under the alter-ego pseudonyms Tommy february⁶ and Tommy heavenly⁶.

Due to her marriage to Shunsaku Okuda, her legal name changed to Tomoko Okuda (奥田智子) however she is still credited under "Kawase Tomoko".

the brilliant green

She is the lead vocalist and lyricist of the J-pop band the brilliant green. She was asked to join the band in 1995 after bassist Shunsaku Okuda and guitarist Ryo Matsui heard her sing in an amateur talent contest. As the band's lyricist (as well as in her solo career) she sings and writes songs in both Japanese and English. Although she reportedly does not speak much English, she does have an English-speaking friend who sometimes runs a quick check through her lyrics, but his input is often minimal at best.Fact|date=March 2007

Following the release of their 2002 album "THE WINTER ALBUM", and the subsequent tour, the brilliant green disappeared, and during this time on November 22, 2003 Kawase announced her marriage to fellow band mate, bassist Shunsaku Okuda.

On June 1, 2007, it was announced that after 5 years of inactivity, The Brilliant Green would be returning with a new single to celebrate their 10th anniversary. The song, titled "Stand by me," is the ending theme for the new series of TV drama, "Tantei Gakuen Q," which began on July 3rd 2007. The comeback began in earnest on August 22nd, 2007, as the band's new single hit the shops, and will continue with a new single, "Enemy" to be released on December 12th, 2007. The band is also providing the opening theme to the new anime Mobile Suit Gundam 00. The new song, "Ash Like Snow", has been released on February 6th.

Solo career

In 2001, Tomoko launched her solo career under the name of Tommy february⁶, a character named from a combination of her nickname and birthdate. Vastly different from the J-Rock sound of the brilliant green, Tommy february⁶'s persona and sound are inspired by and derived from British and American 1980s synth-heavy pop. Her eponymous debut album was released on the day of her 27th birthday.

Kawase's original intention with Tommy february⁶ was to create a character who was far from innocent, though cute in both sound and appearance; Tommy february⁶ was designed to be someone who was true to her feelings despite the cutesy nature of her outward character, do as she wanted (and as such, Tommy february⁶ is seen repeatedly in music videos drinking alcohol from flasks, bars, etc.) Unfortunately, the original concept started to disappoint her, and Kawase began to feel that the character could no longer maintain its purity.

After a performance as Tommy february⁶ in 2003, Kawase took off her glasses and donned a much more alternative look to create Tommy heavenly⁶, a brand new character with a modern rock sound. Kawase would later explain that Tommy heavenly⁶ was born from a dream that Tommy february⁶ had, in which she extrovertly embraces all the elements of her personality she had previously been repressing. This is reflected in the promotional video for Tommy heavenly⁶'s first single, "Wait Till I Can Dream", wherein Tommy february⁶ drinks from a hip flask and falls asleep, only to be woken by Tommy heavenly⁶. Musically, she's the polar opposite of Tommy february⁶, and possesses an image most people would consider more dangerous, but Kawase claims that Tommy heavenly⁶ is far more pure and true to her heart than Tommy february⁶ is.

Kawase claims that the invention of Tommy heavenly⁶ occurred due of her disappointment in Tommy february⁶'s character, but far from being a replacement, Kawase chose to keep the two characters' careers separate. During 2003 and 2004, Tommy heavenly⁶ released only two singles, whilst Tommy february⁶ went on to release her second full album, "Tommy airline". It would be in August 2005 (nearly exactly two years after her first single) that Tommy heavenly⁶ would finally release her third single, which was shortly followed by her own long awaited eponymous debut album.

In 2006/2007 Kawase has had a very busy period, releasing five new singles and a new album, Heavy Starry Heavenly as Tommy heavenly⁶. She finished this productive phase with the Heavy Starry Tour, four live performances as Tommy heavenly⁶ during March 2007. She incorporated most of her songs into this live format, which lasted for an hour and a half , complete with her now regular backing band, and even her band mates from The Brilliant Green made guest appearances for some songs.

On June 1 2007 The Brilliant Green announced they would be returning with a new material. Whether or not Tommy will continue with her solo projects in the future is unknown.

In addition to her own solo singing career, Kawase has produced and written songs for the idol group Tommy☆angels, as well as making a protégé of current Hinoi Team member, Asuka Hinoi.

Kawase has also made an appearance as the voice of Pikki in the anime series Piroppo, briefly modelled for Italian fashion house Fiorucci and for a period of time hosted Break Down, an MTV show.

She also worked as a producer on the Takashi Fujii single, entitled "OH MY JULIET".

Discography

(For a discography of Tomoko Kawase with the "the brilliant green" visit their page..)

Trivia

* In October 2002, Tommy february⁶ released a photo and journal book titled "Tommy february⁶ + Hawaii". It is presented in a mock travel guide format, including features such as restaurant reviews, sightseeing hotspots and cultural information. In keeping with the character's outwardly cute personality, crude outline sketches of animals and fairies litter the pages (as seen on the cover) alongside thought bubbles gracing many of the pictures, which have the distinct appearance of doodles.

* In October 2005, an exclusive Tommy february⁶ Blythe doll was released.

* "Lonely in Gorgeous" was used as the opening theme for the anime series Paradise Kiss.

* The music video for "Lonely in Gorgeous" is partly an homage to the famous music video of Sabotage by Beastie Boys.

* "Pray" was used as the opening theme for the anime series Gintama under Kawase's alias, Tommy Heavenly6.

* Kawase is almost equally known to her fans for her music as she is infamous for her strange obsessions.

* During her time with "the brilliant green", she was rarely seen without a plush toy (or t-shirt, or bag, or hand puppet) of Elmo, the Sesame Street muppet. Kawase even went so far as to have one (if not more) accompany her on stage as the band performed on numerous occasions.

* Whilst in character as Tommy february⁶, Kawase seems to have a distinct pre-occupation with Pikachu from the anime/video game franchise Pokémon, so much so that her song "L・O・V・E・L・Y ～夢見るLOVELY BOY～" has been dedicated to the character. The single's cover features a picture of Tommy february⁶ lovingly embracing a giant plush Pikachu. [http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0002HNRUG] The music also featured on the ending of the 7th Pokémon Movie, Destiny Deoxys.

* Less well known, but no less prominent obsessions of Kawase's include J.K. Rowling's adolescent wizard Harry Potter, to whom she and the rest of the brilliant green members paid tribute by dressing in the Hogwarts uniform during a performance at the J-Wave 2000+2 music festival.

:In many of the pictures featured within the book "Tommy february⁶ + Hawaii", Kawase is shown with a plush toy (most often either a red lobster or a turquoise octopus). Occasionally these photographs do not feature Kawase at all, such as a picture of the red lobster toy alone in front of a road sign.

External links

* [http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Info/Tommy/ Official Website (Japanese)]
* [http://centigrade.blandplanet.com/features/bandinfo/tommyfebruary_pt1.htm An interview with Tommy february⁶ from 2001 (English)]
* [http://burndvdburn.blogspot.com/2006/11/tommy-heavenly6-lollipop-candy-bad-girl.html Screen Shots from Lollipop Candy Bad Girl Video (English)]
* [http://burndvdburn.blogspot.com/2006/11/tommy-heavenly6-cd-single-ready-pv-and.html Scans from Ready CD Single(English)]
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