An unknown brillance
The strongest and praised beautiful looks in which an unknown potential is hidden Approaching the real face of TOMO from ORβIT, a Japanese-Korean group that gains a lot of attention
Ando Tomoaki gained a high popularity at an audition held in ‘19 with his handsome looks, strong and stable singing as well as good personality. After the absolutely unexpected result of the audition, Ando (joined) as TOMO the Japanese-Korean dance and vocal group ORβIT. They made their debut with the full album “OO” in November ‘20 and in April they released the mini album “Enchant”. No matter with which troubles he is struck with, he turns to the light of “singing” and continues to move forward while shining brightly and illuminating his surroundings like a QUASAR (= the most bright celestial body in the space). He attempts his first solo interview in a magazine.
Speaking of TOMO-san, you are called the “the most handsome/strongest face” in SNS and so on, but how do you react to all this praise? No not at all~ (laughs) I’m happy, but I don’t have any interest in my appearance. Before I joined this world, I was on a boat and I let my facial hair grow. Even now, the member Shunya only downgrades my clothes (laughs). I didn’t expect that my looks would be praised, so I don’t really get it. Do you have the experience of being popular (with the other gender) during your school years? Not at all. Because my face is strong, I was often thought of as scary and no one talked to me, too, so I wasn’t popular and I only had a few friends. However, once we talked a bit, people understood that I’m someone who likes funny things. I was surprised by your gap that also during the shooting you were cheerful and amiable. (laughs) What do you mean by “you were on a ship” which you mentioned earlier? Since I was a child, I liked fishing and after joining a highschool in order to become a fisher, during my 2nd year, I chose a course to obtain an engineer’s license for a large scale ship because of my parent's recommendation. For that class I boarded a ship for two months to fish tuna while going to Hawaii and after graduation I advanced to a special class to get the qualification for boarding large scale passenger boats and for a whole year I was on a ship. I also boarded the ship of the marine transport company where I got a job. On the other hand, you thought “I want to become a singer”? TOMO: Yes, originally I despised karaoke, but after entering highschool I suddenly ended up loving to sing. My personality is that when I become absorbed into something, I move forward to it without looking aside, so I did the engineer studies for the time being, but I made the resolution to “I will make a living with singing for sure” during my highschool years, after graduation my life was to take auditions when we stopped at a port.
Did you also sing on the ship? I sang a lot in the engine room (laughs). No matter how loud I sang, no one heard it, so my daily routine was to practise there. For example, which song? I like western R&B. EXILE-san and Tamaki Koji’s songs. I especially like Tamaki’s songs and I also admire his unrivaled expression power. How did you feel back then? When there was an age limited at the audition, I felt impatient. Yet, I only felt positively that “No matter how I will do music for sure”. For you who had taken up various auditions (before), the last audition was a little different from your favourite music and nature, but did you try it out of your own intention? It was recommended by my older sister who likes K-POP. I was in the state of “What’s that?”, but back then I was taking acting auditions and everything I could get my hands on, so while having no clue, I dove into it. What did you gain from it? TOMO: There were no judges and it was the first time to perform in front of an audience, so I learnt a lot. Also, it gave me a chance to sing of course but also to dance. Please tell us of your experiences until you joined ORβIT. When I thought about what I should do from now on after the audition, Heecho-san called me and asked “Do you want to make music together?”. I didn’t know what kind of music, but I heard the other member’s names and I thought if it’s these 7 members, we can do the music we want on a high level, so I decided on the spot. Were there any other offers? To be honest, there were talks, but… I declined everything. What made you decide this? After all, Number 1 is the members. Heecho-san is the first one I’ve seen close up with such a high level of singing and performaning. I didn’t know whether I could make the music I wanted to do if I jumped to other talks, but I thought that if these people were together, my own level would gradually rise and I would be able to reach new grounds. That’s why I chose ORβIT. Any regrets about (not) singing solo? No. It is overwhelmingly more appealing to do it with these 6 people than to sing alone. ORβIT‘s songs don’t have the so-called K-POP sound, but have the standart feeling of R&B and a maturity. That’s right. Lively and cheerful songs are necessary, but as for the impression of the sound, we are concious about maturity and sexyness and express those. Please tell us about the strengths of a Japanese-Korean group and the places you aim for. At the moment the Korean members are still contributing to the Japanese songs, but in the future we want to improve our Japanese, Korean and English, so that we can communicate with the world on a high level.
From your view point, what kind of existence are the other 6 members? Younghoon-san, who is the oldest one, is a big brother, cool and funny person, but he is really shy (laughs). At dance practise, he watches us while dancing with us and after dancing he gives precise advice, so I’m always helped. The leader Heecho-san is someone who is highly skilled in all aspects of singing, dancing and shooting. He makes me think that when I look at his back, I want to become a person like him. He is unexpectantly a loner (laughs). Yoondong-san is the younger brother when he is with Younghoon-san and Heecho-san, but he becomes a big brother when he is with us. He spent a long time living with us 4 Japanese members, so he supported us in dancing and mental states. June is the sole member who is the same age as me. Our likes and humour align, we both don’t care about our clothes, so I feel like we have something in common (laughs). We go to eat together outside of work, too, we play games, and he is someone like a like minded friend. Shunya is someone who gives me clothes. (laughs) He is the one who thinks the most about the group and he makes use of our individuality in the design of our costumes and in our presentation. I’m grateful that I can leave all the visual aspects to him. On the first glance, you tend to see Yugo only as someone cute, but he has a mature and sexy part, too. He was the central one who came up with the dance of “Dionaea” and he is more particular than anyone else when it comes to dealing with singing, dancing and recording. Also, he is making big efforts. At the beginning he used formal speech, but before you know it he talks to you in informal speech, but it won’t make you uncomfortable. He is someone who is good at getting closer (to others). By the way, he has quite the sharp tongue (laughs).
And what kind of existence are you in ORβIT? I’m good at watching people and analysing them, but I have no idea about myself (laughs). However, “Ready To Burn” from “OO” is a song I’m singing in a really high tone and I think they might have relied on me for that. In the regard of singing I want to become someone who the group relies on. Was there no slight shifting regarding “I will live from singing”? Yes. Because I believe there are no limits for me, my motto is to continue to grow. I think that my limits of that time will change each time, so I’m never satisfied with my recordings and I will continue to struggle “It’s not enough” my whole life. Because of the Corona pandemic, you weren’t able to meet the members in Korea? Last year in December we could meet for an instant after 10 months, but the loneliness of not being able to meet became stronger when you actually feel how much you can do because there are 7 members for a moment. It was great to practise dancing, do the recording or eat together as 7 people. It’s so frustrating… After Corona made its last breath, what do you want to do with ORβIT? A live! I want to perform live in front of an audience. Is there some work you want to do personally? I would like you to appear in magazines like “Tarzan” or programs like “Sasuke”* where you can make use of your trained body (laughs). It would be really good if I could make use of my trained body! But right now for the balance of the 7 members, I’m reducing my muscles… Also for today’s costume, I was worried not to tear it every time I moved (laughs). Personally, I love animals, so I would like to do work together with animals. Generally speaking, I like Gorillas the most, so I spent my whole life aiming to become like one. TN: Sasuke: The program might be better known under its international name “Ninja Warrior”. So that you trained…? I began to train with my own weight during the 5th year of elementary school because I admired gorillas. The grip strength of a gorilla is 300kg and my own record is 87kg. It’s about enough to crush an apple with one hand in a squish. That’s amazing! By the way, do you have any interest in the work of an actor? I’m interested but… I feel self conscious towards the pros of this path, but should I ever get the chance, I would like to challenge it. Because I think it will be for the benefit of the group, too, if I make acting experience and polish my expressiveness for singing and MVs. Finally, a message for your fans. I decided to stick to my beliefs, so I would be happy if you kindly watch over me who will continue to grow his whole life.
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