Hello and welcome back to HallyuTones, always focused on sound, stage and substance.
One of the greatest pleasures of website ownership and music journalism is being able to speak with a wide variety of artists with a range of backgrounds.
Today, I got the chance to interview Tomatomat, a new band in the K-Music scene with a distinctly unique and refreshing concept, perfect for the summer season.
Introduction:
Tomatomat (토마토맛), are a 3-member girl group and band, comprised of members quinn_ , Nayeon, and Sueun. They made their official debut with ‘Tomma Nova’ on July 11th, 2025. The single release contains 3 different versions in 3 languages respectively – Korean, English and Japanese.
When I first heard their debut song I was impressed by how unique the song was with it’s fusion of genres, with an appropriately creative music video accompanying it. Furthermore, upon discovering that the group were also instrumentalists, I instantly knew that I needed to find out more about them. But enough from me, let’s hear more from the members about their concept and music!
Interview:
Q1. Please introduce yourselves individually!
quinn_: Hello everyone! I’m quinn_, your tablesetter, in charge of setting the table for you all.
Nayeon: Hello, I’m Nayeon, who always wants to be positive.
Sueun: Hello, I’m Sueun, the one with the highest alcohol tolerance in Tomatomat!
Q2. Your group has a very unique concept. What was the inspiration behind the name ‘Tomatomat’ and the tomato concept?
When we were trying to decide on a group name, we just threw out a bunch of words and phrases that sounded good together, and Tomatomat really stuck with us. It also helped that all the members love tomatoes! The “mat” in our name means “flavor” in Korean, so it literally translates to “tomato flavor.”
The reason this band even came together was that we wanted to create a fresh, electronic sound based on Shibuya-kei music. When we thought about the looks that would go well with that kind of music, the Y2K aesthetic naturally came to mind. We interpreted those Y2K vibes in our own way, and we think that’s what made it feel like such a unique concept to our listeners.
Q3. Your debut single ‘Tomma Nova’ was just released! Could you tell us some more about the song and genre?
“Tomma Nova” is a song that encapsulates Tomatomat’s unique color, an electronic take on bossa nova. The lyrics, fitting for Tomatomat’s debut single, focus on the theme of tomatoes and a story about friendship, which is a key highlight of the song.
Q4. Each of the members has a unique background in music and performance. Who inspired you to pursue a career in music?
quinn_: I really enjoy a wide variety of genres. In the past, I was heavily influenced by trip-hop bands like Portishead, but these days, I find a lot of inspiration in old video game music from Nintendo and PlayStation. My personal work tends to have a bluer and greener sound compared to Tomatomat. I fulfill what’s missing from my personal projects through Tomatomat.
Nayeon: Instead of doing solo work like my bandmates, I’ve primarily worked as a session musician. I’ve played bass for a long time, and in my youth, I was really into rock and metal, so I loved bands like Korn, Extreme, and Dream Theater. However, when I work on my own sequencing, I tend to create tracks based on more experimental electronic music sounds.
Sueun: I started music early, so I have a lot of friends who are also musicians, and I get a lot of inspiration and motivation from them. When I first started downloading and listening to music on my own, all the songs I heard were independent music based on Shibuya-kei. So, I think that period of music naturally stuck with me. No matter how many different genres of music I listen to or create, the energy I get is ultimately still rooted in that era. That’s why Tomatomat holds such great significance for me.
Q5. Tomatomat are a band incorporating keyboard, bass guitar, and vocals into performances. What is your favorite part of live performances?
Being able to do cute movements is great!
Plus, unlike other bands with just one main vocalist, we have three vocalists, allowing us to show a rich variety of vocal tones and harmonies. That’s certainly our strong point!
Q6. The members also have unique styling, with the debut song having a really fun music video. How would the members describe Tomatomat’s aesthetics and style?
When preparing for our debut single, we put a lot of thought into visual references.
In the Korean indie scene, music is important, but visualizing the concept is also incredibly crucial. That’s why even during the artwork production, we went through image editing in a Frutiger Metro style. We’re so happy that people seem to really enjoy this aspect.
Q7. What does music mean to you?
Isn’t every story we share with our colleagues music? We’re a band formed by people who have each pursued different kinds of music, so we believe that when we come together, we create even better synergy. Our stories are our music.
Q8. With Tomatomat being named after food, what are the member’s food recommendations?
quinn_: My recommendation is tomato caprese. I love salads.
Nayeon: I like fresh tomato juice made from blended tomatoes, but that’s not really a dish… I also love tomato pasta!
Sueun: I recommend a cocktail called a Red Eye. It’s a mix of beer and tomato juice. If I had to choose a food, I like manyeo-soup (a type of healthy vegetable soup).
Q9. What are your goals for the future of Tomatomat?
Our immediate goal is to perform on a festival stage!
Q10. Lastly, do you have any messages for your fans and new listeners?
Please love us.
Please love tomatoes.
Please enjoy summer.
Please enjoy your youth.
And please always enjoy Tomatomat’s music!
If you’d like to stream ‘Tomma Nova’, or follow the members on social media, please check out the links below:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tomatomat.exe2025/featured
Tomatomat Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomatomat.exe
quinn_’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daizygoesworld
Sueun’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mercury_poisoning_
Nayeon’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shigotoyoshigoto
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/tomatomat/1824386608
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/24GOwtUldxDM0zGtcs0zZ9
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