indie underrated

The new single by Tom Tikka and the Missing Hubcaps, Something New, hasn’t left our rotation. The hit single, having hit the UK Hot 100 Rock Singles at #4 and at #6 on the MPE Play charts, is a refresh on the power ballad of the 1980s. Tom Tikka’s vocals are expressive and have a wide range from a deep croon all the way to a light resonant falsetto. Tom’s vocals recall acts like Michael Bolton and Elton John.

The instrumental of the track recalls many of the AOR easy listening our parents listened to growing up from artists like Phil Collins, Chicago and Seals and Croft, updated for the modern era. Tom’s vocals are accompanied by a bright, plodding piano that wouldn’t sound out of place in one of the 80s love songs written by David Foster, with strings filling the arrangement as the song goes on. Synth pads come into the fold near the second half and distorted electric guitar adds an extra melodic part. We definitely see the appeal of this track that has made it such a hit so far.

You can find Tom Tikka & The Missing Hubcaps on Instagram here. You can listen to this track on Spotify here.

You can find this song as well as the rest of the songs we listen to on the Indie Underrated Spotify here.