Tom Tikka & The Missing Hubcaps – By 2022 (2021)
The last two years have been turbulent, to say the least, with many people holding onto the hope that things will have sorted themselves out by 2022. This is a sentiment that has been captured by Tom Tikka & The Missing Hubcaps, in the appropriately titled ‘By 2022’. A single that sounds like a confrontation with a toxic lover, it is a bargaining session held with the new year, steeped in the hopes that a miracle might just happen.
Born out of a touch of naivety, the hope for a new start is tempered with the understanding that miracles are few, and we need to work to change things. While some might know Tikka from the band Carmen Gray, he is now making a name for himself with solo material, along with The Missing Hubcaps. While making his new music, he is also one half of the pop duo, The Impersonators.
‘By 2022’ interestingly vibrates and rolls into your senses. The warbling tones that fill the upper layers of the track are an interesting counter to the grounded melodic flow of the drums. Through this contrasting layered approach, Tikka is able to capture the hope for a new year, and the energy that comes with the renewal we all invest into the turn of the year. While there is a glittering sense of hope for the future, the music also has a darker feeling of understanding that things are not as simple as they seem. It is an easy single to vibe to, as the music pulls you into a space where you rest on the notes.
His vocals take the single to a new level, as he unleashes thoughts, hopes and emotions into the soundscape. The lyrics touch on how he hopes the next year will change things, and the promises we have instilled into the new year. This hope is tempered by the knowledge that we have all been burnt before with expectations of things changing. As the chorus hits, his vocal performance rises on warm air currents and he takes you along for the ride. The smooth tone of his voice is utter perfection. It is like he has you standing still, while the world celebrates around you, and it is absolutely wonderful to experience.
Tom Tikka & The Missing Hubcaps capture the energy of hope for a new year, and temper it with past experiences of being burnt by unreasonable expectations in ‘By 2022’. The music fills you with the emotion of the single as it vibrates and rolls through you. His vocals are smooth as they draw you to a standstill, while the world celebrates around you.
Find out more about Tom Tikka & the Missing Hubcaps on his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
