Artist INTERVIEW: TOM TIKKA & THE MISSING HUBCAP
1. Hey Tom, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What first got you into music?
I was six when I heard Paul Anka in my dad’s old Chevy. This was the initial attraction towards becoming a songwriter. The next decisive moment for me was when I watched a rerun of A Hard Day’s Night on TV in my teens. I remember the scene where The Beatles are running away from a mob of teenage girls. I was impressed. ”Not a bad a job,” I thought.
2. What is it about music that makes you feel passionate?
It’s hard to say. I began playing guitar at six and writing songs a few years after that. I just love music for some reason. When you put music on, everything around me disappears. It’s always been like that. It’s not just an escape for me. It’s a way of life. I write a song each day and listen to music many hours a day. If I had my way, that’s probably all I would do. It’s good I have six kids. They keep me busy. Can you imagine that I have six boys? It’s crazy, isn’t it?
3. Have you ever taught or mentored another musician?
Not really. I hope I’ve inspired a few. Mentoring would be great though. The danger of that is not to influence somebody’s writing too much. I think everybody has their own style and voice. A great mentor can get to the root of that and help the protege to become a better version of themselves. Maybe one day I’ll get a chance to do that.
4. Who is your inspiration?
Life is my inspiration, every day things that happen to me. I like ”me” music. I don’t usually write in the third person. I sometimes have challenges knowing how I feel. How would I know how someone else feels? I try to keep it real.
5. What are your long term goals?
To make records until I croak and write a few more books. My first novel will come out soon. In addition to that, I want to be with my family. Family’s very important to me. Now wait, it’s the most important thing.
6. How do you spend your time?
If I’m not working or making music, I’m chauffeuring the kids around. All six of them have hobbies. It’s tough to keep them all happy but I love them to death.
7. What’s your favorite 2010’s album?
Not sure if I have an album from that decade that’s made a profound impact on me.
Some of my favorite albums are:
- “Out Of Time” by REM,
- “Revolver” by The Beatles,
- “Ocean’s Apart” by The Go-Betweens,
- “What Are You Going To Do With Your Life?” By Echo & The Bunnymen,
- “King Of The Ghost Train Ride” by The River Detectives,
- “No Other” by Gene Clark
- “Pet Sounds” by The Beach Boys
8. What was your favorite subject in school?
History. I didn’t like the way music was approached at school. I always found history interesting. I loved reading about the Ancient Rome, the Second World War, Russian czars, etc.
9. What jobs have you done other than being an artist?
I’ve been a university lecturer, store clerk, child-care teacher, middle-school teacher, translator, cost-analysis manager, gardener, shipping agent, janitor, cleaner, messenger and dock worker. I’ve had many different jobs. It’s taught me how to shift gears professionally and in life.
10. Do you usually agree with the Pigeon?
Obviously. My last name means “woodpecker” in English. So, we’re both birds. We got to stick together.
11. What memorable responses have you had to your work?
The most memorable one was this one guy I met at a bar in Berlin who had tattooed a few lines of “Gates of Loneliness” on his chest, a song my brother and I wrote for Carmen Gray. I quite didn’t know what to say, so I bought him a beer.
The Pigeon added the new single to his Weekly Gems playlist on Spotify.
You can check out the released music below. If you like what you hear, make sure to follow along so you can stay on top of future releases.
Words by The Pigeon
Discovered via http://musosoup.com
This coverage was created via Musosoup