Tom Tikka &The Missing Hubcaps On the Making Of “Overnight Sensation”
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind "Overnight Sensation" and the story it tells?
Well, Will Jack wrote the lyrics and he told me when we were working on the arrangement that the song is “anti-X Factor”. I asked him what he meant by that and he said that the song is a tongue-in-cheek take on Idols winners and the whole notion of somebody being an overnight sensation. That’s not usually true for anyone. Take The Beatles for instance. Somebody might argue that they became an overnight sensation with the release of their first album in 1963 but the truth is that they existed long before that, playing seedy bars and clubs in Hamburg and The Cavern in Liverpool. Will was just wanting to point out that stars are made with hard work and that there is a lot of effort involved in all of that. The band has to work hard but also the management, the producer, PR folks and to be honest, countless others. The audience tends to just see the end result and considers that the beginning of an artist when in reality it is anything but.
How did you approach the arrangement and composition of the music for "Overnight Sensation?"
I changed the original arrangement completely. The tune was a nearly six-minute guitar-driven rock song. I took it apart and turned it into a mini “rock opera” with a gospel flair. In terms of the writing of it, I loved what Will had but felt it needed a pop hook, a sort of chorus tag, or chant if you will, that everyone can sing along. Once I came up with the line “Don’t you want to be my little overnight sensation?” I knew we had it nailed. Janne Saksa contributed a wonderful piano arrangement and an absolutely superb mix and also added ear candy hear and there. He’s a brilliant record producer and I love working with him.
Were there any memorable or standout moments during the recording sessions for this "Overnight Sensation?"
The moment I wrote the hook and came up with the new arrangement comes to mind. This was the moment I realized that “Overnight Sensation” will be a piano-driven song. I remember coming downstairs from my home studio, pouring myself a drink and explaining to my teenage son that I had just come up with a magical idea. He looked at me and asked, “Does this mean you are free to cook now?” I laughed out loud, hugged him and said, “I believe it does.”
Where do you find inspiration for your songs or musical ideas?
Life inspires me, the good and the bad. Sometimes I write a love song or a break-up song; sometimes I write about the state Planet Earth is in, about politics … and sometimes about childhood. My next single, which I wrote with Antti Autio, my bandmate from The Impersonators, tells the story of two brothers playing pirates. I’m passionate about music and writing, so music by itself inspires me.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians who are just starting their musical journey?
It’s a long road but good luck as you travel down it. You probably won’t become an overnight sensation or any kind of sensation, so go into it for the right reason: your love of music.