Back in 2004 (or as I like to refer to the era, Year 12) I didn’t know much about good music or where to find it. Luckily, exaggerated teen drama The O.C. was there to provide the much needed musical overhaul the Year 9 pop-punk in me needed. Tom Vek is just one of the many artists I “discovered” while alternating between wondering whatever happened to that Oliver kid and encouraging Kirsten (pronounced “Keerstin”) to drink herself into a coma.
Tom is a self-taught garage composer from London. He plays fifty instruments, but my favourite songs of his centre on lo-fi guitars and typical UK bass. The overall vibe is dance-rock with a definite underground feel.
Tom released his debut album, We Have Sound, back in 2005. The best songs are I Ain’t Saying My Goodbyes and If I Had Changed My Mind, check them out immediately (especially if you’re at work). Vek’s B-side, One Horse Race, was also featured in Grand theft Auto IV.
After a six-year sabbatical, follow-up album Leisure Seizure was released in April of last year. In addition, Tom’s Wiki is telling me another release can be expected in the first half of 2012. More importantly though, I’ve just read that he appeared in a season 3 episode of The O.C.!! Like most of the cool kids, I think I stopped watching when Marisa went to that poor school.
Give Tom Vek a go if you like LCD Soundsystem, Friendly Fires, Cansei De Ser Sexy and The Bait Shop.
Break…
Tom Vek – Aroused
MySpace – Official Site – Wiki – Facebook
