Sandi Thom was tired of traveling to promote her music and having an empty pocket except for a random button and a piece of string. Thom had a monumental revelation after her car broke down on the road and had to use an old coat hanger to hold up her exhaust pipe. Tired of idly waiting for her luck to change, the 24-year-old decided to take matters into her own hands.
Thom bought a $100 Web cam and created her own virtual tour stationed in her South London flat. This perfect combination of a stationary show that could still be viewed by millions was very appealing to this young singer/songwriter.
Thom's three-week tour was broadcast online and could be viewed free of charge. By informing potential viewers on MySpace and her website, opening night resulted in 70 listeners. But by the end of her virtual tour, 70,000 fans were tuning in to hear Thom's amazing music and watch her eye-catching performances. While most supporters relied on listening from their own computers, a maximum of 10 people could watch firsthand in her tiny basement venue.
For the most part, these 10 precious spots were occupied by the very people that held Thom's future in their hands: record companies. By the middle of her second week, major record labels had visited Sandi's small basement to check out the growing buzz. Her astounding, powerful voice and personal lyrics overwhelmed them. Her mix of folk and soul influences create a unique sound that is similar to a mix between Carole King, Bob Dylan and Jeff Buckley.
Immediately after her virtual tour, all the labels were interested in signing this newfound talent. In front of her web cam audience, Thom eventually signed with RCA Records in the U.K. Her debut album Smile…It Confuses People was released in the United States (Sony) this fall. The song "I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker" became a No. 1 single in the U.K. and also topped at No. 1 on the iTunes U.K. chart.
Instead of running, baking, or listening to music, Sandi wrote her own songs to relieve stress and express her feelings and this comes through in her soulful music. All of her recordings focus mainly on personal issues and change experienced in her life. The album's third track, titled "Lonely Girl," includes lyrics that exemplify her expressive and intimate style: "All she wants to have is someone she can love … trying to find her way in this mixed-up, messed-up world."
Thom's CD begins with faster songs and progressively slows down to the final track, "Time." Thom kicks off with the foot-tapping "When Horsepower Meant What It Said," a song guaranteed to get any lethargic audience to stand up and create a dance party. The acoustic guitar strums an upbeat tempo and creates a potent combination with the singer's cheery tone and powerful lyrics written by Sandi Thom herself.
This catchy tune is followed by the hit, "I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker." This song describes Thom's dream of living in the '60s and '70s where "not everyone drove a car/ when music really mattered." The creative words are placed with clapping hands, and the sound of stomping boots to add a unique jive to the song. To enhance the varying tempos and themes heard, album listeners can also hear saxophone, violin, harmonica, bass guitar, organ and the Spanish cajón throughout her remaining tracks.
Thanks to many years of hard work and perseverance, Sandi Thom's musical dreams are coming true.
She's come a long way since writing life-changing songs at age 11 and joining a cover band (The Residents) at age 14. The rising songstress, who has been wowing crowds since her days at the Liverpool Institute of the Performing Arts, continues to amaze listeners with her talent.
Luckily for all her fans, four more albums are expected through her newly signed contract. In the big picture, Sandi Thom is an inspiration for all; with $100 and the determination to succeed, any goal is reachable. Oh, and as a tribute to Sandi Thom herself, always remember to smile.
Grade: 4 out of 5 circles.