Tommy Henriksen has the leading role on Capitol Records' Feb. 9 soundtrack to the romantic comedy "Blast From The Past," which also includes songs from the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Dishwalla, Sonichrome, and Squirrel Nut Zippers. The ultra-positive "I See The Sun" already has made a splash at modern rock radio and has the potential to do for the New Line film what Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" did for "Say Anything."

Exposure for the track -- which also will be featured on Henriksen's eponymous Capitol debut, due Feb. 23 -- has been years in the making, and Henriksen hopes it signals a break from a frustrating musical past.

"I wrote this song four years ago and tried to get a record company deal, and everyone turned me down," he says. Yet persistence eventually secured him a recording deal with Capitol and a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell; the "Blast From The Past" connection followed soon after.

"When I first saw the movie, there was no dialogue yet," he says. "I'm watching Brendan [Fraser] on the screen at Venice Beach [Calif.] experiencing water for the first time, and here's this song I wrote four years ago playing in the background. I was almost going to cry. After all the time and everything you put into it, how can you not be emotional?"

Henriksen is currently touring the U.S., previewing his solo set. Meanwhile, the New Line Cinema film "Blast From The Past" opens Feb. 12 in theaters across the States; the picture stars Brendan Fraser, Christopher Walken, Sissy Spacek, and Alicia Silverstone.