Tomas Costanza

Tomas Costanza (born September 2, 1976) is a multi-platinum American record producer, songwriter, play-write and CEO of Killingsworth Recording Company (Los Angeles/New York).[1] Born on Long Island, New York, he was first noted in the music industry as the lead singer and guitarist for his band Diffuser.[2] In addition to being signed to the major label Hollywood Records in 2000,[3] several of the band's songs were featured on various films soundtracks including Freaky Friday and Mission: Impossible 2. As a record producer, Costanza has worked with artists as varied as Boys Like Girls, Benny Benassi, Blues Traveler, Clinton Sparks, Macklemore, Rachel Platten, Rick Ross, Icona Pop,[4] and Katie Waissel. In 2011, he broke through as a producer after Katie Waissel's debut album reached No. 1 on the U.K. (Amazon/iTunes) charts and remained there for 5 weeks.[5]

Tomas Costanza
Tomas Costanza
Background information
Born (1976-09-02) September 2, 1976
OriginLong Island, New York
Genrespop punk, pop, alternative rock, rock, hip hop, singer/songwriter, country, blues, rap, metal, folk
Occupation(s)record producer, musician
InstrumentsGuitar, Vocals, Piano, Drums, Keyboard, Bass, Synthesizer
Years active1999–present
Associated actsBlues Traveler, Clinton Sparks, Macklemore, Secondhand Serenade, Boys Like Girls, Benny Benassi, 2 Chainz, Diffuser
Websitewww.killingsworth.info

Life and career

Childhood and Youth

Costanza was born and raised in the North Massapequa neighborhood of Long Island, New York. His father was a New York City police officer and his mother a school bus driver for the local middle school. While in his pre-teens, Costanza discovered the liberating bombast of hard rock, listening to bands like Van Halen and Black Sabbath while also becoming infatuated with the musical styles of Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley. At the age of 10, he began to teach himself guitar and bass. Costanza explains, "When I first heard Eddie Van Halen's guitar solo on Michael Jackson's "Beat It", I knew I wanted to be a rock star."

Career Beginnings and Diffuser

Costanza attended the High School of the Performing Arts and studied with professors from the Juilliard School. He later attended Berklee College of Music, but dropped out to pursue a career as a recording artist. In 1998, Costanza founded the band Flu Thirteen[6] which later became Diffuser. Hollywood Records signed the band in 2000 and released two critically acclaimed LP recordings Injury Loves Melody (2001)[7] and Making the Grade (2003).[8]Alternative Press magazine recently cited Diffuser as "One of the Top 22 most influential bands of 2000s that no one's ever heard of."[9]

Diffuser disbanded in 2003 to pursue other musical interests. Due to the overwhelming support from a small but loyal following, Diffuser re-united in fall of 2007 to release their third studio album, Sincerely, Wasting Away.[10] The band still plays shows on occasion.

Artist & Repertoire (Disney/Universal)

Costanza was hired by Bob Cavallo [11] in 2003 to work A&R under Jason Jordan[12] for Hollywood Records.[3] He also signed a publishing deal with Seven Peaks/Disney[13] during the same time period. In 2007, he became Head of A&R for Chamberlain Records[14] (Universal) where he worked with and produced artists such as Cold Forty Three,[15] The Anix,[16] Brianna Taylor,[17] and Katie Waissel.[18] In 2005, Costanza was noted in Blender magazine[19] as saying, "I'm not chasing after what's current. The music I sign has to be compelling and two steps ahead of the curve. I always hope people will like the artists I work with, but at the end of the day, I'm the one that has to love it."

Producing, Songwriting, and Recognition

Costanza established the Killingsworth Recording Company in June 2007.[20][21] Beginning with a facility in New York, he expanded to Los Angeles in 2008.[22] In January 2009 Costanza was recruited by Academy Award winning music supervisor Richard Glasser (The Illusionist, Crash, Revolutionary Road) to write for his film and TV placement company. Costanza broke through as a producer and songwriter in April 2011 when X-Factor finalist Katie Waissel's debut album reached #1 on the U.K. (Amazon/iTunes) charts and remained there for five weeks.

In 2013 Killingsworth Recording Company partnered with music licensing company Hitcher Music and Imagem International to create custom music catalogs for film and TV. Killingsworth scores music for Comedy Central, DreamWorks, Disney Animation Studios, the Viceland network, American programming block CBS Dream Team (programmed by Litton Entertainment), and other shows such as Ocean Mysteries with Jeff Corwin, Huang's World, Hood Adjacent with James Davis, Upscale with Prentice Penny, The Academy Awards, American Horror Story, Grey's Anatomy, The Henry Ford Innovation Nation, RuPaul's Drag Race and How To Get Away With Murder.

Since 2014 Costanza has co-written and produced fifteen top-5 dance/pop albums, including Poundcake by a former RuPaul's Drag Race performer, with ten going to #1 on the international iTunes/Spotify Charts.

He is currently working on the Broadway musical entitled “The Fish Tank”.

Songwriting credits

Songwriting credits include soundtracks such as Mission: Impossible 2, Freaky Friday, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Summer Catch, The Nut Job and Zootopia which have collectively sold over 4.2 million copies worldwide R.I.A.A.. Costanza also wrote and produced two of the theme songs for Live with Kelly and Ryan as well as songs for The Good Wife, American Horror Story, The View, The Academy Awards, Grey's Anatomy, True Blood, Ugly Betty and Dexter.

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References
  1. Tomas Costanza MobFest Panelist Biography Archived 2012-04-02 at the Wayback Machine. 2011.
  2. PunkNews.Org Diffuser Review. 2001
  3. Hollywood Records Official Site
  4. This is Hell Recording Updates with Producer Tomas Costanza. 2010.
  5. Katie Waissel News on Digital Spy. US Tour Announcement
  6. Flu Thirteen album at CD Universe
  7. Injury Loves Melody Diffuser album at AllMusic. 2003.
  8. Making the Grade album at CD Universe
  9. Alternative Press Interview. Issue 228. 2007.
  10. Sincerely, Wasting Away Archived 2011-01-09 at the Wayback Machine New Music album review
  11. The Walt Disney Company Management Team
  12. Sonic Scoop article February 2010
  13. "Disney Music Group
  14. Chamberlain Records Official Diffuser Website
  15. "Cold Forty Three Official Website
  16. The Anix Official Website
  17. Brianna Taylor
  18. Katie Waissel Youtube Channel
  19. "Blender magazine Official Website
  20. Killingsworth Recording Company Official Website
  21. "Tomas Costanza Named Head A&R of Killingsworth" All Access News 2006.
  22. Studio Architect. Recording Studio Designer Archived 2011-11-16 at the Wayback Machine 2008.
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