Tomas Costanza is a multi-platinum American record producer, songwriter, play-write and CEO of Killingsworth Recording Company. Born on Long Island, New York, he was first noted in the music industry as the lead singer and guitarist for his band Diffuser. In addition to being signed to the major label Hollywood Records in 2000, several of the band's songs were featured on various films soundtracks including Freaky Friday and . 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, and Katie Waissel. In 2011, he broke through as a producer after Katie Waissel's debut album reached No. 1 on the U.K. charts and remained there for 5 weeks.
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 which later became Diffuser. Hollywood Records signed the band in 2000 and released two critically acclaimed LP recordings Injury Loves Melody and Making the Grade.Alternative Press magazine recently cited Diffuser as "One of the Top 22 most influential bands of 2000s that no one's ever heard of." 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. The band still plays shows on occasion.
Artist & Repertoire (Disney/Universal)
Costanza was hired by Bob Cavallo in 2003 to work A&R under Jason Jordan for Hollywood Records. He also signed a publishing deal with Seven Peaks/Disney during the same time period. In 2007, he became Head of A&R for Chamberlain Records where he worked with and produced artists such as Cold Forty Three, The Anix, Brianna Taylor, and Katie Waissel. In 2005, Costanza was noted in Blender magazine 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."
Songwriting credits include soundtracks such as , 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.
