After years of making music in his parents basement Tom Caruana’s first release was on Breakin’ Bread’s ‘Deadly 7″ Sins’, that was followed up with an EP ‘The Splice Of Life’. Albums featuring Tom’s production include: Wordsmith’s ‘Road Mans Showcase’, Menagerie’s ‘Wild Kingdom’, Genesis Elijah’s ‘Deh Pon Road’ and Dr Syntax’s ‘Off The Radar’.

In 2007 Tom started his own label (Tea Sea Records) releasing a handful of albums including Tom Caruana ‘Bric A Brac’, ‘Boiler Room Collective’ mixtape & album, ‘Bombadeal’ (the Green Man) ‘Songs From The Wood’ and an instrumentals CD featuring beats from various releases. Coming soon on Tea Sea Records: Dutch Courage & Tom Caruana Album! If that hasn’t convinced you to download this volume in our BITS! series I don’t know what will.

Tracklist: None!

The mix is titled “Broadcast: Message In Space” and is all Tom Caruana’s work.

Download: Blunted Presents - BITS! Vol.13

BITS! Interview

Full Name: Thomas James Caruana

Name of record label:

Tea Sea Records

You’ve been putting quality releases out for some time. Which release are you proudest of?

It’s either ‘Splice Of Life’ or ‘Bric A Brac’. Breakin Bread go to town with all their releases and they got it (’Splice Of Life’) out there properly, I respect them for that one. ‘Bric A Brac’ has been in progress for about 5 years so its more relief that pride.

Where do you get inspiration from?

My dad inspired me to make music in the first place. But hearing anything that triggers a reaction has an effect on my musical creations.

How would you describe your “style”?

Changing every day (the pretentious answer) or, home made hip hop with a twist of humour (the more humble answer).

I’m looking forward to your album with Dutch Courage. What can we expect?

Mostly instrumental tracks. It’s produced by both of us, some individually some together. There’s lots of live instruments on there and we got The Shofar Horns on 3 tracks.

Quite a few of your releases have been collaborations. Who would you, in an ideal world, like to collaborate with?

MF DOOM!!! I recently did a track with Insight which opened the door into that ideal world a little.

You are a man of many skills – djing, producing and playing instruments. What’s your forte? What do you prefer doing?

I like all of it, I’d hate to do just one thing. But if I had to choose it would be being left in a room with loads of instruments and someone there to record me, sometimes recording yourself is a little tedious. But I do enjoy producing other peoples songs as well.

I’ve heard a listen to your BITS mix – its quality. It reminded me of one of Sloth’s albums “The Unfathomable Adventures of the Alien Resistance Movement”. If you look past its extremely long name, it’s a conceptual album using a lot of cut n paste spoken word. Your mix has some similarities –

I’d like to hear it. I’m into concept albums, I’m working on one called ‘Bombadeal’ and the ‘Green Men Of the Mythical Forest’ .

So, people if your reading this, download Tom’s BITS! mix and get informed. Where can people who are hungry to hear more go to?

The website is www.teasearecords.com. There are albums available to buy on CD and some free download EP’s and podcasts there. The myspace is www.myspace.com/tomcaruana.

The important questions. Favourite TV show:

Not a fan of much on TV but Hero’s is something I quite like.

Favourite meal:

Roast dinner got to be the winner! A chicken / gammon combo is good with crispy potatoes, loads of other veg, gravy and bread sauce!

Least favourite person:

Someone like Robert Maxwell there’s a few.

If you were stuck on a desert Island with 1 person who would it be and why?

Someone who’s good at survival (Ray Mears) cos I’d be useless.

Lastly give some shout outs mate –

Dutch, Bobby, Robin Walden, Nick Maxwell, Elemental, Dr Syntax, Rizzle, Sri Mckinnon, Alistair (Son Records), Tyni, Leane, HP, Evil Sun, Ido, anyone who’s bought, enjoyed or helped with my music.

Some links:
teasearecords.tumblr.com (download blog)
teasearecords.com