
‘Tom Caufield never disappoints. He is a thinking man’s guitarist who creates mindful compositions in which every note is diligently thought out, carefully placed and lovingly performed.’ – RJ Lannan, Artisan Review
Tom Caufield is a composer and multi-instrumentalist with a contemplative, acoustic/electronic, near-ambient, classical-adjacent style. His music often (but not always) places the acoustic guitar at the core of his pieces
Caufield’s music has been heard on SiriusXM, popular syndicated programs Hearts of Space, Echoes, All Things Considered and numerous NPR affiliate stations. John Diliberto of syndicated program Echoes called Caufield’s holiday release “I Heard It Was Christmas Day” ‘the best holiday album of the year, hands down; nothing else comes close.” The album was carried nationally by Whole Foods.
Originally from Michigan, Caufield lived variously in New York City, Nashville, and Los Angeles while pursuing his solo career. Many of his pieces have been used in national advertising campaigns, as well as in network and cable television. Additionally, Caufield has scored three independent films.
In 2023, he received a grant from the North Carolina Council of the Arts to help fund his definitive album ‘The Whisper Resistance.’ The album was well received, and is a meditation on the natural landscape around his home.
His latest album, ‘Collbaoratia’ is a bold departure, created in partnership with violinist Sangeet-Richard Downs. The music navigates the complexity of our strange and dark times. Diverging from the use of his signature guitar sound, Caufield takes inspiration from the mellotron choir work of 70s atmospheric band Popol Vuh (Werner Herzog’s ‘Aguirre,’ ‘Nosferatu’), as well as gestures that suggest Vangelis and Genesis, to craft a canvas for Downs to shine, by blending virtual choirs, cellos, and vintage synths into an evocative, textural soundscape. The omission of the guitar allows the violin’s sustained tones to convey vast aching and yearning. The album, marked by spiritual anxiousness and a sense of searching uncertainty resonates universally, offering a unique musical experience that taps into our shared intangible existential crisis. A compelling, moving, and one-of-a-kind experience, ‘Collaboratia’ speaks to the shared emotional apprehension of a turbulent era.