Caraluna – meaning “beloved moon” in Gaelic/Latin and “moon face” in Spanish – is the multilingual indie-world-folk project of singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Jesse Edward Thom. His debut solo album, Snowdragons, earned critical acclaim and was named one of the top ten albums of the year by Folk Radio UK.

Drawing inspiration from old-world artists like Jacques Brel and minimalist composers such as Yann Tiersen, Thom’s music blends evocative, heart-stirring melodies with poetic reflections born from years of wandering through Latin America, Western Canada, Spain, and the UK. His work is also deeply shaped by the art of Sacred Clowning, a practice he began under master teacher Didier Danthois in Tenerife, Spain.

At the heart of Caraluna’s music is a spirit of wandering and wonder—a deep, poetic exploration of travel, death, and beauty that connects listeners to a sense of movement and transformation. The project draws inspiration from street music traditions, where music exists as both an offering and an act of shared experience, dissolving the boundary between performer and audience.

Caraluna is an indie folk-world music ensemble that combines the evocative storytelling of Thom’s songwriting with vibrant, cross-cultural instrumentation. Featuring a core sound of guitalele, accordion, and voice, the band’s performance expands with the addition of piano, trumpets, and a rhythm section, bridging Eastern European brass traditions with Latin folk rhythms. This eclectic fusion results in a sound that shifts between raucous, high-energy moments and intimate, introspective soundscapes—a musical journey as vast and unpredictable as the landscapes that inspire it.

Based in the serene Gulf Islands of British Columbia, Caraluna’s sound is anchored by Thom’s warm, effortless vocals and the delicate tones of his tiny guitar. A lush tapestry of instruments—horns, accordion, piano, bass, and drums—breathes life into each performance, creating a rich, expansive atmosphere.

A dedicated meditation practitioner and instructor, Thom infuses Caraluna’s music with the spirit of presence, embodiment, and connection to the natural world. His songs echo themes of intuitive wisdom, direct experience, and a longing to rediscover the body’s harmony with the earth—a quiet invitation to slow down, listen deeply, and find beauty in the stillness.