Tom Foden - 5000 Sound Studio

Recording · Production · Mixing
Lower Hutt, Wellington

Kia Ora!
Ko au Tom Foden.
I'm a Producer & Mixer, Artist & Musician.
Let's work together to shape your sound.

• Book a Session

Music has always been my passion.
Producing live events has been my profession.
In late 2024 I decided to follow my heart and make
my production studio the centre of my working life.

Creative processes always vary.
There are endless possibilities - and doubt and indecision too.
So I use a simple, effective approach to help us get to where we need to be...

First, I listen intently to you and your music, and for what wants to be heard.

Once you know that I've heard you, trust flows into creative collaboration and strong decisions get made.

We make your music what it's meant to be, and turn your dream into something you can play on repeat!

Finally, we prepare your music to meet the world – from mastering and metadata through to distribution, so it's ready to share on your terms.

I'm like everyone, juggling different roles in life – husband, dad, friend, musician, producer.
At times I've struggled with myself, like so many of us do. These days, I let those experiences guide how I work.

At my best, I'm a wide-eyed idealist and believer – in people, and in music as one of our purest and most powerful forms of expression.

As a producer, my role is broad:
project manager · recording engineer · editor & mixer · critic & advisor · collaborator & composer · musician

I'm a generalist who knows when to call in the specialists, how to make a plan, and what it takes to deliver it.
I learnt the craft of production through 20+ years in the events industry, and now I bring that experience to my lifelong passion for music.

A selection of recent work with artists I've had the privilege to collaborate with.
Have a listen – and hear what we could make together.

George Swan-Hay – Nightship
Recorded, produced & mixed at 5000 Sound Studio

Tom Foden feat. Sophie Sabri – {...j e...t' a i m e...}
Composed, recorded, produced, mixed & mastered at 5000 Sound Studio

Wasa – I WAS BLESSED
Recorded, mixed & mastered at 5000 Sound Studio

Daniela Mogin – Sparkly Dreams
Recorded, produced & mixed at 5000 Sound Studio

I'm grateful to every artist who's trusted me with their music.
Here's what a few have shared.

“Love working with Tom. His production adds colour and quality to the songs, and together we’ve developed interesting ideas into fully finished, commercial tracks.

His studio is comfortable and well-equipped, and I feel confident and able to relax. We work hard and get a lot done, and his knowledge, observations and suggestions are excellent.”

— Kirsty Blair

“Tom was extremely easy to collaborate with in recording, mixing & editing. He delved into the background of my songs & clarified what I wanted to achieve with the musical arrangements. He has a high level of expertise... and is able to suggest a range of creative ideas. I highly recommend him & his services.”

— Kieran Hegarty

“Loved working with Tom. He has a great home studio, and was both passionate about the project and professional from beginning to end, and very easy to get along with. He has helped bring the songs to life and I'd highly recommend working with him to other musicians!”

— Toby Goodwin

“Tom is a very attentive and passionate music producer. His studio is beautiful and an inspiring space where I could feel comfortable performing my music. Tom is a very warm, professional and welcoming person and I feel we could capture the essence of my songs thanks to his approach. I definitely recommend his work and space to anyone wanting quality recording in a beautiful space.”

— Sophie Sabri

“Tom’s space is very welcoming, warm and has everything you need for a good quality recording. Tom himself is a delight to work with! His costs are super reasonable and a great option for artists of any kind, especially those on a budget.”

— Nicole Fyfe

5000 Sound Studio is a purpose-built & welcoming space with the right tools and vibes to create, inspire and collaborate on great music.

{...r e l e a s e...} – my debut album, out now.

Sonic journal entries of a man working to release the innocence and joy of his young self.

Written, produced, mixed and mastered by me here at the studio – from field recordings and Moog improvisations to collaborative tracks with featured musicians.

It's the clearest way to hear what I care about in music, and what's possible to create in the studio.

• Album Page

Every project is different, so here's a guide to how I work and what it costs. If you're not sure what you need, get in touch and we'll work it out together.

Studio Time – $70/hour · $550/day
Recording with me engineering, with full use of the studio gear including instruments, mics and outboard.

Mixing – from $300 per song

Mastering – $80 per song

Vocal Single – from $500
For singers and rappers recording over an existing track or beat. Includes recording, a full mix and master.

Band Day – from $550, plus mixing
A full day to track your band – live in the room or layered up – with each song then mixed and mastered at project rates.

Full Production – from $1,000 per track
From an idea, voice memo or half-finished demo to a release-ready song. Everything's included: pre-production, composition, arrangement, beats and instrumental parts, recording, comping and editing, mixing and mastering.

EP and album project rates are available - let's talk! .

How long does recording take?
Vocals: 1–2 hours per song, longer for more layers and harmony parts.
Bands: usually a day to track 2–4 songs live, longer for multitracking & overdubs.

The better prepared you are, the more we get done in the time.
Rehearsal saves you money.

Applying for funding? If you're applying to NZ On Air or Creative NZ, I can provide a detailed, itemised quote for your application.

If something here resonates with you, that's worth listening to.
Trust that now could be the right time to create together.
Get in touch and we'll have a kōrero – then let's hit the studio!

• Bandcamp
• SoundCloud
• Instagram
• Email