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INSPIRED MUSIC PRODUCTION FOR INDIE ARTISTS

RECORDING  |  PRODUCING  |  MIXING  |  SESSION MUSICIAN

ABOUT
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about me

Hi, I’m Dan Stenhouse – sound engineer, producer and multi-instrumentalist.

 

I am a Whangarei born and bred musician and father of twin daughters. I live in Kensington, where I work as an audio engineer and graphic designer. I found my love for music as a child, when I began playing guitar and joined a country music band with my father at age 11. I have been in various bands pretty much my whole life since - and was often responsible for front of house sound from my early twenties.

I have self-produced my own works since dabbling in writing with a 4 track tape recorder in my late teens, and in 1994, I completed a Diploma in Audio Engineering at SAE Auckland, which gave me a passion for the technical side of music, along with insight into the industry and production. Ever since graduating, I have been recording and producing – primarily for personal projects I have been involved with. 

 

In 2018, I attended a three day producer workshop with Sylvia Massey (Johnny Cash, Tool) at Roundhead Studios Auckland, and in 2019 I did a workshop with Andrew Scheps - both of whom have been huge influences in my career. I attended another five day workshop in 2025 at Roundhead Studios with internationally renowned producer Carmen Rizzo. ​I have also attended a few song writing workshops with Pat Pattison (professor at Berklee College of Music), which increased my skills in lyric writing, and added tools to help development in production skills.

  

I am inspired to bring out the best in others, and always work to that end, with intuition and sensitivity. I am driven with a sense of attention to detail, and enjoy collaborating with others to create something greater than the sum of its parts.

My studio takes the best from both the analogue and digital worlds. I use hi-end analogue outboard gear for tracking – Neve / SSL style pre-amps, a variety of compressors, and then all the benefits of the digital world for editing once we have the analogue warmth baked in on the tracks. I feel this is the most versatile and complete way to work that gives the very best results.

From a phone demo to a finished song ready for streaming, radio, CD, or vinyl – I’ve got you covered. And you don’t even need a band. I have a lot of great musicians on hand ready to help out, including drummers, bass players, guitarists, keyboard players, horn sections, and strings.

And just because it gets mentioned these days, I'm strongly against using any AI tools for writing or production. I believe the purpose of art is to evoke emotion in the listener or viewer, and there's only one place that can come from: you, the artist.

 

Please contact me to get your project started today!

latest releases

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One Last Ride

The Advocators

Driftwood

Talute

Sicily

Merlia

Highlife

Osheen

STUDIO
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Leather Coat - Coda Muso
I Don't Wanna Be You Anymore - Hunter Stenhouse
Meloncolic Man - Dan Stenhouse
My Oh My - Velvet Arrow
Say I'm Loved Anyway - Velvet Arrow

studio

Welcome to Creative Lab - a boutique studio owned and operated by Dan Stenhouse, a sound engineer with countless hours of recording experience working with a variety of artists based in Northland.

 

I also do commercial work for voice overs, advertising, video narration and sound design for animations/games.

Below are some examples of work done in my studio here in Whangarei.

Quicksand - Velvet Arrow
What A Feeling - Chey
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"It sounds stunning!! The spatiality and depth you have created sonically is beautiful."

Chris Chetland, Kog Mastering

Sunset & Tsunami - Velvet Arrow
Backwards - Aaron White
Aggression - Agrotech
Black Hole Sun - Velvet Arrow
Blackbird - Hunter Stenhouse
Pantomime - Coda Muso

mixing/

mastering

Already got your track recorded and need someone to mix or master it for you?

I've got you covered! 

Olly Knox - Breathe Deep
MIX/MASTER
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live audio

engineer

I've spent over 30 years mixing live music, from local venues through to international touring acts and major outdoor festivals.

I am available to travel nationwide and can offer a PA system for hire, with access to larger

scale sound systems for outdoor events and festivals.

Some live engineering highlights of recent years...

​​

Troy Kingi – Forum North 2026

Daniel Champagne (international) – OneOneSix 2024, Forum North 2026

Otium – Seminoff Stadium 2025

Kim Churchill (international) – OneOneSix 2025

We Mavericks (international) – OneOneSix 2025

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra – Forum North 2025

Korean Joyful Youth Orchestra – Forum North 2025

Battle of the Bands – Beer & Loathing 2025

Where's Jai – OneOneSix 2025

Mel Parsons – OneOneSix 2024

Greg Johnson – OneOneSix 2024
The Harmonic Resonators – Captain Bougainville Theatre 2024
Albi and the Wolves – OneOneSix 2023

Matt Joe Gow / Kerryn Fields (international) – OneOneSix 2024
Hot Potato Band (international) – OneOneSix 2023
This Way North (international) – OneOneSix 2023

Borderline – OneOneSix 2023
Diwali, The Festival Of Lights – Forum North 2023 - 2024

Dark Side of the Zep – Butter Factory 2024 - 2025

Festivals

Fringe Festival Whangarei  2022, 2024

Kerikeri Christmas in the Park 2022

TokaToka Festival 2019 - 2023

Whangarei Maritime Festival 2024 – 2025

MEWP and Working at Heights Qualified.

LIVE AUDIO ENGINEER

Electric Guitar

Blue Moon Revisited - Velvet Arrow

Acoustic Slide Guitar

Dark Was The Night - Velvet Arrow
Black Train - Dan Stenhouse

Gutiar, Bass, Drum programming

Gutiar, Bass, Keyboards, Drum programming

Funky Hammond - Dan Stenhouse

session

musician

Here's a selection of tracks that I've played on. ​I have a large collection of instruments that include:

Acoustic Guitar / Steel / Nylon / Resonator
Electric Guitar

Baritone Electric Guitar

Slide Guitar
Electric Bass Guitar
Ukulele Bass Guitar

Ukulele

Mandolin
6 String Banjo / Banjitar / Ganjo

Keyboards

Drum Programming

If I Go, I'm Goin' - Velvet Arrow
Free to Fall - Laurence Sive
Can't Reason With A Dead Man - Velvet Arrow

Mandolin

Electric Slide Guitar

Banjitar / Ganjo

SESSION MUSICIAN
CONTACT

contact

dan.creativelab@gmail.com
Kensington, Whangarei, New Zealand

 

      

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