Tom Foden - Music Producer

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Tom Foden - Music Producer Rokalok is an alter-ego, a character. I was Rokalok today at the doctor's in our lounge. Someone funny, silly, happy, playful, mischievous, lighthearted.

Tom Foden - Music Producer 🎶
www.tomfodenmusic.com
Collaborator & Musician 🎸
Studio Owner & Operator 🎛️
Let’s shape your sound together in my professional, comfy home studio located in Normandale, Lower Hutt 🌳
Or remotely! 💻
Haere Mai! 📣 When I would play with my kids as toddlers, often they wanted me to pretend to be someone else. I invented a character because for long periods of time, I didn't

have the capacity to be those things for my family. Playing pretend gave me some freedom from the depression that had been with me from an early age. The music I'm making here and now as Rokalok is meaningful to me because it's so unlikely. It's a chance for me to connect with people, especially those of us who know about depression. I'm guessing that's most of us, one way or another. This first set of waiata was a gift from Bennett Pomana (aka Beez2807) who trusted me to rework them to perform as a live set down the track. His kupu hit me, you know he is tūturu when he speaks - you hear his truth in these songs. In time, I'd like to do the same thing but for now, the music speaks for me.

Here’s my humble but very effective creative space & workplace - my studio.For about six months, I’ve been showing up he...
11/06/2025

Here’s my humble but very effective creative space & workplace - my studio.

For about six months, I’ve been showing up here every day, working to become a better music producer, recording engineer, and musician. And it’s happening - slowly, steadily, with intention.

I’ve found that a lot of new artists are unsure about what happens in a studio session.

If you book a session with me, I’ll guarantee three things:

1. You’ll feel welcome and supported. I’ll do everything I can to help you give your best performance.

2. I’ll listen closely - to your ideas, your goals, and the feelings you want your music to create.

3. I’ll give it my all. Creatively, technically, artistically, emotionally - I’m in!

Hit me up - let’s invest in what your music can be.

Tom (aka Rokalok)

And to get some balance, here’s that list of wins (and a cute photo of Kerbie), which I need to help me focus on the gro...
01/04/2025

And to get some balance, here’s that list of wins (and a cute photo of Kerbie), which I need to help me focus on the growth that’s happening…

🌱 New project for 5 tracks just confirmed, through until early Sept. This is a great fit with my style, and we’ve already produced one track that I love (and so does the artist) for release soon. It’s one of those projects where everything is just clicking.

🌱 New single release with another artist which has 34K views on YouTube in 8 days. It’s pretty incredible to see that kind of response so quickly. It feels like the effort is paying off, and I’m excited to see how far it can go.

🌱 Meeting the top music producers and studio operators in Wellington. I’m getting the chance to connect with some serious professionals like Toby Lloyd, Lee Prebble & Troy Kelly. Every conversation is a learning experience, and I’m so grateful for them welcoming me into their spaces.

🌱 Working on two tracks with an ex-studio owner and prolific songwriter. These are coming together beautifully, and it’s exciting to see her open up about the emotional content of her music. We’re discovering new meaning in her tracks through our process, and that’s what it’s all about for me.

🌱 Producing an EP with a close friend and collaborator. We’ve been tracking drums in my small studio, and some of these drum tracks are sounding way better than I ever expected! I honestly thought I wouldn’t be able to get anything this good in such a limited space. It’s such a rewarding feeling to surprise myself in that way. I’m not charging for this project since it’s such a meaningful collaboration, one that couldn’t happen easily if money was involved.

🌱 Helping a young man who’s got a lot of challenges in his life finalise and release his tracks. He’s a student of a good friend, and I’m offering him studio time and production advice. His music is incredible, and I’m really excited to help him get it out there.

🌱 Starting to write my own music. It’s happening bit by bit, with lyrics, chord progressions, and even some beats and tracks starting to form. I’ve even started singing on some of it, which is a huge step for me.

🌱 Recorded and mixed a free session for a songwriter (who had recorded a gorgeous EP at The Surgery) and was happy with the result of our session together. If she and her partner decide to move forward with their acoustic album, she’s interested in working together again.

🌱 Repeat work from two songwriters. One of them I recorded and mixed 3 tracks for free, and when they came back for a fourth, offered a generous koha. The other artist is planning to come and record another track soon, and we’ve been messaging regularly about new music and artists to check out.

🌱 Mixed live sound for an Irish folk band at a St Patrick’s Day gig. The setup was challenging, but the band said it was the best they’ve ever sounded.

Grateful for the growth, the connections, and the music that keeps me pushing forward - one step at a time.

I tried asking AI to write this post for me. I fed it a list of wins after getting some hard news today that a larger pr...
01/04/2025

I tried asking AI to write this post for me. I fed it a list of wins after getting some hard news today that a larger project wasn’t going ahead. I’d counted it as won and money coming in, but I couldn’t deliver what the artist needed, so they changed their approach. That leaves me wondering how to replace that work.

Starting out in tough economic times is a risk, but I did it anyway. I thought it would work out, as long as I put in the effort and gave myself fully to the music and the artists making it. But there’s no guarantee that will happen.

So, instead of getting low and spiraling down like I can do, I made a list of wins so ChatGPT could give me some affirmations. Weird, I know, but it helped a bit until I asked it to express my thoughts on the situation I find myself in.

Maybe that’s a good analogy - the most satisfaction I’ve had in producing music with people IS the people. The people being human, trying to convey something about what it’s like for them to be in the world. I don’t know many jobs where you get to work on expressing humanity with fellow humans. It’s a weird way to get paid. Especially when you have to translate that into sound - the job is making sounds and music that describe being human. And that’s my job, apparently. Amazing, strange.

Anyway, being honest, I’m about to hit enter to have AI make this all intelligible. It might take the soul out of my words though… we’ll see.

🎶 Introductory Offer – Record & Mix Your Song for $100 🎶For a limited time, I’m offering singer-songwriters a profession...
10/03/2025

🎶 Introductory Offer – Record & Mix Your Song for $100 🎶

For a limited time, I’m offering singer-songwriters a professional recording and mixing package for just $100.

✅ Professional recording and mixing
✅ Comfy and relaxed studio setting
✅ A collaborative and friendly production approach to bring out the best in your song

I’ll be selecting a few artists for this offer - if you’re interested, send me a message with a bit about your music.

Thanks 😌

The best part of having a studio isn’t just the gear - it’s creating a space where artists can give their best performan...
05/02/2025

The best part of having a studio isn’t just the gear - it’s creating a space where artists can give their best performance. Huge thanks to Petit Choux for trusting me with your beautiful songs and bringing such heartfelt energy to the session. Can’t wait to share the results! 🎶✨

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+642904505145

Website

https://soundcloud.com/tomfoden

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