About
“We were all very impressed by the work you’ve done so far, and we’re happy that the things we’re doing are ending up in such sensitive hands (or ears).” Brian Eno (artist, composer, record producer for Talking Heads and U2)
During his more than two decades in the business, Stephen has worked on projects ranging from global blockbusters alongside industry legends such as Peter Jackson, Brian Eno, Ed Sheeran, Nick Cave and Junkie XL to Emmy-winning television productions, independent documentaries, and contemporary theatre and dance. In his own words, he is excited by “making sounds and worlds out of sound”.
Stephen’s music editorial is known for being highly sensitive to storytelling. He has been nominated three times for an MPSE Golden Reel Award. In 2022 he won both a Golden Reel and an Emmy Award for his work on Peter Jackson’s critically-acclaimed documentary series The Beatles: Get Back.
His credits as Music Editor include the box-office successes The Hobbit trilogy: The Battle Of The Five Armies, The Desolation Of Smaug, An Unexpected Journey, and the sci-fi smash hit District 9. He was Supervising Music Editor for The Lovely Bones and the documentary West Of Memphis.
Stephen is known for his innate understanding of scoring for film, which goes straight to the heart of the story, and his ability to blend sound and emotion into the perfect soundtrack.
He composed and worked with actors directly on the iconic songs ‘Blunt The Knives’ and ‘The Torture Song’ for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
In 2021 he was nominated for Best Original Score at the International Sound And Film Music Festival for the documentary short Kimana Tuskers. In 2018 he was nominated for an APRA Silver Scroll Award for his original score to the feature film Human Traces.
He composed additional music to accompany Brian Eno’s original score for The Lovely Bones. Stephen’s original scores for feature film include the multi-award-winning Canadian horror/comedy Puppet Killer and documentary Conquering Cancer. Alongside David Long, he co-composed the score for the Emmy Award-winning show INSiDE and three seasons of the BBC children’s series Mystic.
Stephen is highly adaptable, collaborative and detail-oriented, focused on producing music that best supports the larger narrative. Equally at home arranging for electronic or orchestral instruments or cuttiing a temp score, he has a reputation for delivering to directors exactly what they’re after.
Stephen lives in Poneke Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand
“…one of the most humble yet tremendously gifted composers it has been my privilege to have worked with. To be able to call him a colleague honours me, not him.”
Conrad Pope (film composer and orchestrator for Star Wars, Jurassic Park and The Hobbit)