Audiohouse: Turning a Passion into Business

Grants finished studio in his home in New Brighton

Grant has managed to turn his passion for music into a business where 90% of his business are repeat clients, he has received a variety of awards and has had the privilege to work with industry super superstars such as Shania Twain. How did he do this? The answer will honestly not shock you.

In this week’s issue of Behind The Counter I sat down with Grant Howarth, owner and operator of Audiohouse. Previously working as a software engineer, feeling unfulfilled with his job and being an individual with a huge passion for music, he decided to stop creating code and instead create music. Grant has now been producing music since 2003.

I wanted to find out how he did it.

The Outhouse

Before it was one of Calgary’s top recording studios, Audiohouse was just a home, Grant’s home.

“We used to have small little shows at our house where bands could come; and so we needed a name for it. Someone came up with the name Outhouse, I thought it was funny, and so it became known that the Outhouse was a place where little bands could come and play.” Grant recalled.

In 2003 Grant took a chance to follow his passion, he left his job, enrolled in schooling and got started in the music industry. For his business he kept the name, a tongue in cheek name that matched his down-to-earth approach. Word spread among local artists and his business began to grow.

Photos courtesy of Audiohouse

The Outhouse got a little too literal

Fast forward 10 years, the devastating flood that destroyed so much in Alberta swept, through his home and backed up the sewers into his studio, turning what was just a name into an unfortunate reality.

Grant said, “I was at a crossroads, I thought what do I do? I didn’t know if I was going to continue in this industry or not.”

But in this difficult time Grant’s community did not hesitate to support.

“I had some friends organize a benefit show to help with flood costs, a whole bunch of my clients performed at it. The students at the Calgary Arts Academy that I was also contracting at wanted to help raise money as well. It was these gestures from the community of people wanting to help that made me decide that I need to keep doing this” Grant recounted.

Photos courtesy of Audiohouse

Rebuilding Bigger

Thanks to the support of those around him, Grant took this hardship as an opportunity to double down on his business and not just rebuild his studio but build the studio of his dreams.

“This forced me to take a big step and make a studio that is competitive with any studio in the world.” Grant shared.

He continued, “I decided that I wanted something that wasn’t just a regular home studio. I sought out one of the best studio designers in the world at the time, John Sayers. He was based in Australia, so through pictures and measurements, he 3D modelled this studio for me. And once we finalized the design, he sent me blueprints, and I spent the next year building this space.”

Then it was time to get back to work helping artists create and realize the projects they’ve been dreaming of. Grant now works with artists from all genres, local and international. He has worked with stars like Shania Twain and has received recognition in his industry winning Person of the Year at the YYC Music Awards in 2020.

The Not-So-Secret Sauce

So how did Grant build a company where 90% of his business comes from repeat clients, where he has a community behind him that didn’t hesitate to help when he was going through hard times, where he has made a name for himself and has been recognized in his industry?

The answer is simple; he cares about the people he works with.

He isn’t there to just provide the space and hit record for the artist. He’s there to help them make their music, their vision, sound the best it possibly can. When I asked Grant what the most rewarding part of his work is, he did not have to think about it long before sharing:

“Usually with newer clients who are taking their first stab at creating music. When I get the mix in a good place and I step back, turn up the volume and play it. As we listen through the song I’ll look over to my client and tears will be coming down their cheeks. They get so emotionally moved by what they are able to create. Those are the moments where I realize that I just helped this person achieve a very big dream of theirs.”

Grant’s genuine care for his clients and his craft is what has enabled him to turn his passion for music into a business that provides for himself and his family, while simultaneously helping other artists achieve their goals and dreams.

Final Thoughts

What started as a place for friends to make music and have fun has become a cornerstone of Calgary’s music scene. Through floods, rebuilds, and leaps of faith, Grant Howarth built a business that’s as much about the people as it is about production. And in doing so, he’s shown that the most powerful thing you can offer a client is the feeling that their music matters.

Whether you’re cutting your first demo, or tracking an album for a major label, Grant will treat your project like it’s his own. Because that’s what he’s always done.

And that’s why Audiohouse works.