What is authenticity? How do we define it in the voice-over world? And how do we bring it into our performances, let's find out.
Welcome back to my blog about all things voice-over. Now, I often use the word authentic to describe my voice when talking to clients, customers and brands. But what do I mean, and why would that be an advantage...?
Well, first of all, let's look at the actual definition of authentic:
of undisputed origin and not a copy; genuine.
Genuine, now that's a great word to describe not only wonderful voice work, but a myriad of performances that have moved us all through storytelling. If something isn't genuine, we feel it, we see it, and we hear it. We can all spot a fake, but the truth is, with the rise of AI and the changing styles of voice-over through the digital age, it's become trickier to spot those pesky fakes.

So when I say authentic, I mean something that stands out, is identifiably me and is genuine in its meaning and its storytelling. So much of what we do as voice-overs can involve selling, and not just for the obvious commercial work. Selling a corporate brand identity, selling a healthcare plan or trying to sell an audiobook by being the best narrator possible. And for these things to stand out from the crowd and connect with their audiences, they need to be genuine, and they need to be authentic. As we've all become more discerning over time, we no longer just accept the hard sell or believe everything we hear about a product, we need reviews, testimonials and genuine people to tell us something works and is worth our time.
And that's where the talented voice-over comes in...but how do we actually achieve authenticity in our reads and performances? Well, let's take a look...
Ask yourself the right questions:
Now this is very important, but whether you're working on a long-form audiobook or a 15-second commercial, you need to ask yourself the right questions to ensure you know exactly where you are, who you are and who you're talking to. This informs your performance and changes how you'll deliver it. After all, when actors go on stage it's not like they are just talking to no one, so think of it in the same way...you're acting, and you need a partner to act with.
For example, if you're doing a short commercial script about an air freshener, perhaps there is very clear direction about who, what, where and when...but if there isn't, don't neglect to make those decisions yourself.
Who are you talking to? - A mother or father who is dealing with a houseful of horrid family smells, the kid's shoes by the back door, the bin that no one has changed, the leftover food that no one has tidied up and then...the muddy, wet smelly dog that comes bounding into the door.
What are you doing? - Perhaps you're helping this parent to tidy up as you explain the air freshener, demonstrating how it works.
Where are you? - You start by being in their house, but when the product is used, you're both transported to another place, perhaps a beautiful field at sunrise, or the top of a great waterfall.
When is this happening? - (you might not think this is important, but a lot of voice work is about something that has happened or is going to happen, so in this case...) It's happening right now, it's all around you. Sense the smells and mess, and allow the change in scenery to inform your vocal performance.
These questions apply to all the work you're doing, but you can adapt them depending on the genre, for an audiobook, you might ask who the narrator is, and who they are talking to. Or for a corporate script, you might be talking to a larger group or a room full of people...all of these things will enhance your final performance, and bring a level of authenticity a lot of people aren't achieving.
Be real...no really, be real:
When it comes to the art of voiceover, being real in a very prescribed set of circumstances can be a little tricky. But there are some things that can really help...
Body Language - always remember to use your body. If the script requires you to talk to friends, maybe lean into one hip, slouch or even sit down in your booth if your setup allows. If you're working on a powerful corporate script, use a hero pose or grip your hands into fists to create an empowered and energetic feel.
Behaviour - Don't be afraid to bring in human behaviours and speech patterns into naturalistic reads, you can use them, or simply practise with them and then omit them. Scoff, huff, breathe and stumble to your heart's content, you can rehearse like this to give you the right feeling, and then just keep that vibe but remove the actual noises for the real recording.
Picture Everything - Picture your surroundings, your settings and especially the person you are talking to. If it isn't someone you know, then make sure you know who they are and how they feel. Are you trying to convince them, entice them, intrigue them?

Get Intimate and get comfortable:
This is an easy one for some, and it's very simple: get very, very close to your mic, confess to it, breathe into it, and hear all those horrid mouth noises and uncomfortable squelches. Get used to them; there is nothing wrong with them. Of course, for a lot of jobs, you aren't ever going to have to worry because your exemplary technique and mesmerising performance (not to mention the delight of a software plugin like RX 10) are going to ensure they don't matter.
But being intimate in that space and allowing your true vulnerability is essential for achieving authenticity down the road.
Own your voice:
I think a lot of us are plagued by trying to sound like other people, perhaps not copying but emulating those successful voices that we've heard and loved and think work so well for so many projects. There are lots of successful voice actors, but you wouldn't want to get there by pretending to have someone else's voice, would you?
This is very important when it comes to casting, yes we can all modulate our voices, put on accents and work on lots of different projects, but don't try too hard to be what you think a casting person is looking for, instead of finding your style and authentic version of it. Most of the great work I have done has been when I've honoured the preparation and understood that what I bring, is totally unique.
Try it in your head first:
And lastly, a little tip that I like to try now and then...when doing an audition, or even a piece of work, I like to rehearse and read the piece in my head only...never out loud.
Then, when it's performance time, when the stage is set, and the audience is waiting patiently, I like to step into the spotlight and allow my mic to pick up what happens in that moment. Sometimes it feels like magic, and that's the take I use. Other times it feels like a good springboard for listening back, fine-tuning, and then finding something else, something even better.
And other times, it's a complete and utter disaster.
But, of course, we aren't afraid to fail, because it's through the failure that we find the real, the genuine, and the authentic.
Happy voicing folks,
Signing out
SBVO
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