Meet The Talent

Rosi Amador – Hispanic Female Voiceovers in English and Spanish

Link to full profile: bluewavevoiceover.com/voices/rosi-amador/

Email: rosi@amadorbilingualvoiceovers.com

When you’re looking for a female voiceover talent who can deliver your political spot flawlessly in both English and Spanish, look no further than Hispanic bilingual voiceover talent, Rosi Amador. Rosi actually comes from a family of bilingual voiceover artists. We’re proud to have her husband Brian on our Blue Wave Voiceover roster as well. Rosi is also able to deliver copy in English with an authentic Hispanic accent. We know that the Latin and Hispanic community represents a large part of the electorate and is a huge target for Democratic candidates and ballot initiatives, so using a confident female voice like Rosi can authentically help get your message into the right ears!

Tell us a little about your broadcast-quality home studio. Where is it? What kind of equipment do you have? What do you like about it?

We’re lucky to live in a lovely, solidly built 1850’s home in a quiet neighborhood in Cambridge MA where we set up a professional home studio to record our music in the 1990’s. In 2009 we vamped it up for voiceovers. We’re 100% Remote-Ready with SourceConnect Pro, ipDTL, phone patch or Zoom/Skype available for our clients to listen in or direct in real time.  We use various topnotch microphones including a Warm Audio WA-87, CAD E100S, Audio Technica AT4040, AKG Perception 220, Shure SM-7B and AKG Perception 120, an Apogee Duet 2 preamp/interface. Our preferred DAW is Twisted Wave but we also use Digital Performer 9, Logic Pro and Reaper recording software.

What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?

Many of our voiceover clients may not know that we’re also professional Latin musicians. In fact we toured for 27 years prior to choosing to move into our full-time voiceover career in 2009. I am our Latin band Sol y Canto‘s lead singer and bongo player/percussionist and my husband Brian is our composer/arranger and a fabulous Spanish guitarist if I do say so myself. I am passionate about doing improvisational singing these days and am furiously studying it online during this pandemic so that I can come out scatting like Ella Fitzgerald (I wish).

How did you get into voiceover work?

A music colleague and fan asked us to record children’s stories and eLearning modules for Scholastic in the early 90’s and we thoroughly enjoyed it. A few years later the hospital where I gave birth to our twins caught wind that I was a Latin singer with a following and asked me to record a testimonial in both English and Spanish as a TV and radio spot. I went into my first pro voiceover studio downtown in Boston and recorded with several producers listening in and directing. It went great and I was hooked. Right then and there I decided I would pursue bilingual voiceovers as a way of using my voice creatively moving forward that didn’t require that I tour constantly away from my infant twins once they started school. I recorded part-time as I built up my client base and went full-time in 2009. I love it!

Do you remember the first voiceover job you ever did?

The first spot was for the Hospital I gave birth in – St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Boston. It was a bilingual spot about what good care they took of me and my premature twins. All true and very personal. I did it pro-bono to help the hospital and their wonderful NICU nurses and doctors.

What has been your favorite voiceover project – political or otherwise – to date?

I had the privilege of being selected to record the overdubbed English voice for the fearless indigenous leader Nemonte Nenquimo in “Global Goal: Unite for our Future,” an internationally broadcast documentary and concert. It calls on citizens to tackle global injustices by using our collective voice to drive change for everyone, everywhere. This online event was produced by Global Citizen, a social action platform for a global generation that aims to solve the world’s biggest challenges and promotes social change. Here it is:

Why do you think voiceover is an important part of political advertising this season?

Now more than ever diverse voices must be uplifted, and all the Democratic and progressive candidates know that they must include Latin, Hispanic, African-American and our Native populations voices in their campaigns in order to be voted in. These populations are amongst the ones that have been most hard hit by the double crisis of the pandemic and systemic racism.

What issues would you like to see at the center of the Democratic platform for this year’s election?

Ending the separation of immigrant children from their families; radical immigration reform, including protection for Dreamers,
policies to combat systemic racism including community-based police department reform, access to quality early childhood education, and quality healthcare coverage for all.

What is your biggest voiceover pet peeve?

When clients send me scripts in Spanish that were translated by Google Translate or by someone who is not a professional translator and they are literally translated in a way that no Latin or Hispanic person would ever speak. It happens more often that I care to say, and puts me in the uncomfortable position of having to point this out to the client and help them fix these problems. I will not voice anything that is not written in proper Spanish, so I’m happy to help with this, but it’s not how I prefer to use my time. I do my best to educate each client so that when they return they’ll have a pro to send the script to in advance. It’s a win/win.

If you could tell political voiceover clients one thing that would help you do your job better, or help them get what they want faster – what would that one thing be?

I frequently record bilingual versions of spots and very often the Spanish is too long for the :30 or :60 time frame. There are 25-30% more words in Spanish than in English, so if the creative team hires a pro translator who understands and practices the script to see if it’ll fit into the amount of time that’s available, by the time the script gets to me it’s good to go. It is usually well written and I don’t have to rush (making it sound like a used car sales ad!) This makes my job way easier and more fun! I love doing political spots for causes and folks I believe in when I get the opportunity.

What advice do you have for talents who want to do political voiceover?

Study with knowledgeable voice acting coaches or an acting coach, listen to political ads and learn about the different styles so you’re fluent in them and will know what approach to take when you get a script.

What hobbies do you have outside of your voiceover work?

I’m a longtime yoga practitioner and I meditate daily. My husband and I also do a vocal improvisation every morning after we meditate together. It’s a great way to start off the day before I exercise. And I LOVE to travel, when it’s allowed! Can’t wait.

Any final thoughts?

It’s an honor for me to be able to represent the Latin community in my political voiceover work. I am frequently hired to be the voice of an immigrant, a business owner, or to voice the spot of a Latin political candidate who is trying to make things better for my community. There is no higher honor than this one, whether it’s in English, Spanish or Hispanic-accented English.

If you’d like to book Rosi Amador on your next political voiceover project, please visit her profile here and get in touch!

We’ve started a new series to introduce you to our talents by going even more in-depth than their profile listings. So, welcome to Meet The Blue Wave Voiceover Talent!

Brian Amador – Hispanic Male Voiceovers in English and Spanish

When you’re looking for a voiceover artist who can deliver your political spot flawlessly in both English and Spanish, look no further than Hispanic bilingual male voiceover talent, Brian Amador. Brian actually comes from a family of bilingual voiceover artists. We’re proud to have his wife Rosi on our Blue Wave Voiceover roster as well. Brian is also able to deliver copy in English with an authentic Hispanic accent. Latin community represents a large part of the electorate and is a huge target for Democratic candidates and ballot initiatives, so using a voice like Brian can help get your message into the right ears!

Tell us a little about your broadcast-quality home studio. Where is it? What kind of equipment do you have? What do you like about it?

Our studio is in the partially-underground basement of our 1850’s era house. It has beautiful wide pine paneling and a massive beam running across the ceiling, which gave it good acoustic properties even before we set it up as a studio. Now it has a sound-dampening window, curtain and door as well as acoustic ceiling treatment, and sounds wonderfully warm and quiet. Our go-to mics are the AudioTechnica 4040 and the Sennheiser MK416.

What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?

I’m an avid cook.

How did you get into voiceover work?

Almost by accident. Many years ago a colleague hired my wife and me to record English/Spanish bilingual children’s stories, and little by little we started doing more and more voiceover. When our kids were in high school, we decided to shift from our careers as traveling musicians towards voiceover in order to be home for them more often.

Do you remember the first political voiceover spot that you did?

Martin Heimlich, Democratic senator from New Mexico (my home state). Spanish ad. He won, because of me, naturally.

What issues would you like to see at the center of the Democratic platform for this year’s election?

Climate change, police reform, immigrant rights, voting rights protections, restoring the hope of democracy…

What is your biggest voiceover pet peeve?

Not a fan of upspeak or vocal fry.

If you could tell political voiceover clients one thing that would help you do your job better, or help them get what they want faster – what would that one thing be?

If you’re not going to do a directed session, be as specific as you can about what you want. If you hire us for Spanish voiceover, PLEASE make sure you have it professionally translated.

What hobbies do you have outside of your voiceover work?

I can’t say music is a hobby because I still do it professionally, but it is my main pursuit outside of VO.

If you’d like to book Brian Amador on your next political voiceover project, please visit his profile here and get in touch!

Meet Cenophia Mitchell. We’ve started a new series to introduce you to our talents by going even more in-depth than their profile listings. So, welcome to Meet The Blue Wave Voiceover Talent!

Meet Cenophia Mitchell – African American Female Voiceover

Tell us a little about your broadcast-quality home studio. Where is it? What kind of equipment do you have? What do you like about it?

Mic: Audio-Technica AT-2035. Apogee MiC. Audio Interface: Steinberg UR12. Software:  Audacity. Garageband. Logic.

What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?

People who know me well know, but many people are surprised that I hate two popular “C” foods chicken and coconut. No, I am not a vegetarian. Yes, I have a very inconvenient coconut intolerance.

How did you get into voiceover work?

Voice over was my first job ever. I got the chance to voice a gossiping muppet for the TV Show “CityKids” with Jim Henson Productions. It was many years later, while working as a apple tech, that a friend mentioned a voiceover class she was taking and loved. I decided to take the class too, and was inspired to get back into it!

Do you remember the first political voiceover spot that you did?

My first political voiceover was a non-partisan spot about making sure people actually go out and vote.

What has been your favorite voiceover project to date – political or otherwise?

My first voiceover project will always be my favorite. Since then, the idea of never quite knowing what genre of voiceover the next project I do will be is my favorite thing about voiceover. It’s hard to pick one favorite when they are all so different.

Why do you think voiceover will be an important part of political advertising in the 2020 election?

As we strive for ways to stay connected in 2020, and information becomes more overwhelming, having a trusted and informed voice will be very important in highlighting issues and candidates that need our attention. Whether formal or personal, a human voice will be an extremely important way of communicating, especially while being face to face is more limited than ever before.

What issues would you like to see at the center of the Democratic platform for this year’s election?

Any Issues that involve empathy for what humans are going through, not just businesses.

What is your biggest voiceover pet peeve?

Blatantly false information. I don’t want to be a voice that causes misinformation to seem true.

If you could tell political voiceover clients one thing that would help you do your job better, or help them get what they want faster – what would that one thing be?

Please share your thoughts on what you want the project to look and sound like. Or let me know what you think my voice can add to your message. The more we are on the same page the better.

What advice do you have to aspiring voiceover talents that want to work in the political arena?

Worry less about sounding like the voices you already hear and more about what your unique voice can bring to the table.

What hobbies do you have outside of your voiceover work?

I try to always stay creative in general but I love marathons of Karaoke, taking way too many pictures, and shenanigans with friends.

If you’d like to book Cenophia Mitchell on your next political voiceover project, please visit her profile here and get in touch!

We’ve started a new series to introduce you to our talents by going even more in-depth than their profile listings. So, Meet Ian Fishman, The Blue Wave Voiceover Talent!

Ian Fishman – Millennial Political Voiceover

Tell us a little about your broadcast-quality home studio. Where is it? What kind of equipment do you have? What do you like about it?

I absolutely love my studio — there are always improvements I’d like to make, but it’s exactly what I need to get high-quality work done quickly [and without distraction]. My SourceConnected and ipDTL-equipped studio is mostly in a Studiobricks OnePLUS booth — a “pop-up” booth that basically functions like LEGO and IKEA got together to make a top-notch soundproof space. In there, I typically work on an AKG C414 microphone; I really like how crisp and bright it makes me sound without adding any sort of “sheen” on my voice.

On request, I can also use my trusty Sennheiser 416, though I usually prefer that for my road setup. I record my sessions on my Mac via Twisted Wave, with an ART Pro MPA II pre-amp and the good ol’ Scarlett 2i2 interface. George “the Tech” Whittam was instrumental in helping me get my sound just right. I’m also one of those people who needs physical lists and whiteboards and diagrams to keep track of all of my projects, so more often than not, my studio looks like a voiceover-specific crime analysis lab.

What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?

I once finished 162nd out of 163 in a ski race… and the only reason I didn’t finish last was because 1 person crashed. *cracks knuckles* Oh, yes, a regular Tommy Moe right here. I did later teach skiing for a couple years, and still go whenever I can. Just, y’know… without racing.

How did you get into voiceover work?

Sketch comedy! I went to Pace University in New York for the BFA-Acting program, and while there I took improv & sketch classes with the Upright Citizens Brigade, the People’s Improv Theater, and the Magnet Theater. When I started working with my own troupe — a cooking/stoner enthusiast show called “I’ve Got Munchies” back in 2005 that’s still going — I insisted on doing any of the VO work that fit my voice. I loved writing parodies, and so I started getting pretty good at imitating commercial and narrative voiceover.

Do you remember what your first voiceover spot was?

Believe it or not… sketch comedy! I took a video sketch class in 2007 with James Murray, a.k.a. “Murr” on Impractical Jokers, and one of the sketches we made was a parody PSA about Cooties. True to form, when time came, I happened to be in the room when he was editing and I asked if I could do the voiceover. It ended up going viral and got shown on Comedy Central, the CW, G4 [RIP], and a bunch of other places. It won some award from Yahoo!, too, back when that mattered. I’m proud to say, 13 years later, it’s still a fun sketch. I think it holds up pretty well.

Do you remember the first political voiceover spot that you did?

Vaguely. So, I don’t remember who it was for — it was in 2012, I believe, and the computer that had the files is long gone. But I remember being *very* surprised that I got cast, because they were looking for someone to sound very gruff and militaristic… and you can hear in my work, that’s not really my sound at all — I’m typically pretty “next door neighbor” with a Millennial spin. I was definitely doing an impression of someone gruff and militaristic. But, they booked me, and had a great laugh when we connected for a phone patch session and heard how I actually talk!

What has been your favorite voiceover project to date – political or otherwise?

A recent one I really liked was for Playworks’ “Play at Home” series. My wife Abigail is the Minnesota Program Director, and she created a series of shareable, single-game tutorials for students stuck at home during the Covid pandemic. My fellow Blue Waver Maria Pendolino and I donated our voices through our “Millennial Voiceover” partnership, and they came out really great!

Why do you think voiceover will be an important part of political advertising in the 2020 election?

Two reasons: for one, as a society we’re craving authentic, real, human connection more than ever as of late… and that was before the pandemic hit. Any way, any tool that can be used to foster a genuine connection to a potential donor or voter really needs to be used to ensure you’re getting the results you need. And secondly, accessibility ought to be at the forefront of any campaign that hopes to be successful. Not only are you ensuring you reach voters who can’t connect visually, but you’re also increasing your chances of engaging voters distracted in the moment you’re trying to reach them.

What issues would you like to see at the center of the Democratic platform for this year’s election?

Besides winning? 🙂 There’s a whole lot that I want to see Democratic leadership do, but I think their best path to long-term success — especially after the events of the last couple months — is worker’s rights and opportunities. A Green New Deal, if executed right, can and will put a lot of the country back to work and help revive the middle and working classes. That, and voting rights — if we win enough races to have a mandate to do so, voter reform — granting greater voter access while abolishing gerrymandering and the electoral college — would go a long way to ensuring our system is more fair and equitable.

What is your biggest voiceover pet peeve?

Not booking a job. Ugh! It’s the one thing that guarantees I’m not voicing something.

If you could tell political voiceover clients one thing that would help you do your job better, or help them get what they want faster – what would that one thing be?

If there’s anything, in particular, you heard in my demo or audition that led you to cast me, please let me know! It’s such a great shorthand to know going in what specific direction, tone, and/or style you’d like. The other is music — if you know what music you’re planning to use underneath, that’s always a huge help at the top of the session to know what I’m playing off of.

What advice do you have to aspiring voiceover talents that want to work in the political arena?

1. Don’t neglect your acting classes. At the end of the day, our job is to bring a script to life, and to create real, genuine connections within the world and point of view of the ad. 2. Be ready. If you think standard commercial bookings work fast, just wait until you work a hotly-contested campaign. 3. And, much like the rest of voiceover, breaking in is a marathon, not a sprint. Be patient and keep working your craft!

What hobbies do you have outside of your voiceover work?

Punk rock and comedy are two of my biggest loves — and they combine at The Hard Times [thehardtimes.net], where I’m the copy editor. I’m also a comedy producer & director, working over the last few years with Late Nights Minneapolis, Real Tough Films, and the National Theatre for Children. Otherwise, you can find me gardening, skiing, homebrewing, at Burning Man-related events, or with my nose in a biography. All of this to say, I’m usually at home if I’m not out on my bike or at the improv theater!

If you’d like to book Ian Fishman on your next political voiceover project, please visit his profile here and get in touch!