Hello!
It’s been a month of many layers! And I’m not just talking about knitwear. Although, thanks to the new ‘Wuthering Heights’ film, the world can now appreciate (perhaps a bit too much) that Yorkshire is indeed, prone to a little ‘weather’. Here’s evidence from the first day of Spring, that things are beginning to look brighter up on the moor near me. Unlike Margot Robbie, I was prudent enough to layer-up over my heaving corset and even manage a Yorkshire accent (lol).
Rombalds Moor, Yorkshire
The response to the first edition of Voice Note was so wonderful. Thanks everyone for reading and subscribing. Over the past month, I’ve tried not to dwell too heavily on the fact I now have 100+ new subscribers to write to, because in the words a Danish Philosopher:
“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” Søren Kierkegaard
…a thought that needs no improvement. It’s time for a quick look backwards.
NEW Multi-Layered Voice Reels.
It was time for a voice-reel update and during some industrious hours of editing, one new voice reel led to another….and another. I’m happy to say you can now choose from audio examples for the different kinds of voicing I do. In the spirit of embracing (and organising) such a diverse bunch of examples, I’ve created some luscious layers of my own. Check them all out on my voice over page.
‘Softly Loudly’ is 5!!
The release of my album, ‘Softly Loudly’ had its 5th anniversary this month. And it still surprises me, looking back, that it ever came to be. Recording it was ‘hindered’ by lockdown. Although perspective has since revealed it wasn’t really a hinderance at all, but the very thing that defined it.
The music had to be carefully recorded and layered because in-person collaboration was limited due to social-distancing. But at the same time, my interaction with nature was unlimited, so there are some elements borrowed from the landscape to listen out for. Back then, I could often be found lurking with a mic, near streams and open windows at 4am. In fact, I committed the mortal sin of opening the album, not with an algorithm-friendly banger, but with several seconds of field recording which starts subtly. I’ve since realised this can make people click past the first track. Needless to say, track two ‘Saturday’ has become the most listened-to track by a mile. You live and learn. But I wouldn’t change it.
Thanks in no small way to contributors Adam Nabarro-Steel, Neil Hooton, Debbie Harris – and Mia Nabarro-Steel (for the artwork), I’m pleased to report the album is still doing well across streaming services. I’m sharing a link from one platform (others are available) in case you fancy a listen for yourself!
Layer as the Romans do
This month’s header is a snap from a very long-awaited trip to Rome with my youngest daughter. A fragment of street art or graffiti (from the Italian word graffiato – to scratch) with its scruffy peeling layers, seems almost intentionally composed. This ‘half-revealing’ is something that seems to happen effortlessly in the city. I learnt that ancient Rome is only 10% uncovered. We’re really only scratching the surface of this and other Roman sites.
It reminded me of one of my favourite voice projects to date, as a virtual Roman tour guide in the ancient city of Pompeii, which is only 25% excavated. You can read about that project, for Open University / BBC, here.) I absolutely love history content and I’m always on the look-out for interesting museum and heritage voice over projects.
Until next month, enjoy the arrival of spring and don’t forget those layers!
Audio Version
Audio Version of Voice Note 2