Authenticity in Voiceover

Out of the Booth and Into the Wild

On location in the South Downs

For me one of the unexpected pleasures of being a voiceover is the booth: that small, perfectly controlled black box where every sound is captured, every breath is present, and the outside world politely stays out. It’s precise. It’s consistent. It’s, its own brand of joy! But every now and then, it’s good to trade the acoustic panelled walls for something a little less… contained.

Recently, I had the pleasure of working on a new piece of writing that will play like an audio-drama monologue. Without giving too much away, the character’s world is Brighton Beach. And while we didn’t decamp to the seaside with a caravan of recording gear, we did the next best thing: a glorious day on the highest point of the South Downs.

Instead of a static mic and studio walls, I was set up with a lapel mic beneath trees alive with birdsong, the occasional overhead plane, and the kind of English sunshine that feels like a bonus prize. My “studio” that day came with branches for acoustic treatment and the wind as a backing track. And the difference was remarkable.

Recording on location allowed me to move, breathe, and embody the character in ways that are harder to access behind glass. The physicality of walking, shifting, and looking out at the horizon found its way into the performance. It felt freeing, playful, and—above all—authentic.

Recently I had some coaching in advance of recording my gaming reel and I was reminded (by Rhiannon Moushall, who is a truly amazing performer and coach), how important it was to take your exploration outside the booth - to move in the imaginary world of the character and whatever their situation is. This outdoor recording session doubled down on that piece of advice and brought an authenticity in voiceover that would otherwise be hard to find.

We are a long way into 2025 and in truth the year started off super quiet with my head down focussing on lots of direct marketing and other business development stuff, but it’s been great to refocus on delivering for clients as autumn projects have kicked in.   

This project has been a particular highlight and a huge thanks to Foxy Tongue Voices for putting me forward, and to Anna Bertmark for trusting me with her gorgeously innovative project. It was a joy from start to finish.

Wonderful writing, a stunning setting, and even a touch of sunshine—what more could a voiceover want?