We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Andi Eloise a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Andi, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
I grew up in an unsafe, abusive household, and under the constraints of purity culture and conservative Christianity. They brought with them, as you can absolutely imagine, many wounds. However, I have been consistently surrounded in various seasons by incredibly generous, loving, and thoughtful people who help me find and hold onto truth and hope amidst pain and fear. I have been shown again and again what it means to have and express joy in even the smallest parts of our days, so much so that when I struggle with imposter syndrome, a lack of confidence, an abundance of anxiety, or even real depression, I am able to see glimmers of a better tomorrow.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m an up and coming Audiobook Narrator! I’ve been on this journey for about a year now, and it’s been one of the best choices I’ve made. I started out thinking maybe it would be a nice hobby to have, something enjoyable and pleasurable in the middle of my time working a job that was fine but not necessarily life-giving. It’s quickly become a race to make this my full-time employment because it’s sooooo amazing, and fulfills me in so many ways. I’ve been extremely lucky with the success I’ve found so far and hope to make a long, sustained career here.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think bearing curiosity, empathy, and passion are really impactful qualities to possess, as someone who seeks to bring stories to life, to bring the truth of the page to the heart of a listener. These qualities can’t really be taught, but they definitely can be improved upon- just becoming a student of people.
For anyone just beginning their journey into audiobook narration, I think some really important checkpoints along the way begin with people watching, and basic or introductory acting classes- opportunities to observe human behavior and mannerisms outside of your own circle, and then to practice them under teaching guidance. This will help you connect personally with the characters on a page, especially those who have different faith/sexual/political/etc belief systems than you. Narration is less about just reading the words on the page as it is connecting with real human emotion, and making black and white words come to life in a relatable and listenable way.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
This is such a great question because I just started this journey about 12 months ago! My biggest area of growth has been in the way I approach my work- particularly the text itself. I really chased after coaching and classes this year because I didn’t want to waste time making big mistakes that were easily avoidable, and through the coaching I’ve received I’ve been able to make HUGE adjustments in the sound quality of my voice, the way I approach character development, and my ability to connect with and portray big emotions on page while NOT losing the driver’s seat. Meaning I’ve learned to portray the truth of the scene WHILE maintaining an emotional control so listeners feel safe with me and my narrative. Growing up in an unsafe house has made me extra sensitive to the needs of the listener.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.andieloise.com
- Instagram: @andieloisevoice
- Other: Tiktok (I am most active here): @andieloisevoice
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