voice-over artist or voice-over technician
Remembering I had auditioned with two distinctly different reads, I walked into a job and asked the producer which voice he’d like me to give him. With a laugh, he said, “Well, your voice, of course! That’s why we hired you!“– KK
There is a significant difference between a voice-over artist and a voice-over technician. The voice-over artist delivers their own voice within an emotional range; the voice-over technician has complete command of their speaking and singing voice, and access to wide range and subtle nuance. Kirsten Kairos has worked as a voice-over technician, as well as a studio and touring musician, for over two decades. She delivers her unique technical artistry to effectively realize any producer’s vision.
There are times when a producer needs the voice-over technician to adjust their voice–– in pitch, texture, cadence, attitude, and accent––or it may be necessary to shave off tenths of a second here or there. Kirsten has the experience and adaptability to take direction well, and is able to adjust accordingly in a quick, professional manner.
What do L’Oreal’s new national campaign celebrity spots featuring Beyoncé, Gwen Stefani, Jennifer Lopez, Julianna Margulies, and Diane Keaton have in common? They all include Kirsten Kairos’ technical voice-over artistry; subtle differences in delivery uniquely support each and every personality. Watch and listen here.
fine-tuning adaptability
There are times when a producer needs the voice-over technician to adjust their voice–– in pitch, texture, cadence, attitude, and accent––or it may be necessary to shave off tenths of a second here or there. Kirsten has the experience and adaptability to take direction well, and is able to adjust accordingly in a quick, professional manner.
readings with a musician’s ear
Producers appreciate the value of Kirsten’s background as a musician. She loves performing the read to music. Music elicits a more emotionally appropriate read, and is an efficient guide for cadence and pacing. Even if producers haven’t selected the final music edit, a similar piece can be used for vibe placement.
saving production time
Headphones are a vital tool for Kirsten. No…it’s not because she loves the sound of her own voice, it saves production time. Her experience as a jingle/session singer has refined her ability to use proximity to the mic as another tool in her professional reads. Through the headphones, she is able to hear precisely and adjust for volume and distance so there are never popping “p”s, fluffy “f”s, or slamming meters into the red.
With the advent of ProTools, engineers are already expected to take on clean-up work that could easily be avoided by a VO technician having the use of headphones in order to be even more attuned to the recorded delivery.
contact/book
For your next project, book Kirsten through Cunningham-Escott-Slevin-Doherty (CESD)
New York: 212.477.1666
Los Angeles: 310.475.2111
Hear examples of Kirsten’s voice-over work here.
