Echoism Audiobook: Voice actors for dialogue
Project Overview
I am starting to plan an audiobook for a novel that I’m very close to publishing!
I plan on doing the narration voiceover myself, but I’ve always dreamed if having specific voices for character dialogues. I have a lot of passion for this project, and am very excited to hear these characters come alive even more through this medium!
I may also ask if some of you would like to also provide a few recordings for promotional bits!
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You might not expect one every time you scream, but sometimes, an ECHO might surprise you.
Cleft, at hardly the age of twenty, advocated for himself to be the leader of a group that survived a world run into ruins from a war on magic. Now, he's had thirty other lives on his shoulders for the last three years, and no choice but to cling onto the hope that the remains of an amusement park provided enough for that number to stay consistent for the rest of a lifetime.
Not much of the 'amusement' survived the blasts, but as long as one member of that thirty was his childhood friend (and closest confidante), Osmo, he can still manage to keep it up.
He does have some hobbies that can break up the duties he took
on.
Such as learning the very magic that started the war.
And arguing with the only member that was forced to fight in it.
Cleft had a good thing going, until an ambush from a group of another base caught him by surprise.
A desperate attempt to save his own life changed everything, so why was history still repeating itself?
X
ECHOISM is a series that shines a spotlight on what people are left with after the war is over, and looks behind the curtains of even the best actor's performance.
Someone might never expect just how desperately they'll cling onto love when they almost had the last of it ripped away overnight.
Voice Actor
The only one on that base who had to fight in the war as a soldier. He is only alive because he defected from his position shortly before the end.
Barry is a 36 year old man who lets his strong sense justice be his main drive, and that might make him susceptible to falling into a bit of tunnel-vision.
He wants to be right, but he can be impulsive with that goal.
He’s given himself a reputation as a bit of a heckler from the dynamic that developed between him and Cleft. He doesn’t give the younger man a lot of grace for mistakes, and is very outspoken about his thoughts of Cleft’s choices as a leader.
There is a lot more to Barry than what’s on the surface. Even three years of living in the same place with him wouldn’t reveal everything behind his motivations.
Voice notes:
Lower
A little nasally
Almost always Speaks with a bit with a grumble
doesn’t always sound as mature, collected, abs logical as he acts like he does
Some of his heckling to Cleft can almost get sassy/petty and into ‘deep sigh and facepalm’ territory, more than he lets himself be actually harsh with anger
faded German accent preferred but not necessary
- english
- male adult
- male young adult
- german
- swiss german
(Dismissive and annoyed, like he’s trying not to have the same conversation for the hundredth time) “You shouldn’t even be-” Barry took in a quick inhale before exhaling in a sigh, “I’m the only one here who was actually part of the military, while that entire group is full of former soldiers. I’d at least know how to talk to the guy if he really was someone of a high rank. It’s not like Osmo is really a leader either.”
(Starts off petty like an eye-roll, but turns firm, like he’s talking to an ignorant kid as if they didn’t know better) Sure, like you know. I at least saw all that on the battlefield while you were safely making weapons in a cozy little factory with a cozier bunker. You’re standing here to tell me that all the world’s governments were wrong to fear it? Standing in a world destroyed by that exact thing?”
(Gentle but desperate - pleasing to someone he cares about after he did something he regrets, but knows it was unforgivable) “You can’t look at me right now, and still tell me you care… You can’t leave me with something left to lose. Make me mad at you, dammit!”
Voice Actor
Cleft is the lead/main character
He is a 23 year-old Swedish boy who appointed himself as the leader of a base in an apocalypse. Now he’s responsible for how 30 other people are surviving.
His minimal engineering training helps him contribute, but his real passion is in learning magic… even if it has been a pretty controversial subject as a result of the war turned the world into what it is.
His biggest goal is to really olive himself, and find a way to use magic to grow unlimited food.
Cleft also struggles a lot with imposter-syndrome, and tends to try to act a lot more confident than he actually feels. He has a bit of a reputation for hiding behind a sassy attitude whenever he’s met with criticism.
But when he’s pushed, the back-sass can get overly defensive, and almost whiny.
Him and his raging imposter-syndrome lives in fear of not being taken seriously as a leader, and even more terrified of never proving himself.
He gravitates towards the more unconventional things
He is a bit of a theatre-kid
And he grew up wanting to be like Cloud Strife
His hobbies involve practicing magic, and being petty while bickering with Barry (neither of them sound particularly nature when they argue, but both of them seem to really want t the other to think they are)
Cleft is also gay, and his relationship with his childhood friend (Osmo) is an important part of why he makes some o his choices.
But whatever part of him isn’t influenced by Osmo, is entirely focused on protecting his New Twin Sister.
Cleft carries most of the story and notably has the most dialogue. Especially because he is known to be a bit of a Yapper who doesn’t exactly have the best track-record for knowing what should and should be kept to himself.
Voice Notes:
Swedish Accent
Not very deep at all
Has a slight nasal touch
He easily gets defensive
Even more frequently, that come out in backsass
For reference, the closest I’ve found to what I imagine, is the Norwegian artist Mileo
https://open.spotify.com/track/7zpZaoiAsuGnJ9Rjm5VHBt?si=FQwa-BG5Q_6ev1APfWBoxw&utm_source=copy-link
- swedish
- english
- swedish
- male young adult
(Defensive, and trying to sound logical) “I’m handling things just fine! I only said what we all agreed on, and I don’t override anyone’s ideas. That’s why I hold these meetings regularly. I make sure to take everyone’s input and consider it”
(Delicate) “You’re so much more than that… Just be my partner. My friend,” Cleft fought against the warmth that threatened to be a distraction in his desperate face, “We work together. Equally. Work with me, not for me.”
(Panicked/defensive in fear) “Vad i Helvete?! (…) Din jävla skitstövel rövhatt!”
Voice Actor
Misha is a woman who seems to never have a shortage of love to give.
She remains as the doctor of the base, having been a high-ranked medic during the war, and easily is the main reason that there hasn’t been one death in the entire three years. But she swears, some of these people love to try and put that theory to the test.
She is particularly close with a select few - mainly, Ismene who she is tge all-but-blood-related older sister of. And mostly through Izzy, she gets roped into the girl’s-night hangouts fairly often.
But on that list, one is very unlike the others. No matter how well-known it is that she’s been a close friend to Barry since more than a decade before the world ended, it still seems to baffle anyone who sees the two of them interact. Misha alone might be the only one who can get Barry to act like a completely different person.
Shes onky 34 at this time, and only about 10 years older than the youngest few, but she’s a caring motherly type, who longs for a simple and sweet romance at her core.
She always sounds very earnest, but does seem to constantly be holding back a stronger emotion than what she’s. Letting get through her professional wall.
For reference: in my head, she’s genuinely always sounded something like Amanda Hufford in both sound and that particular inflection to their voice
- gentle
- female adult
- soft
- Careful
- mature
- female young adult
(Matter-of-factly, but soft. She’s Trying to get someone to open their eyes) “The war was so bad they decided to forgo human rights and forced soldiers to fight well past their ability, but those kids grew up in that same war. They are still barely now the age we were then. That horrific turn of the war was just about the only life they knew before this. I’ll tell you, they damn well do know how it really affected things.“
(Gentle, venting about a worry she can’t express to anyone other than her apprentice) “We’re supposed to be safe places for anyone here to come to for help with any kind of hurt… It’s hard to watch him hurt when I know intervening by my own accord would only make him sink further into it.”
(Whispered to herself, choking back tears) “That precious little girl…”
Voice Actor
Ismene (Also goes by Izzy) is someone who loves to make people laugh, but she’s also no stranger to telling it like it is.
She’s the electrician of the base members, and her main role is to make sure everything on the property can still run, even as one of the youngest (she’s 24)
At least, that’s her role on-paper. The rest of the time, she’s teasing Misha, getting a makeover from Ferah, or coming up with choreography with Anji.
She’s always having fun with the other girls, and is very easily excitable.
And she is the second-youngest out of the 31 members (only next to Cleft)
It can almost seem like it’s impossible to be upset with her. Even Barry seems to give her more slack than he does with anyone else in the ‘younger crew’. But her particular closeness with Misha easily explains that.
There’s a newcomer to the base, and Ismene is particularly DYING to get to get to know her.
She can fall into the habit of getting pretty comfortable with backpacking off of her friends and their hobbies, and she won’t admit out loud that it’s because she has a hard time with taking initiative and putting herself in the spotlight.
That gets challenged when this new girl has her own unique reasons for doubting her personal Identity, and Izzy gets shifted up the totem-pole before she even realizes.
Voice notes:
Light, but with a soft rasp
Very high-energy and playful (cheeky)
Youthful, but notably grounded (girl on her early 20’s)
She can end up with a little snort if she laughs hard enough
- female young adult
- female teen
- female adult
- expressive
- soft
- raspy
(Teasing - to someone (Barry) who seemed embarrassed/too hard as to admit he was willingly joining Izzy, Misha, and Echo for lunch) “Just admit that we’re fun,” Ismene snickered, “You won’t burst into flames, I promise.”
“Gee thanks. See, I /know/ that’s a lie, because I irritate even Misha,” Ismene chuckled, then rolled her eyes, put a hsbd on her hip, and looked firm at him “You should just cut the crap and be nicer to Cleft. Misha cares a lot about him, and you know that. Don’t you, I dunno, want to prove something to her? Like how you were talking to Echo the other week. Is that Barry already gone again?”
(Gay panic) “Well, you’re cute,” Ismene stunted her breath, tried to suck the words back in, before she chuckled, "Like, in it. In the skirt. Not that you aren’t- er, yeah, you get it. Oh my gods, let the lightning of Zeus strike me down, for I hath forgotten how to SPEAK today.”
Voice Actor
Anjali, usually referred to as ‘Anji’, is a girl who puts a lot of energy towards lightening the mood, and getting people to laugh when they try to act like that can’t anymore.
Brought to the base as Osmo’s cousin, Anji is proudly a mechanic who stole a military truck from her job just before the world was ruined.
She’s a lovergirl, Girlypop, free spirit, who rejected restricting traditions the instant she had the chance to. She’s a bit advocate if the silver-lining because the apocalypse was the most freeing thing that’s ever happened to her.
As the base’s best metal-worker, she gets shit done . She says she doesn’t have time to listen to anyone’s negative attitudes, but always manages to find the time to handle it when it’s against someone she makes a point to protect.
Voice Notes:
Cute, slightly higher voice but not too young-sounding
She is half-Indian, but accent isn’t necessary
She is extremely passionate, and usually has very high energy
Reference:
Similar sound to the artist Janani K. Jha
https://open.spotify.com/track/1yYtAYCmyy2DR1yHrkjcbL?si=xzj99-slTje0YVQSSL4GYw&utm_source=copy-link
- hindi
- english
- female young adult
- female adult
- hindi
Oye!” Anji jumped back in, “You say you’re just worried. So, why take any attention away from preparing for the future instead of using hindsight and pissing everyone off?”
“There’s SO much you get to experience for the first time! Be thankful that we got to you first, girly. Our little circle are the most fun people in this place. A lot of the guys… just don’t get it.”
“Oh, stop it!” Anji squealed once Echo tried the two pieces on together, “That’s adorable! The bubble-skirt was such a good call, Fairy. That’s literally the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.”
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