DARK ARTS – Retro Horror Audio Drama
Project Overview
🎙️ WILDLORE RECORDS presents DARK ARTS – A Multilayered Audio Drama & Concept Album
Dark Arts is a cinematic audio drama and music project set in the late 1980s. This ambitious hybrid series blends immersive voice acting with original music, creating a layered world of mystery, nostalgia, and supernatural unease.
The story follows 17-year-old Laura Kelly, who begins recording interviews in a quiet American town where strange events are unfolding. What starts as a hobby project quickly spirals into something deeper. Through atmospheric sound design, raw performances, and a richly textured synth-heavy score, Dark Arts invites listeners into a slow-burning horror experience with heart and style.
This project will be released in two forms:
A fully produced audio drama podcast with voice actors, ambient scenes, and cinematic storytelling
A double concept album under Jonathan Wolfe’s musical alias Operation Midnight, built from the drama’s dialogue, sound design, and score—expanding the narrative into a standalone musical work
Inspired by the analog dread of A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Blair Witch Project, the supernatural emotion of Stranger Things, and the small-town tension of Stephen King’s best horror, Dark Arts is a unique cross-medium experience for fans of elevated horror, retro synth scores, and intimate character-driven storytelling.
To get a feel for the tone and soundtrack, you can listen to this private preview featuring rough mixes currently in progress, or check out Paramour Echo, a track from Operation Midnight’s debut album.
This is a passion project by creator Jonathan Wolfe. We’re assembling a team who believes in story, atmosphere, and we feel we’re building something that will grow into something even bigger than this first step.
We look forward to hearing your auditions!
Best,
Matt
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🎙️ Role: James Deacon (28, male)
Voice Type: Mid to low register, emotionally weathered
Accent: American (neutral to rural/suburban; not overtly southern)
Tone: Guarded, cynical, haunted
Style: Naturalistic performance, minimal melodrama
Character Summary:
James Deacon is a loner living on the fringes of a small American town. Scarred by the traumatic disappearance of his friend Danny in 1981 and the suspicion that followed, James has spent his adult life dodging attention. He’s not hostile, but he’s deeply mistrustful—wary of being used, pitied, or misrepresented.
This role requires emotional restraint with buried volatility. He doesn’t scream; he simmers. His voice should carry years of isolation, defensiveness, and quiet fear. When Laura begins to chip at his walls, the performance should subtly shift—hesitation, tension, and that flicker of humanity he’s tried to bury.
Key Vocal Traits:
- Flat, almost monotone delivery at first—controlled and measured.
- Bitter sarcasm and defensiveness when provoked (but don't overdo it).
- Moments of sharp intensity—not yelling, but a voice that suddenly hardens or drops to a whisper when old pain surfaces.
- Soft vulnerability in rare pauses—hesitations, sighs, or emotional cracks he quickly hides.
- english
- american
- male adult
- narration
- amateur voice acting
- character acting
- emotional voice acting
- deep voices
"You think knowing helps? They locked me up for what I said. Do you have any idea what it’s like to have everyone think you’re a liar? A freak? Did you know I was a suspect back then? Some people still think I did it."
"The reports say Danny ran away. But you already know that’s not true, don’t you? You came here to hear it from me. Sure… I saw something. And it's never left me."
"Whatever took your brother... some things in this town don't want to be found. (quieter) Some things shouldn't be."
🎙️ Role: Joe Grant (44, male)
Voice Type: Low register, rough-edged, grounded
Accent: American (general or slightly working-class—Texan, Midwest, or neutral rural okay)
Tone: Gruff, emotional restraint, no-nonsense
Style: Natural, authentic, grounded in realism
Character Summary:
Joe Grant is a weathered oil rigger and a father still searching for his missing son, Peter. He’s tough, no-frills, and emotionally closed off—but not cold. Beneath his blunt exterior is a man breaking quietly under the weight of guilt, grief, and relentless determination.
This role calls for subtle emotional control. Joe is not outwardly expressive—his feelings come through in quiet intensity rather than outbursts. He’s guarded, but not cold. The performance should reflect a man carrying weight without needing to show it. When emotion does surface, it should feel natural and understated.
Key Vocal Traits:
- Deep, rough, naturally weathered tone (not theatrical)
- Grounded delivery—think gravel and gravity, not melodrama
- Quiet intensity, especially in moments of regret or belief
- Subtle shifts—he may start sharp but drop into something raw
- english
- male adult
- american
- narration
- adult
- audiobook
- emotional voice acting
- amateur actor
- amateur voice acting
- deep voice
- producer/writer/voice actor
- audio engineering voice acting
"For Christ’s sake— (sharp, interrupting) not this again. Every time someone asks about my son, they come with theories… stories… gossip— (beat, scoffs) and shit that is, to be blunt, a waste of my time. (Leaning forward, voice tight) You think I haven’t heard it all? (beat) (Low and firm) I don’t need stories. I need the truth."
"They called him a runaway— (slight breath, bitter chuckle) before I even got home. Stamped the file. Case closed. (Beat. Then harder, voice rising just slightly) Like that was supposed to be enough."
"My son told me he was scared. (soft, almost to himself) I didn’t take him seriously… (pause) Thought it was just nerves. Teenage hormones, maybe. (Voice catching slightly) I should’ve listened. Should’ve been there. (Beat) But I was too busy… away working."
🎙️ Role: Jesse Morales (17, male)
Voice Type: Mid to upper register, natural teen tone
Accent: American (youthful, contemporary; no heavy regional accent)
Tone: Casual, hesitant, emotionally conflicted
Style: Naturalistic and grounded
Character Summary:
Jesse Morales is a 17-year-old skater who keeps to himself. He doesn’t buy into ghost stories or town gossip—but after one night near the old drive-in, something changed. He doesn’t talk about it much. Doesn’t want to. But when he does, there’s a tension behind his words, like he’s still trying to convince himself it wasn’t real.
This role requires a natural, low-key performance. Jesse isn’t dramatic—he’s just trying to make sense of something that felt wrong. The actor should capture hesitation, discomfort, and that feeling of someone reliving something they’d rather forget.
- english
- narration
- male teen
- american
- Logic pro
- adobe audition
- amateur voice acting
- audio technica 4040
- amateur actor
- audio engineering voice acting
- emotional voice acting
"I could smell the tires, the burnt rubber on the asphalt… (slight pause, tension rising) and for a second, I thought of the kids who’ve gone missing. (voice lowers slightly) I didn’t wait to figure it out—I skated the hell outta there."
“The lights hit us, just for a second… (short pause, more focused) like it was picking who to go after. I didn’t say a word— (sharp, like replaying panic) I just took off. Didn’t even look back.”
(quiet, matter-of-fact with unease underneath) “I don’t go near Harlow Road anymore. No one does—not if they’ve heard the stories. And everyone’s heard the stories, ya know?”
Voice Type: Soft to medium tone, natural and grounded
Accent: American (neutral)
Tone: Hesitant, introspective, sharp when certain
Style: Understated, emotionally honest
Character Summary:
Lisa Holloway is a quiet, intelligent high school senior who’s been carrying a secret for months. She never expected to see something she couldn’t explain—and has tried hard to forget it. But now that someone else is asking questions, she’s ready to speak… even if her voice shakes.
This role requires subtle emotional layering. Lisa doesn’t cry or break down—but her discomfort shows in pauses, quiet intensity, and the moments where fear slips through. The performance should feel like someone trying to stay rational, even as memory pulls her into something darker.
- english
- female teen
- american
- narration
- audiobook
- producer/writer/voice actor
- amateur voice acting
- audio technica 4040
- focusrite scarlett 2i2
- Logic pro
- amateur actor
- adobe audition
- audio engineering voice acting
(low, uneasy; like she’s admitting something out loud for the first time) “I tried to forget it. (short pause). Told myself it was just the dark… or the walk home… or maybe I was just tired. (voice softens, almost like she’s trying to believe it) But I wasn’t. I know I wasn’t.”
(quiet, unsettled; a little distant, like she’s replaying it) “She didn’t move. Just stood there by the bridge, like she was waiting for something. (beat) And then she was gone. Like she was never there at all.” (voice dips slightly at the end)
(controlled, but disturbed; voice lowers slightly) “It wasn’t just that I saw her… (beat, voice tightens) It was how she looked at me. Like she already knew who I was. I’ll never forget that look.”
🎙️ Role: Mark Bledsoe (16, male)
Voice Type: Mid-to-high teen male voice, a bit nasal or dry
Accent: American (neutral or slight regional)
Tone: Sarcastic, intense, slightly offbeat
Style: Expressive but natural—avoid overacting
Character Summary:
Mark Bledsoe is the kind of kid who makes people uncomfortable. He’s into horror, conspiracy theories, and occult symbols most kids wouldn’t even recognize. But behind the sarcasm and eye-rolls is a sharp mind that picks up on things others miss. He’s convinced the local legends are real—and if you let him talk long enough, he’ll tell you exactly why.
This role requires dry wit, teenage cynicism, and an undercurrent of obsession. The actor should be able to switch between a sarcastic tone and eerie seriousness when the subject hits too close to home. Think metalhead stoner who knows too much for his age.
- english
- american
- audiobook
- narration
- male teen
- focusrite scarlett 2i2
- emotional acting
- audio technica 4040
- Logic pro
- amateur actor
- adobe audition
- amateur voice acting
“You ever notice how the cops never find anything? (slight pause) Like… not even a fucking wristwatch, a jacket, shoe—nothing. (beat, voice lowers) Nothing, man. These kids are vanishing, and it’s not some damn random psycho—this shit goes way back.”
“You ever listen to Jack Romero on The Midnight Hour? (smirks) Everyone says he’s coo coo, but he’s talking the truth, man. (leans forward slightly) He knows what’s going on.”
“Yeah, you think missing kids sounds normal? (mock disbelief) The cops just write it off as some stalker or runaway—like that’s easier to swallow. (beat) But this shit’s satanic, dude. I shit you not. (leans in, drops voice) It’s ritual-level messed up.”
🎙️ Role: Holly Jacobs (15, female)
Voice Type: Sharp, expressive, fast-talking
Accent: American (neutral; slightly smug or dismissive at times)
Tone: Snarky, bold, with occasional flashes of unease
Style: Conversational and real—like she’s the queen bee of gossip, but just might crack if things get too real
Character Summary:
Holly Jacobs is a sharp-tongued sophomore with a rich father, a short fuse, and no patience for ghost stories—unless they’re about someone else. She’s the type who name-drops her father in arguments and claims to know exactly what happened before anyone else. A walking rumor mill wrapped in lip gloss and eye rolls.
She’s not cruel, but she knows she’s above it all—or so she thinks. Behind the snark and sarcasm, there’s a sliver of fear she won’t admit to… until things in Briarwood get too real to laugh off.
This role needs wit, attitude, and just the right amount of “oh god, what if it’s true?” tension beneath the surface.
Think: the girl who says she’s not scared… but never walks home alone.
- english
- audiobook
- american
- narration
- female teen
- Logic pro
- adobe audition
- amateur actor
- focusrite scarlett 2i2
- audio technica 4040
- amateur voice acting
- audio engineering voice acting
- emotional acting
“You think some creepy old man in the woods is the problem? Please. Try walking past the football team’s locker room. That’s horror.”
“Whatever’s going on, it’s not dead hippies. It’s drugs. Or psychos. Or both. But sure, Laura—light a candle and ask the spirits for guidance.”
“That idiot who freaked out by the lake? Yeah, apparently he ‘saw a monster.’ Cute, right? The guy’s one panic attack away from imploding. I swear, if he tells me one more story, I’m calling the Sheriff.”
🎙️ Role: Margaret Lane (32, female)
Voice Type: Soft-spoken but layered, wavering between lucid and haunted
Accent: American (neutral or slightly rural—Midwest or Pacific Northwest okay)
Tone: Worn, haunted, intelligent beneath the surface
Style: Naturalistic, broken but still holding on
Character Summary:
Margaret Lane is a woman shaped by silence. She’s spent nearly a decade in a psychiatric facility after a series of events left her isolated from the small town she grew up in. Once curious and fiercely intuitive, she now speaks with a strange clarity—like someone who’s lived too long with what others refuse to see.
She isn’t angry. She isn’t hysterical. But her voice carries the weight of things left unsaid. When she speaks, it’s slow, careful—almost like she’s testing the air around each word.
This role calls for subtle emotional control. Margaret has been broken, but not erased. Her pain lives just under the surface, and her truth comes out in steady, unsettling bursts.
Key Vocal Traits:
- Quiet, reflective tone with moments of intensity
- Worn delivery—emotion is there, but rarely spills out
- Often distant or distracted, but sharp when locked in
- Emotional control with flashes of rawness when pushed
- english
- american
- female adult
- narration
- amateur voice acting
- audient id4
- audio engineering voice acting
- focusrite scarlett 2i2
- audacity
- logic pro x
“My father was a good man. He knew things he didn’t talk about… look at you, you’re a kid, and what you think you know, that’s just a piece.”
“I suppose you know the sheriff. Of course you do… what you don’t know is that he was protecting someone. He knew what was going on and did nothing. Some sick joke… all for what? Love? That’s not love.”
“I’ve been in this place for 12 years… 12 fucking years, all because I knew the truth. This town doesn’t want truth—it wants convenience. How do you expect to dig through the rot when it runs so deep?”
🎙️ Role: Sheriff Len Morrow (47, male)
Voice Type: Mid to low register, firm but world-weary
Accent: American (neutral with slight rural edge)
Tone: Guarded, paternal, emotionally fatigued
Style: Naturalistic, grounded in realism—subtle emotion over theatrical delivery
Character Summary:
Sheriff Len Morrow has served his small town for decades, holding things together through years of tragedy, rumors, and unexplained disappearances. On the surface, he’s calm and measured—respected, if a little distant. But beneath the badge is a man quietly unraveling.
He’s seen too much. And he’s kept even more buried.
This role requires a restrained but emotionally resonant performance. Len doesn’t show his cards easily, but there are cracks in his armor—moments where guilt and regret bleed through. He’s trying to protect others from the truth… even if it’s eating him alive.
Key Vocal Traits:
- Calm, authoritative tone with a slight roughness
- Emotional restraint—he doesn’t yell, he tightens
- Subtle shifts when pressure builds: breath catches, hesitations, weary sighs
- Warm, paternal softness when speaking to those he’s trying to protect
- english
- male adult
- adult
- narration
- american
- producer/writer/voice actor
- focusrite scarlett 2i2
- audacity
- amateur voice acting
- audio engineering voice acting
“I’ve told you before, Sarah… maybe you oughta start singing into that tape recorder instead of chasing sad old stories.”
“I’ve told you what I know. And no—we haven’t stopped looking for Sam. Not for a second. We’ll find whoever did this. One way or another.”
“Some fires never burn out completely… just be careful, honey. I mean that.”
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