Anne Vydra is a Nashville-based Voice Actor. Her website describes her as specializing in TV Affiliate Promo, Radio Imaging, Automotive, and Commercial voiceovers. Her style is relatable, conversational, and oh-so-effortless. Anne delivers fast turnarounds and professional audio from her broadcast-ready home studio.
She is represented by Atlas Talent Agency.
Anne is today’s featured Voice Actor.
Jeff Lynn: Well, we have to start with the background. If we don’t know where we’ve been, it is hard to know where we are.
Anne Vydra: Well, it all started back in the 1900s. But really. I got my first on-air job in 1997 at KTOZ in Springfield, MO. Overnights! Remember those? I was in high school. This went on to eventually ruin what was going to be an amazing college time. Why go to college? I decided that at 17, after meeting the band Reel Big Fish that THIS was where I wanted to spend the rest of my life working.
My parents were REAL proud.
Anyway, I eventually went on to Kansas City (KQRC), New Orleans (KKND), and Dallas (KDGE).
2013 was when the proverbial fork in the road was met. I had gotten married, and my husband (nor I) wasn’t in the mood for a life of picking up and moving every time another gig came along. So, we decided to move where a bunch of our friends were: Nashville. And I set up a VO shop. We’ve been here ever since. And no, it wasn’t this crazy when we moved here. That happened about 5 years later. We just like the outdoors! There’s awesome camping/adventuring all around. (We have a pop-up camper; we have an REI membership. We’re crunchy granola). Broadway is a crazy phenomenon we did not see coming. Go figure.
JL: So, you set up shop and had to build a studio. Everyone has a particular passion when it comes to the studio.
AV: Of all the things I bought, I’m most excited about my MacMini. Holy cow. Friends tried to get me to buy into that for years, and I’m so glad I switched. That thing is a POWERHOUSE. I know this is a question about gear and DAWs but seriously, you want something that isn’t going to fail on you… so again. The MacMini. Did I mention I love my MacMini? Ok.
I have a handful of mic’s I can switch out to when needed but I’m pretty much always on my Sennheiser 416 shotgun. I have a UA Apollo Twin Interface hooked up to ProTools. And this is where I have to plug the fact that I live in Nashville and have the best audio engineers in the world as friends. Kazuri Arai and I have known each other since 2008, and she helped me find and hang all my baffling, answers my calls when things go haywire, and knows all things sound. She even still teaches online at Berklee, where she graduated, and uses my audio! I will never miss an opportunity to uplift another fabulous woman in audio. Should you need an audio engineer, look no further. https://anythingkreativ.com/
JL: In the vein of uplifting women, what client haven’t you landed that you want to?
AV: Hi, I’m Anne Vydra and I want to be the voice of your News/Talk Sports station. For real. I don’t have any on my roster! This is what I do. I voice TV News Affiliates. It’s what I love. Let me share my passion with you. Is it because I’m female?
Well, maybe it’s time to stand out… just something to consider.
JL: I like to take everyone’s temperature on AI. Voice cloning, etc.
AV: I don’t see it impacting me or the jobs I want to take. I think as long as we bring personality, intention, and humanity into it, then no.
I was talking to a fellow VO about this, and a while ago, I did one of those jobs where I had to say every name from A-Z and every number from 1-to 200 and every percentage and every other variable asked of me. Pay was great, but I wanted to hit my head on the wall at the end of each day. Can AI take THAT job? Eh. Let’s just say ‘I wouldn’t be missing THAT work, Bob.’
JL: I used to live in Nashville. There are seasons and allergies and even snow. Do you worry about getting sick and missing work?
AV: I do. And it happens. This will sound really hokey (but hey, I’m crunchy granola) but ever since I started eating local honey a few times a week, my incidents of colds/coughs/the crud has reduced IMMENSELY. I have a theory, and I think it’s based on some science or fact, that since it’s local, you’re giving yourself some of that pollen that can make you sick.. thereby making you IMPERVIOUS.
Also, Flonase works when you’re in a pinch!
Here Anne’s demo here. Connect here.
Jeff Lynn serves as Editor of Barrett Media’s Music Radio coverage. Prior to joining Barrett Media, Jeff spent time programming in Milwaukee, Omaha, Cleveland, Des Moines, and Madison for multiple radio groups, including iHeartMedia, Townsquare Media, NRG Media, and Entercom (now Audacy). He also worked as a Country Format Editor for All Access until the outlet shut down in August 2023.
To get in touch with Jeff by email, reach him at Jeff@BarrettMedia.com.
