Upon sharing that I'm a full-time voice actor, the most common question I get asked is:
How did you become a voice actor?
While I suppose I could sum it up as: “I was unemployed in Singapore, my bandmate suggested I try ASMR since my voice suited it, so I created a freelancing profile on Upwork”, that never really felt like a one-liner answer—because that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Anyone can create a profile on a freelancing platform, but that doesn’t mean they’ll become a voice actor.
The Unexpected Career Path
Before becoming a voice actor, I never even knew this job existed. I never thought about the voices in commercials, on the radio, or behind animated characters. It simply never crossed my mind. I graduated with a degree in Economics and Spanish, but started work in Marketing with the goal of becoming the Chief Marketing Officer of a major tech or environmental company one day.
In 2019, when I was 26, I was a Marketing Manager at an ad-tech firm in Singapore. One day, after a grueling 90-minute verbal lashing from the CEO, followed by being shouted at again on Valentine’s Day, I decided it wasn’t worth sacrificing my mental health. I voiced out that I wasn’t a fit for the company. The CEO agreed, and I was asked to resign.
A month later, I was unemployed and selective about my next job. I wanted to work for a company that aligned with my values—big, innovative, and making a difference in the world. However, despite applying to reputable companies like WWF (not the wrestling one), Google, Apple, and Spotify, nothing panned out.
During this career limbo, I was still in a duo band called Seraphine. My bandmate, Peter, advised me to try out ASMR, “Your voice would be great for it, why don’t you give it a go?” ASMR was just starting to gain traction at the time, and since I already had recording gear, I thought, Why not? So I created an Upwork profile for it. Fun fact: it’s been 5 years and I’ve never done an ASMR job.
The First Gig
One day not too long after being on Upwork, I received my first Invitation to Interview from Travis Vengroff of Fool and Scholar Productions. He offered me a role in a sci-fi audio drama, VAST Horizon, as the younger sister of the lead character. It was unpaid, but I didn’t care—I was just thrilled that someone took a chance on me, despite having zero experience. That role, Constance, became my first-ever voice acting gig.
They say you never forget your first job, and that’s definitely true for me. Even years later, I continued working with Fool and Scholar Productions, and in 2024, I traveled to Bavaria, Germany, to record with them in person for Dark Dice—an actual-play D&D horror series. What started as purely audio drama is now also filmed, with plans to be released as both an audio series and a show. 🤗
Turning a Side Hustle into a Career
I started receiving more offers on Upwork—mostly eLearning projects needing a bilingual Mandarin-English voice talent. By August, I accepted another full-time marketing job, as a Marketing Manager for the SEA region, this time at an MNC company, albeit still in the adtech industry. After dealing with workplace politics—specifically, being threatened by the Head of Sales—I decided to leave an environment that felt booze-driven and materialistic. My initial plan was to spend a couple of months in Barcelona, taking daily Spanish lessons, but COVID hit. I returned to Malaysia just one day before borders closed—that was May 2020.
By then, I had been doing voice-over on the side for a year. I still aspired to become a CMO and applied to two drone companies, but with the job market uncertain and marketing being one of the first costs cut during an economic crisis, I decided to go all in on what was right in front of me—voice acting.
The Leap of Faith
The first year was rough—I earned peanuts. But my dad’s motivation stuck: If you enjoy it, go for it. Work hard, and the money will come eventually. So I did. I auditioned relentlessly, searched for opportunities on social media and Casting Call Club, and used my marketing background to build an online presence. I launched my website and Instagram account, @thenightvoice, where I posted short voice-over clips over stock videos. I expanded to platforms like Fiverr, Voices.com, and Freelancer.com, learning audio editing along the way.
Every dollar I earned went back into improving my craft—voice acting lessons, private coaching, and upgrading my home studio with proper sound treatment. Another year passed, and by April 2021, things started looking up.
After 2023, I gained some sense of security, knowing that over the course of 12 months, I’d be okay—even if some months were financially slower than others. Having that said, I still feel the occasional anxiety of freelancing.
Do I Regret Leaving Corporate?
A resounding no.
Sure, had I stayed in Singapore, I’d be earning more in a corporate role. But the freedom of being a voice actor? That’s priceless. It’s not just about doing what I want when I want—roller skating on a Friday morning, taking two-week holidays, sleep in till 11am—it’s about living differently. Having more time to cook healthy meals, meeting people in unconventional careers, and realizing that life doesn’t have to be a rigid 9-to-6 existence.
So that’s how I got into voice acting—a mix of circumstance, opportunity, and relentless persistence. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
My second most asked question
Since I’ve answered my most asked question, I might as well tackle the second:
“Are you not scared AI will take over your job?”
No, I’m not.
First of all, I’m confident in my voice acting abilities and the way I communicate with clients—offering suggestions, improvements, and alternatives as we go. I also believe that when we work together, my clients and collaborators genuinely enjoy the process—that I bring good energy and positive vibes, even when the project is challenging.
But if the day comes when no one wants to hire me anymore—whether it’s because AI is cheaper or people simply don’t resonate with my working style—that’s okay. I’ll find something else to do. Maybe I’ll farm vegetables, be a speaker, work as a cashier at a small store, or take care of horses at a stable. Whichever way life takes me, I will always be content with the choices I’ve made for myself 🙂
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