10 Questions with ... Melissa Thom

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

DEMO: www.melissathom.me/demo

Melissa kicked off her career in 1999 as station voice at Surf 107.2, Brighton, UK. She went on to host breakfast for the GWR Group for 3 years, and Sunday breakfast on Galaxy 101 for Chrysalis. Numerous gigs for major brands followed, including Heineken - where she was the main voice for their 'Found @ Thirst' annual Caribbean DJ competition for over 4 years. Current clients include Global & UKRD radio groups in the UK, DisneyNature, Google, Facebook, Unicef, The Economist and Late Night Tales - a series of artist curated compilation albums, based in London.

1) Where can you currently be heard?

UK national TV, UK radio groups, including Global, UKRD etc., Spotify, Online for brands including Google, Facebook, Unicef and Late Night Tales.

2) How would you describe your style?

Smooth & sultry.

3) When did you first come to the realization that you could be a voice talent?

When I accidentally landed the gig of station voice for independent music radio station, Surf 107.2 in Brighton, UK in 1999.

4) Do you specialize in a particular kind of voice work? (radio/TV/commercials/trailers/corporate).

Yes. Radio, TV, commercials and corporate make up the bulk of my work. But I also really love the gigs I do for Late Night Tales - a wonderful independent record label in the UK - that's absolutely my bag. I love my beats.

5) How did you get your start? What was the first voiceover job that you landed?

I sort of fell into it over 20 years ago when I jumped on a train from London to Brighton, met a guy in a pub with a friend, and that led to me being station voice for a brand new music radio station, Surf 107.2. It was a great gig - getting to voice on all kinds of specialist music shows with some really respected and well known UK DJ's. I'm still very much in touch with all the wonderful people I met there, and regularly work with a lot of them. I moved on to host breakfast for over 3 years for the GWR Group, so I guess it was the right choice to stick with it.

6) Can you also do character voices?

Yes, I am particularly well versed in old hags, ladies of the night and wicked witches. I don't think I would ever get cast for the princess!

7) What exercises/elixirs/remedies would you recommend to keep your voice in shape?

Rest, rest, rest. Warm lemon, honey and ginger (but never hot). I'm half Mauritian (a beautiful island in the Indian Ocean) and they always eat raw ginger in big chunks to soothe a throat. Trust me, it's pretty intense, but it works.

Regular vocal exercises are important (a good one for me before sessions is to over-enunciate your vowels and really move your facial muscles with each utterance - thanks to my teachers at Bristol Old Vic Theatre school for that one), as well as keeping really well hydrated.

8) Who are your mentors?

In the UK: Steve Orchard - who was Chief Operations Officer for GWR Radio Group many moons ago, and who always, always takes an interest in what I'm doing and has the time to dish out expert advice. And also, all the talented producers, managers and engineers I've worked with over the last 20 years who have taught me so much and offered invaluable support.

In the US: Elaine Clark from Voice One, San Francisco - now a good friend, who introduced me to Stars, The Agency after only meeting her once. Also, Joe Paulino - a very wise and experienced VO colleague who let me use his amazing Sausalito studio when I lived in California, and who continually offers up mountains of advice. He has a very cool record collection too.

9) What other types of voice work do you aspire to do?

I'd like to ramp up the music stuff - I'd love to voice for brands like Red Bull, as well as for shows like Gilles Peterson and Cillian Murphy on BBC R6 (Mr. Murphy had me at 'Tower of Power' on his very first BBC R6 music show). I've recently started doing a lot more spoken word stuff - some of it pretty experimental, which I've been really enjoying.

10) What advice would you give to people who are trying to break into voice work?

Do the homework. Research everything before you commit. Be honest with yourself about whether you have the talent and the tenacity to compete in this ever-growing market. Get well versed in the art of marketing. Think about your brand and how you might be different from a million others offering the same thing. Know what you offer - be prepared to sum it up in 30 seconds. Practice and concentrate on getting work - you learn so much on the job. Be polite to people. Never think you're the bomb. Be interested in the work and the people offering it to you. Be pleased for others' success.

Support them.

Be nice.

Listen.

The End.

Do you have a favorite hobby outside of voicework?

Yes, I'm quite into classic cars. I have a beautiful California Karman Ghia 1969 at home that my husband and I have been working on for quite some time. We've nearly got it out of the garage...