RFS Short Ends - "Do I Sound Black?"

I have a confession to make. I’m black. Yes, I know. You probably had no idea, right?

If all you’ve heard was my voice, I’m almost certain you didn’t know. I just don’t have that rugged, deep, recognizable “African American” signature to my voice. I’m not talking about grammar usage or cultural vernacular. I’m talking about my actual tone and vocal quality. Beyond that, I also just don’t like my voice. It’s totally ironic that I even have a podcast.

What is an artist to do when they feel like they severely lack the inherent skill or talent necessary for their craft? That’s what we’re exploring in today’s “Short Ends” episode with good advice and an hilarious anecdote from friend of the show, spoken word artist Marshall Davis Jones. He recounts the story of how he came to have that rugged, rich texture to his voice (it wasn’t always so). His lesson is a great one for any filmmaker looking to excel at their craft.

“Short Ends” are mini-documentary episodes during the weeks between main episodes of the show. They cover all things cinema. Check the sidebar of this blog post to learn about the original meaning of the term “short ends.”

This episode is sponsored by Song Freedom. Be sure to listen to the episode to get a special discount code granting you one free song credit.