Finding My (AI) Voice

Newsletter + On This Day

Finding my voice has always been a tricky process—both my artistic voice and my literal one. For someone who thrives behind the scenes, the thought of putting my “real” self out there has always been a bit unsettling. Even if it’s just my voice. 

It’s not that I don’t have something to say; it’s more about how I sound when I say it.

Let me back up. I’ve always found comfort in the shadows, crafting my art quietly while letting the work speak for itself. The idea of stepping out from behind the curtain, of having my voice out there, has always felt like too much exposure. 

I never liked hearing my own voice—let’s face it, who does? It’s one thing to create art that represents who you are; it’s another to literally hear yourself doing it.

But then I started a YouTube channel and found I needed to narrate some of my videos, to add commentary and context to the art and photos I was sharing. 

As a creator, I also realized I needed to connect more directly with my audience, and for that, I had to find a way to do so that didn’t make me cringe every time I hit play. 

Enter the world of AI-generated voices. Over the past months, I’ve tested lots of text-to-speech generators. Each one offered a different take on what my voice could sound like. Some were robotic, others just didn’t capture the how a human actually speaks. I tried everything from high-end subscription services to the freemium apps. My hope was to find a voice that sounded (mostly) human and felt like me, without actually being me.

So far, the best solution I’ve found is a blend of old and new tech:

I start out by recording my own voice and then apply a voice character in CapCut. It’s a weird solution—a bit of a Frankenstein approach to finding my voice—but it works. 

CapCut has a few premium voices I like better, but the free “Good Guy” is good enough for me. 

This process of finding my AI-generated voice is similar to finding my artistic voice. Both journeys involved discovering the right balance between authenticity and comfort, between showing who I am and staying true to my behind-the-scenes nature. 

What I’ve realized is that this blend—this carefully-constructed voice that’s both me and not me—is helping me become even more creative and productive.

It’s not just about hiding behind the curtain anymore. It’s about creating a voice that can stand in front of it, representing me in a way that feels true to my creativity and my personality.

So, while it might seem strange to some, this AI-enhanced voice is becoming an extension of my artistic voice. It’s the perfect middle ground, where I can share my thoughts and my work, all without feeling like I’m stepping too far out of my comfort zone. 

It’s a voice that fits (and works for) me, even if it’s not entirely mine. 

And that, for someone who prefers the shadows, feels just right.

Thanks for reading!
Clint

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ON THIS DAY = SEPTEMBER 3

BIRTHDAYS

• LAURENCE PARNES (1929)
  Talent Manager + Producer

EVENTS

• Treaty of Paris ends the American Revolutionary War. (1783)

• Arnold Schoenberg's Fünf Orchesterstücke premieres in London. (1912)

• World War II: Britain declares war on Germany after the invasion of Poland; France, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Canada quicky follow. (1939)

• TV soap opera Search for Tomorrow debuts on CBS. (1951)

• The American Sociological Association issues a public declaration, condemning “oppressive actions against any persons for reasons of sexual preference” and endorses rights of homosexuals and other sexual minorities. It is the first national professional organization to voice support of gay and lesbian civil rights. (1969)

• In Minnesota, Jack Baker and Mike McConnell are the first same-sex couple to be legally married when Jack changed his first name to Pat and the marriage license was granted. John “Jack” Baker and James Michael McConnell filed for a marriage license in Minnesota. The clerk of the Hennepin County District Court, Gerald Nelson, said he had “no intention of issuing a marriage license,” that would “result in an undermining and destruction of the entire legal concept of our family structure in all areas of law.” In mid-August 1971, Baker and McConnell took up residence in Blue Earth County and applied to the District Court in Mankato for a license to marry which was granted once the waiting period expired. Rev. Roger Lynn, a Methodist minister, solemnized their marriage on September 3rd. They were the first legally married couple and remain together to this day. (1971)

• The first New Orleans gay pride event called Southern Decadence is held. (1972)

• The first national U.S. Latina Lesbian conference is held in Los Angeles. (1988)

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