Conversations with Kevin Andrew Rivera

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Andrew Rivera. Them and their team share their story with us below:

If you don’t find Kevin talking to himself inside a 4×4 box, he’s probably being the biggest dork in the world somewhere else. You might find him on Tatooine, swinging a lightsaber and fighting off Sand people! Let’s be honest, he’s probably on the dark side. (They have cookies!) Or maybe you’ll find him shooting Ki Blasts up in the mountains, fighting super beings trying to blow up the planet. Or better yet, he might be in New York City, trying to take pictures of Spider-Man.

No matter where he is though, you can always count on Kevin to eat the last Krispy Kreme Donut before you get the chance to try it.

Kevin was born in the beautiful little island of Puerto Rico, where he would constantly freak out his parents by sneaking off in the mall to check out all the video game stores. He grew up being surrounded by Puerto Rican art, theater and music. And yes, it was all in Spanish!!

When Kevin turned 7, his family moved to Connecticut in hopes of an even brighter future. A couple of years go by, and his older sister got involved in her school play, “The King and I”. Little 12 years old Kevin’s eyes lit up with inspiration. All he could think was, “I WANNA DO THAT!” (He was also thinking about food, but that’s not the point.) Little did he know that the acting world was about to be his calling.

Kevin attended the University of Connecticut and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting. His conservatory training helped him sharpen his skills at a young age. After finding a passion for VOICE Acting, he saved some money, bought a few Nintendo games along the way, and moved out to Los Angeles.

Living in the motherland of voice over, Kevin has been exposed to plenty of talented coaches and colleagues. Rick Wasserman, Tony Oliver, and Courtenay Taylor to name a few. Along with plenty of commercial work, you can also hear Kevin in games like Vain Glory (as Prince Magnus) and the Shadowverse series (as Walder, Vergewalker, Ironglider Elf, etc.)

You can also hear him in Netflix Dubs like “Just Another Christmas” (as Luis Caudio), “My Holo Love” (as Dong-Shik) and various other voices in “The Naked Director”. Not to mention Kazuki Shindo in Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle & Shinnojou from Genshin Impact.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Money and time will always be a problem for artists who are just starting out. In the beginning, how can you make money while also making time for your artistic career? Many of us aren’t lucky enough to be millionaire’s going into this profession, so we find ways around the stresses of life in order to make our goals happen. That’s another thing. Never call it a dream! Dreams are for dreamers! Goals are for people who work hard! Get out there and get what you’re worth!!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a Voice Actor living in Los Angeles. For those who are unsure about what that is, it’s Acting, except you’re not in front of a camera or an audience. You’re in front of a microphone! You hear voice actors everywhere you go! From commercials to cartoons, video games, the street crosswalk announcer, even the toys that you might get for your kids! One of the things that set me apart from other voice actors is that I’m bilingual. I speak English and Spanish! Luckily for me, there’s a very large market for Spanish VO work! It’s almost as though I truly get the best of both worlds. I can be voicing a Goblin in English one day, then voicing a teenager in Spanish for a school commercial the next day! What I’m most proud of is being able to look back and see how far I’ve come. Knowing that I did what I wanted to do in the first place makes me feel as free as a bird! That being said, it wasn’t easy! Whether it be planning to move across the country, to taking various VO classes, or working a 9-5 job while pursuing your goals! Determination truly is the key to success. How bad do you want it? That’s what I ask myself every single day! Luckily for me, I still want it pretty bad!! Something I’ve learned along the way is that you can’t expect the work to come to you. You have to go to the work. Take the initiative, do the work, and test your limits! You are not entitled to anything, so stay on your toes and be present! Meet new people, try new things. You might be surprised at the skills that you learn along the way! If readers could get anything out of this, it’s that you can do anything you set your mind to! I’m a Puerto Rican kid from Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Even an islander like myself can go to the biggest entertainment capitol of the world and find success. Love what you do and do what you love. That’s truly the greatest advice I could give anyone pursuing their goals.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Patience is key! We’re in a time in which a lot of businesses have slowed down due to the pandemic. Be more understanding of other people’s situations and be respectful of people’s time. (And wash your hands!!)

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: KevinAndrewRivera.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevinariveravo/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/KevinARiveraVO
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaYH6VCx5l5pxBFPFqGD8fQ
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8517409/