Today we’d like to introduce you to Jocelyn Dannebaum.
Jocelyn, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up on the Central Coast of California. I was raised on my dad’s bluegrass bands and my mom’s love of old school funk. When I was little, I used to get out in front at my dad’s performances and grab a tambourine and just dance and play! Music— and creative arts in general, actually— have been deeply engrained in my life. I tried a little bit of everything my tiny high school had to offer: band, theater, choir. As I got older, I sang in church, worked on various music projects with friends (none of which I would EVER let anyone hear now!), and even ran karaoke nights. Music was one thing that was always there, a metal thread woven through the tapestry that is my life story.
When I was about 25, I began feeling that I had accomplished all that I could accomplish in my small town. I started yearning for bigger, better opportunities. I never had a desire to pursue music or creative arts as a full-time career. The allure of the “starving artist” life never appealed to me. But I also wanted to be somewhere where music could be a viable option, and where opportunity would abound. So, in 2014, I made my way to Los Angeles county.
I actually work full-time as an in-home caregiver. When I first moved, I had a live-in position in Palos Verdes, which left me with plenty of time to explore my new locale. I got very involved in the karaoke scene, where I met people who would eventually open doors for me. I started competing in KaraokeFest, a huge annual contest spanning several months that would culminate in a final competition held at the LA County Fair. Thanks to that competition, I was recruited to join a flagship girl group, a tribute to women in music from the ‘30s to the ‘80s. It was my first foray into the world of professional artistry! Weekly rehearsals, occasional performances… it was a wonderful experience. Unfortunately, the project did not make it far off the ground, and after a year the group disbanded.
That experience gave me the confidence to branch out and pursue my own endeavors. I started an acoustic piano duo called Champiogne with OC-based pianist Paul McGlinchey, and also eventually joined the band Acoustic Generation as a background vocalist. I have found a way to work full-time while still living out my passion for music, and both of those things together suit me beautifully!
At the beginning of 2019, I decided to further expand my presence in the creative arts by learning to become a voiceover artist. I spent a few months of training, creating demos, and learning how to cultivate success in such a large, competitive, and rapidly growing market. It has been my main focus for the year, and my goal is to eventually be able to support myself solely on my creative talents. I am thrilled at the prospect of eventually turning all my creative endeavors into my full-time career while bypassing the starving artist phase! I have always tried to be practical and responsible when it comes to supporting myself, and while I may not be living your typical artist’s dream of moving to LA and making it big, I am living into the exact dream that I have had for myself, and I am so incredibly grateful for all the opportunities that have gotten me here!
Has it been a smooth road?
Trying to balance a full-time career while still longing to pursue your passions is a big struggle for me. Since I have never considered it an option to try to pursue my creative talents full-time, I have to try to devote adequate time to developing my talents and digging up work, while still putting in my 40ish hours. I suppose that my desire not to live the life of a starving artist has eliminated much of what starving artists struggle with; but instead, it creates the struggle of trying to have balance, and trying to do your due diligence when it comes to pursuing passions and creative outlets.
I don’t consider any of my failures in music to be a struggle. It was upsetting that the girl group I was in wasn’t successful because the talent in it and the concept were just so good, and I really loved the project. But I truly believe that all things happen for a reason. The people I met during the course of that project have led to many other doors, and I believe in always walking through whatever door you find yourself in front of.
Please tell us about Sounds Like Jocelyn.
Sounds Like Jocelyn is my way of combining singing and voiceover work into one neat and tidy package. Instead of marketing the skills separately, I decided to present myself as I guess a double threat. My hope is that it would set me apart from so many other people who are in both of those fields. I can do both!
In my singing career, I have found that I specialize in background vocals. While everybody wants to be front and center, I actually have a passion for harmonizing and creating gorgeous layers of sound that captivate audiences.
In my voiceover career, I specialize in the “conversational” sound, which is the most sought-after sound in advertising VO. I don’t sound like an announcer or robot when I read copy. I can capture the friendly, neighborly conversation effect that feels trustworthy and honest. I do commercials, tutorials, e-learning, and much more!
I am most proud of the range of service I can provide within my brand. The field of VO is so big, and the field in music is even bigger. I love that I have found a way to not only do both but combine them under the same umbrella: my “Sounds”!
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
My goal is to grow my voiceover business into my full-time career, leaving me the flexibility to work from anywhere in the world and create more time to pursue my musical endeavors. Both would help me keep my mind, voice, and body healthy, just further allowing me to improve upon my skills! I have a professional studio in my home, and I would eventually like to build upon that to create a space that is not only sufficient for creating VO projects, but also adequate for creating music. I believe that the greatest thing anyone can do is work within their passions, and while I am passionate about my current career, as an artist there is nothing that can compare to immersing yourself in the creative endeavors that give life to your soul!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.soundslikejocelyn.com
- Phone: 2139732713
- Email: soundslikejocelyn@gmail.com
- Instagram: @soundslikejocelyn
- Facebook: Facebook.com/acousticgeneration
- Other: www.champiognemusic.com
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