Note: Any audition or lines recorded before 2020 were done on a USB mic.
Hey, guys. I'm Mel "Nitefrite" Valentine (another handle of mine is Elika Umbrea). I'm 31 years old and started voice acting in 2019. Why so late? Well, even now, I still don't really know what my calling is in life. I have tons of interests: anime, video games, nutrition and fitness, psychology, language (English, Japanese, and ASL), writing, dance, and just helping people in general. However, none of these things tugged on my heartstrings in a special or particular way. When I was younger, I never really liked my voice much and couldn't stand listening to it after it was recorded. However, upon graduating college, I was accepted into the JET program and taught English to elementary and middle school kids in Japan. It was the best choice I'd ever made, on top of being an unforgettable experience. How does this tie into VA? Well, at the junior high schools I taught at, I often recorded speaking tests for the students. I got lots of compliments on how my voice was easy to listen to and understand, and that gave me a confidence boost I never knew I needed. While over there, I also met a pretty famous VA and became good friends with her. After completing four years abroad, I went to see her speak about her VA career at her first ever Comic Con in South Carolina. I was inspired to give it a go for myself. I know it's tough work and not for everyone, but for the time being, it's a hobby I'm enjoying and beginning to love more and more each day.
