SoundGym Hero: Alexandra Escalle

Self-employed voice-over, sound technician, and musician. Currently from Poitiers, France. This month's SoundGym Hero is Alexandra Escalle!

Who are you, and where are you from?

My name is Alexandra Escalle, I’m 29 years old and I’m coming from Poitiers, France.

I’m working for my own business as voice over and audio technician for 1 year and a half for different companies. 
I have a home studio where I record, mix, do some jingles and music.

It’s so comfortable to work from home!

I record and mix some covers for my YouTube channel too. I also regularly record videos and sounding conferences for the Ministry of French Education. 

Before that, I worked in an attraction park as manager for a show with circus’ artists, in addition to being a technician on the night show and events for six years.

That gave me the opportunity to work on projection mapping with 12 video projectors on the show I worked for.  

Also, I’m comfortable with lights because I’ve learned and worked with the GranMa2. I often did sound on events like TedX.

I got my sound school degree in 2014 in Angoulême (France).

How did you get into music?

I have loved music for as long as I can remember! I listened to a lot of music when I was young.

I started to take some singing lessons at eight years old and continued for six years.

Between 15 and 18, I took guitar lessons at a music conservatory in order to sing with my own instrument and not just on playback tracks.
(I really loved the saxophone and thought of learning it, but it was definitely not easy to sing and play at the same time... ahaha!).

Between 8 and 14, I did my first radio and stage performances. I also started posting covers on YouTube when I was 14.

What do you like to do for fun outside of working on music?

As a mother of a 4-year-old child, my free time is a bit... let's say... limited? Ahaha!

I love to spend a lot of time with my son and my husband, who is also working in the sound and lighting business. I enjoy sharing quiet moments with my family and some of my close friends.

I also love simplicity, so moments like going to a restaurant, laughing with my friends, or having a glass of good wine make me really happy!

I also value silence; it's very important to me. I love music, but I don't listen to it all day long.

I have a passion for animals and nature, so walking with my dog in the forest or near a body of water is really rejuvenating for me. As a volunteer, I dedicate some of my time to an animal association near my town. I rescue sick or young cats and dogs who are not able to stay in a cage, and I give them a better time at home with me before they go to their forever families.

Currently, we have 5 kittens in addition to our own dog and our two cats.

What's your most useless skill or talent?

I have a tendency to waste time without hesitation! I'm an expert in procrastination and overthinking. I can spend a significant amount of time thinking and doing nothing.

However, I have the ability to laugh at myself, and I recognize that this is an area I need to work on. In those moments, my best friend is deadlines! They make me highly efficient.

What inspires you to keep making music?

Music brings me a great deal of happiness and serenity. I feel amazing after creating or listening to music. So, it's not a matter of being and staying inspired, but rather a matter of motivating myself to engage in music instead of doing nothing and succumbing to overthinking.

If you could sit down to a session with any artist, who would it be?

That's a great question because I don't idealize about one person in particular. I believe that the connection between people is more important, and I always prioritize that aspect when working with others. I would be extremely happy to share a moment with any artist I admire, as long as there is a genuine connection between us!

I don't necessarily dream about having my own project, but rather about collaborating on stage or being part of another artist's project.

Any habits you have before starting a session?

It's a completely different approach when I work for others compared to when I work for myself. If it's for somebody else, I begin by checking my emails and going through my daily routine on SoundGym to ensure that I am focused and that my ears are prepared before starting the job.

Mixing an audio session or recording a voice-over requires a lot of preparation, so it's crucial to be 100% ready.

On the other hand, when it comes to working on music for myself, I am very impulsive. If I feel inspired, I start working on my ideas immediately. There's a sense of "now or never" when it's time to create something for my own enjoyment.

If you could pick one, what would be the theme song of your life?

OMG! It's challenging to summarize a whole life in just one song! Ahaha! But if I had to choose just one, I would go with "Yolo" by PV Nova! He is a French musician, producer, and SoundGymer. I actually discovered SoundGym through his Twitch channel.

BTW, here is a chance to discover a French song:

What is your favorite piece of music gear you own?

Definitely my laptop. It contains everything I need; I don't have a lot of external gear. I enjoy using my Komplete 14 Ultimate extensively.

I particularly love playing with Action Strings or Piano Colors, among others. I can spend my entire day exploring different sounds and constantly exclaiming, "Oh wow!" every minute! Ahaha!

What is your favorite SoundGym feature?

Before discovering EQ Ace, Olympics, and BeatRace, I used to enjoy playing EQ Cheetah.

However, since exploring these new features of SoundGym, I have found them to be incredibly beneficial.

I love playing alongside others and comparing our skills, always in a positive and constructive way. This pushes me to improve as a sound engineer. I've noticed significant progress since discovering this aspect of SoundGym.

The community within SoundGym is also incredibly kind and supportive. It boosts my confidence because everyone is united by the same goal: to continuously improve day after day, all while maintaining a positive atmosphere.

What does the future hold for Alexandra Escalle?

Who knows? Life is full of surprises, and the most beautiful moments, in my opinion, are the ones we didn't plan or expect. I hope to delve deeper into music, enjoy life, and perhaps collaborate with other artists.

If I were to give myself advice, it would be this:

"Step out of your comfort zone, girl! Keep progressing and continue to explore new things. Stay focused, be concentrated, and remain determined."

With this mindset, I believe I can accomplish many things and feel proud of myself. Voilà! ☺

I want to express my gratitude to SoundGym for providing me with the opportunity to share my story and my relationship with music. I am incredibly happy to be part of this community because the platform has been incredibly helpful in numerous ways.

Thank you for everything, and I hope you enjoyed this interview!

You can follow Alexandra on her Site, Youtube, and Instagram