VWMusic

All images courtesy of Wafiyyah White/The NoSleep Podcast

As we dive deeper into what makes NoSleep, well, NoSleep, I, and many of our readers have learned a lot about who and what makes the show tick in order for the NoSleep team to bring us these amazing, engaging, and terrifying tales.

Everyone has a role to play which keeps the show running and not one role is more important than another. Without the voice actors, the producers, the writers, and of course the ever-looming host David Cummings, it’s all these wonderful people that makeup what I think is one of the best podcasts out there and has been my favorite for years.

Speaking of voice actors, we’ve got an old, yet new actor with us today. Joining the show back in season 10 and re-joining the team just in time for the 10 year anniversary I’ve got Wafiyyah White with us!

Wafiyyah speaks on her inspirational story in which she went from being a fan of the show to being a regular actor on it. Wafiyah is absolutely one of the voices that I can most easily put a name to, and with good reason as she continues to regularly lend out her voice. So, here she is!

Anthony:
Wafiyyah, thank you so much for taking the time for this interview and being part of this wonderful project we have in progress. How have the past couple of years been for you? Doesn’t seem voice actors have been affected too much and I do hope that includes you as well.

Wafiyyah:
First, it’s my pleasure to do this interview, the past couple of years have been something for sure. No, it really hasn’t affected the voice acting community at all, if anything there seems to have been a well deserved spotlight on voice work as a whole. Myself included, hence me becoming a regular voice actor on the NoSleep Podcast. 🙂

Anthony:
Before we get into it, can you tell us and our readers a bit about yourself? Who are you? Where are you, etc.? I saw that you’re a gamer and seem to be a film buff. So, what are some of your favorite movies and video games?

Wafiyyah:
Hello everybody! I am Wafiyyah White. I am an actor and one of the many talented voice actors on the Nosleep Podcast. I was New York-born and North Carolina raised. 

Yes, I am a gamer, my bread and butter are RPGs (Role Playing Games). I love being immersed in the world of games. My favorite games are Witcher 3, most of the Assassins Creed games, and Skyrim. 

As for films, well…I am too much of a film buff to have a single favorite, but my favorite genres are of course Horror, Action/SuperHero, Psycho-Thrillers, Foreign, and Classic Black and White movies (I grew up loving the TCM channel). [Laughs].

Anthony:
I see that you went to UNC. Can you tell us a bit about your schooling when it comes to theatre and arts? What was your main focus?

Wafiyyah:
Yes, I loved my time there and I met a lot of talented classmates and Professors that I am still cool with today. UNC Greensboro has an amazing theatre department. I majored in Theatre and took quite a few film studies classes as well.

Anthony:
I’m also from around the Charlotte area, do you have any favorite spots in North Carolina that you like to see? I really love the Cornelius, Huntersville and Davidson areas as well as Asheville and Cherokee. So if you need any food recommendations let me know!

Wafiyyah:
LOL aye! A fellow Charlotte Resident! Well, I love Charlotte, of course. Asheville is so beautiful. I love the NC mountain area. Raleigh and the Coast of NC are also some of my favorite places.

Anthony:
Before your time with NoSleep, you’ve been a part of stage and film productions. What led to a shift toward voice acting? Do you find voice acting to be easier than stage acting?

Wafiyyah:
Yes, I was doing stage acting in and around Charlotte for years off and on. I am still very much interested in film acting so I am always looking for open film opportunities. 🙂 Voice acting was a lot more challenging than I thought coming into it. But in a good way. It challenged me to flex my acting muscles even more and expand my skills. With stage, I had done it for so long and it was a lot easier because you use everything you know. The space, your body, voice, and the energy from a live audience to get the job done. But with voice acting, it’s just you a mic, and your voice. The new challenge for me was learning how to use just my voice to tell the story well enough and bring it to life. Without a set, other actors, and a live audience. But I feel I’m learning and killing it and with every new script, I flex that acting muscle even more.

Anthony:
Now onto more NoSleep specific questions. How did you end up with the NoSleep team? Were you a fan of the show and decided one day, “I want to be a part of this” and just applied, or did someone reach out to you?

Wafiyyah:
I was definitely a fan, still, I am to this day! I did not start listening until Season 5, then went back after that season to the beginning and was blown away by the growth and amazing production and voice acting talent. I remember catching an episode where David, the host of the show, was encouraging experienced and or new voice actors to send in submissions. For a couple of years, I was like, “Nah, voice acting is not my lane,” so I shied away from it. But one day I said, “You know what, let’s try something new,” and here we are!

Anthony:
You were featured in a couple of episodes for seasons 9 and 10, with season 10 being your first main story. What was it like recording your first story?

Wafiyyah:
It was an experience. [Laughs]. I made myself a mini studio out of my small closet. The first time actually recording I was so in my head and constantly overthinking about the sound of my voice whether I delivered the lines well.

Anthony:
You seem to have kinda…disappeared for a while after season 10 and coming back for season 15. I take it life just got a hold of you and had to go on hiatus for a while? Season 15 was a great time to join back in since these past few years seem to have been better than ever in the show’s history!

Wafiyyah:
Life definitely got a hold of me, personal and career-wise. It was time for some self-care mentally and emotionally. But like you said I could not have come at a better time, and I am so happy David still saw something in me to say, “Hey how about joining our team as a main contributor?” Thanks, David! 🙂

Anthony:
What has your time on the show been like? Do you have any favorite memories? During your 5 season hiatus, the show has grown a lot and I’m sure you’re glad to be back a part of this amazing production!

Wafiyyah:
Man, I would have to say the interactions with writers, fans, and my Nosleep Podcast team. I remember my first big role “Adventures of Zombie Girl,” by Garrett Croker. He reached out and gave me such great feedback and it was my second role on the Podcast. It really boosted my confidence, and the story was so amazing and the character relatable. Feedback from the fans has been so amazing, special shout-out to all my POC (people of color) fans, their messages have been so motivating and inspiring. Y’all got me out here tearing up. [Laughs]. I would say my most recent favorite memory was being on the 10-year anniversary live stream. It was an incredible full-circle moment for me, going from a simple fan to being a part of this amazing production, who would have thought?!

Anthony:
What are your favorite stories you’ve been a part of? “Carol’s Christmas Cookies” and “Customer Service” were such fun stories!

Wafiyyah:
Oooooo that’s a good question, to be honest, I have loved every story I have been a part of, but I would say my favorite thus far is “Customer Service” [Laughs]. The energy of that story between myself and Jessica (who I just admire her work as a voice actor), a man that was such fun. The feedback online and memes were such fun. [Laughs].

Anthony:
As you continue to be a regular on the show, do you have any favorite types of characters you like to voice or would like to voice on the show? Is it easier to get into character for some character types over others? What are some challenges you face as a voice actor when recording? 

Wafiyyah:
I would love to play a psychopath or any character with an accent, I am up for both challenges. Getting into different characters is a process, thinking of the subtext, who they are, and what’s their motivation? Mom characters have oddly been easier and fun to get into. I am not a mom but I have a motherly protective nature I am always able to tap into quickly.

Anthony:
What does horror mean to you? What are your favorite subgenres of horror? Psychological, body, slasher, etc…and also your favorite mediums of the genre? For me, it’s always been movies and video games. virtual reality horror games bring a whole new level to the genre and I love it!

Wafiyyah:
A unique look at our social history. Horror honestly for years has given us a unique film view about social issues of the world. From class, sex, race, mental issues, culture, politics you name it. Cosmic Horror and Psycho-Thriller are my favorites, ooo let’s throw in some Folklore horror too.

Anthony:
Are inspired by anyone when it comes to voice acting or narrating?

Wafiyyah:
Yes! Jessica McEvoy, hey girl hey, and all my Nosleep Cast members. Regina King, I loved her voice in the Iconic animated series The Boondocks, and a personal friend of mine, the talented Lesha Nyree, she actually inspired me to try my hand at voice acting. 

Anthony:
If you have read any of our other NoSleep interviews you probably know what’s coming next, one of my favorite questions: What do you use to record with?

Wafiyyah:
I recently purchased a 192KHZ/24BIT Maono AU-Ao4T with Condenser. And I am loving it, it’s holding me down well as a newbie voice actor. 🙂

Anthony:
Here’s a couple of easy ones, what are some of your other favorite podcasts and audio dramas? Do you have any podcast recommendations for us?

Wafiyyah:
I love the question! Ok, you ready? I will try not to go crazy with this list:

–The Nosleep Podcast
-Lore
–Creepy
–For All Nerds
–The Friend Zone
–The Read
–Crime Junkie
–Code Switch
–PodSave America

Just to name a few.

Anthony:
Where can we find you and your work?

Wafiyyah:
You can find me and my work on Twitter and Instagram @fiaslifereel and at thenosleeppodcast.com.

Anthony:
Do you have any future projects you’re working on that you can tell us about? Oare you mainly with NoSleep for now?

Wafiyyah:
No future projects, mainly with Nosleep, but I have a few voice acting auditions coming up, so fingers cross and send good vibes. 🙂

Anthony:
Wafiyyah, thanks again so much for taking the time to do this. Is there anything else you’d like to add or say that we may have missed or didn’t go over?

Wafiyyah:
No, you touched on a lot. This was such fun. Thank you for having me. 🙂

Dig this? Check out the full archives of A.M. Radio, by Anthony Montalbano, here: https://vinylwritermusic.wordpress.com/a-m-radio-archives/