Such A Voice: A Journey of Passion
As most of you know, I founded Such A Voice more than thirty years ago. Hard to believe! Many of you also know that I am a composer and keyboard artist, with a Broadway Musical as one of my credits (Anna Karenina).
Now, as I prepare for the release of my first smooth jazz album (more about that later), I find myself looking back and reminiscing about my journey with Such A Voice. I’d like to share some of my thoughts with you, and let you in on some of the reasons why Such A Voice was created in the first place, and why those of you who are with us have been working with people who are unquestionably the very best in the industry.
How it All Started
For me, it all began with music – and a deep fascination with and love for it. At two years old, I started playing the piano by ear. My mother played the piano at home when I was an infant, and I truly believe that listening to her play all day, every day, contributed to my playing by ear – much like babies picking up a language.
Music was as much a language for me as speaking. I started playing actual songs before I could speak, and from that point, playing the piano was for me, the easiest way to express myself, my emotions, my ups, my downs – everything. The passion that I had and still have for music was the guiding light in my life that kept me from needing to submit to peer pressure…I had my music.
Guided by My Love of Music
After graduating from the Manhattan School of Music, I began writing musical advertisements (jingles) which I continued for many years, and at the same time produced voice-overs for my clients. During that time, I also joined the BMI Musical Theater Workshop and began work on what would become my first musical; I never dreamed it would land on Broadway and earn me a Tony Award nomination, but it did.
In the early 90s, jingles began to fade away. The industry took a nose dive as advertisers started using existing pop songs instead of original jingles. I thought about my next steps, and reflected on how every single major endeavor of mine was born out of passion: the piano gigs, the jingles, the musicals. It was one fun adventure after another. And that’s how Such A Voice was born: wanting to share something that people are passionate about.
From Music to Voice-Overs
Let’s face it, most people who use their voice for voice-overs feel as passionate about getting into that field as I did about getting into music. So it was a no-brainer to build a business around something people are passionate about. But I didn’t just want to build an average business. Just like I didn’t want to write a musical that would only be performed locally, I was intent on getting it to Broadway, despite all the nay-sayers who bemoaned that it would never happen. Well, it did! They said the same thing about my jingle business, “it’s too hard to get things sold and onto the radio” they said. Wrong again! I made it happen and in a very major way, always using the very best singers, the best musicians, the best studios.
So when it came to teaching voice-overs, I wanted to start a company that not only helped people get into voice-overs, but one that would become the best in the industry with the best staff, the best coaches, the best ears in the business. I’m happy to say that after thirty years, I feel the pride and accomplishment of knowing that goal has come to fruition, and you, our students, are the recipients of that goal. Such A Voice has the most comprehensive voice-over training and production program in the industry, and that is no doubt thanks to our talented team of coaches, producers, and staff. That’s something I will cherish for the rest of my life, and I thank all of you who have helped make my dream a reality.
My Newest Venture: Over The Moon!
So now, after years of teaching voice-over classes, and with the knowledge that we have the most capable teaching staff bar-none, I have taken a step back from the regular classes that I have taught for almost thirty years, and have focused for the last year on my original passion: music.
I am so excited to announce my first smooth jazz album entitled, Over The Moon! I wrote all the songs, played all the piano parts, and have the same goals for my album that I’ve had for all of my other ventures: to make it the best it can be!
To help me do just that, I have two very special guest musical artists on this album: Kim Scott (flute), currently the #1 smooth jazz artist in the country — and Jeanette Harris (sax), one of the leading jazz and r&b sax players in the world today.
I am also very fortunate to have been taken on by the #1 radio promotion company in the US. They are the ones who promote Kenny G, Dave Koz, Boney James, Carol Albert and others. The first single to be released is entitled, “Our Kind of Love”, and I have attached a sneak preview (not quite the entire song) to this blog.
As you’ll notice, my style is a little different from some others that you might associate with smooth jazz. I’m not crazy about repetition and songs that don’t have a “likeability” factor. But whatever you think of it, and I hope you like it, it all comes from my heart. Kim Scott was kind enough to write this endorsement:
“Look out music lovers! There’s a new melodist on the scene and his name is Dan Alan Levine! Step into the creative oasis of this talented keyboardist and composer and you’ll be met with invigorating melodies that will stay with you forever. His style is classy and timeless, with a uniqueness that will undoubtedly set him apart from his counterparts in the smooth and contemporary jazz scene.”
– Kim Scott
I am including my middle name as part of my “performer name”: Dan Alan Levine, so when you see it out here, you will know it’s me.
Please visit my music website at www.danalanlevine.com.
Even though the official release of the album is not until January 3, 2023 (single release is July 1, 2022), I am offering the album now to all of you who on the Such A Voice blog at a discount with the following code which you can enter in my store when purchasing the album: MYRJSAA
The single and album will also be available on all the usual streaming services including Apple Music, ITunes, Spotify, and Amazon. Right now it is only available at www.danalanlevine.com.
I want to thank all of you again for helping to make Such A Voice what it is today. I hope each of you will discover your own special passion and use it to successfully achieve your goals and dreams.
Wishing you all the best . . .
Dan Levine
President and Founder of Such A Voice
