Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amanda Achen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Amanda, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

I was one of the lucky ones – my parents always encouraged me to follow my interests, no matter how unconventional. Whether it was joining my church’s adult Worship Band at age 12, competing in martial arts as a self-proclaimed “Karate Pirate” (I think I invented that – use your imagination), or throwing myself into talent shows, community theater, and eventually voice lessons and competitions, they were always in my corner.

Even though they weren’t musicians themselves, they had incredible taste in music. Queen’s A Night at the Opera was basically the soundtrack to my childhood. That album shaped me more than I can say. They were both creative in their own ways – my dad actually landed some national voiceover gigs in his 30s, and hearing his voice acting demos had a huge impact on me. It made me realize how powerful vocal expression could be. And my mom, who went to hair school and worked independently for a while, gave me a sense of freedom – that I didn’t need to slot myself into a traditional salary job to find success.

Most importantly, they never once told me to be “more practical.” They never tried to steer me toward a safer, more stable path – and thank God for that. Yes there have been ups and downs and uncertainty but you’ve gotta “go out on a limb, that’s where all the fruit is.” (a fave quote of mine by Mark Twain.)

Oh, and one more thing that stuck: my dad taught me the magical power of writing down my dreams and goals. Simple as it sounds, creating focused, intentional lists – almost like a mindful ritual – has led to some incredible manifestations in my life. I truly believe a lot of my achievements came from these “Dream Plans”.

Amanda, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi! I’m Amanda Achen – a professional singer, voice actor, and all-around vocal chameleon. I specialize in cinematic, emotionally resonant vocal work – everything from soaring operatic themes to delicate studio whisper tones, to belty symphonic rock and sensual jazz. I work across the worlds of video games, film, TV, live performance, and education.

I got my start like many folks, singing in church, doing talent shows, and performing in community theater. I went on to train classically – thinking I was headed for a life in opera – but pretty quickly realized I wanted to carve out my own path. One that wasn’t defined by tradition or expectations, but by curiosity, collaboration, and emotional storytelling.

These days, my voice shows up in a pretty wild mix of places – video games like Final Fantasy XIV and XVI, Marvel Rivals, and Warframe; films and TV like Mulan, Frozen 2, and The Simpsons; and even some exciting new anime series on the way. I also tour the world performing with game music concerts like Distant Worlds, Attack on Titan Beyond the Walls, and Joe Hisaishi’s Studio Ghibli Symphony. On top of that, I work as a vocal teacher and coach, helping others find their own artistic clarity and confidence.

What I offer is more than just polished vocals. I aim to create moments of emotional resonance. Whether I’m recording a game theme, singing live on stage, or working one-on-one with a student, my goal is to help people feel something real. I bring depth, flexibility, and a slightly obsessive attention to detail – hello vowel placement! – but also a lot of heart. I want the music to hit you in the chest, and the singing to be a cathartic experience.

I think what sets me apart is the wide range I play in – vocally, stylistically, professionally. I’ve built this career independently, without an agent or manager, just by following the work that lights me up and connecting with people who feel the same. I take my craft seriously – but I also believe in keeping a sense of joy, curiosity, and (let’s be honest) a little mischief in the mix.

What I’m most proud of? That I’ve built something truly authentic, niche, and ever-evolving – and that people are moved by it. Whether you’re a fan, collaborator, or just someone curious about what it looks like to build a creative life off the beaten path – I’m glad you’re here.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I’ve probably said no to more gigs than I’ve said yes to.

After graduating – thinking I’d be an opera singer – I quickly realized, actually… opera isn’t for me. I explored early music performance for a bit, which I genuinely love, but felt I’d need more specialized study to be taken seriously in that world. (I still think I might come back to it someday.) I dipped a toe into the new music scene, too, but I often felt like I wasn’t weird enough or cool enough – and like I hadn’t had the “right” kind of training to really belong there either.

Then I considered joining some of the big professional choruses in LA. It’s a solid path for classically trained singers here. But I worried that focusing heavily on ensemble singing might slow down the development of my solo voice – which was still very much in progress in my 20s. That said, shoutout to my amazing colleagues who are thriving in both the choral and solo worlds – they’re doing incredible work!

I’ve also explored the jazz and commercial worlds – singing at jazz clubs, submitting original music to supervisors, and hoping for that perfect sync placement in a film or ad.

To be honest, I still sometimes do all of these things, depending on the circumstances. I’m always open, curious, and interested in new performance opportunities – and I love variety. That’s why I’ve never felt like I had to commit to just one way of doing things

Ultimately, saying no to these more “traditional” paths wasn’t easy. They were the expected next steps for someone with my training. But something in me knew they weren’t right. And choosing to stay true to that inner voice – even when the way forward felt unclear – that’s where my resilience has really lived.

And that resilience is exactly what shaped me and opened doors into the incredibly unique, authentic, exciting, niche, and ever-evolving space I’m thriving in now.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

For me, it gets kind of cosmic – I’m chasing that feeling of being fully in Flow. That sense of total presence, when everything becomes more vivid – colors feel brighter, sounds are richer, lights shimmer, time slows down, and you feel completely arrived. Completely at peace. Completely in sync with your place in the world.

These days, I’m finding that feeling more and more often – on stage, in the studio, when I’m collaborating with other amazing artists, and even when I’m teaching. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness my students find that state too. And yeah, surprisingly, I sometimes even get there while doing admin work (there’s a lot of that when you’re an independent and unrepresented creative).

Ultimately, the goal is to help others experience that state through my presence – whether they’re watching me perform, listening to something I’ve recorded or written, or working with me directly or indirectly. That emotional catharsis that comes from feeling inspired can be so powerful – it can change lives. So I guess that’s my mission.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amandasingsthings.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandasingsthings/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-achen/
• Twitter: https://x.com/amanda_achen
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Amandaachen_official

Image Credits

Brajoro Photo
Phil Sakanashi
Nathan Aardvark
Square Enix