We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Andrea Lavender. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Andrea below.

Alright, Andrea thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

The first time I made any money, was maybe about two weeks after I’d finished my full cycle of voice acting classes and I’d just gotten my demo out there. It was an in house corporate video for when the employees gather for a new product release from what I understood. It was going to be directed via zoom so I had to go into my studio’s recording room and my voice coach was there to help with recording to make sure the sound was clean, etc. When I put on the headset, there were like 6 people talking to me all at once. There were so many things they discussed and I felt like a squirrel in a nut factory. I couldn’t focus at first but then when they said ok, it’s go time, I centered in on the delivery of the lines. There was music, images, and a script to follow. My coach was looking at me, trying so hard not to direct me and finally he said, remember – you just have to be coachable. We talked about this. You got it! – Then I relaxed a bit and listened for everything they wanted me to do and sound like. There were lots of takes and at some point I was melting in my seat because I couldn’t really gage if I was doing it right or not. Finally, after about an hour, they said, “I think we got it! -That’s a wrap!” We all said our goodbyes and my coach gave me a high five and a big hug. I was sweating, shaking, and I believe I even cried afterwards. He said I had nerves of steel but everything he’d taught me, I got a chance to apply in real time. He’d taught everyone to touch the velvet curtains around the booth if ever we needed to reground ourselves and that was very helpful. The total we ended up working together was about 3 hrs and when I looked at my direct deposit, I was floored. I couldn’t believe it and it was then that I knew, hey – this is the avenue for me. I enjoyed the thrill and the excitement, I never got to hear how that final production went but it was key in understanding what I was in for. My coach prepared me well. It was exactly how he said it would be.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’d call myself an immersive audio creator and voice actor. I’m essentially a storyteller who builds worlds through sound. I started out doing acting and took classes at a local studio then one day we started doing commercial sides. When I would read them, I kept hearing music and seeing a reel in my head and I so I decided that I would just record it. When I shared it with my acting teacher, he immediately said I had a knack for putting these productions together and said I should consider also taking voice classes. I searched around and found a studio close and turns out, the owner of that studio was a radio personality that I’d listened to years ago. So I joined the studio. Today I provide a blend of services that sit between performance and creation. I work as a voice actor across projects but I also create immersive audio experiences, develop original stories, and consult with other creators who want their work to have a voice and/or if they need guidance with sound immersion. I think a lot of creators struggle with making their work feel “real”, not necessarily polished but “felt”. That’s where I come in. I help bridge the gap between idea and impact, between script and making it a lived experience.
I am most proud of stepping into that identify and showing up fully for it. I am enjoying creating my own projects, trusting my voice creatively, and building a brand that reflects depth, curiosity, and connection. I am quite interested in crafting moments that people remember,
For anyone discovering my work, I want them to know that what I create is meant to be experienced. And whether you’re a listener, a collaborator, or a client, you’re stepping into something intentional, immersive, and a little unexpected.

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

My goal is to create immersive experiences that don’t end when the journey stops. I am interested in what happens after, when people come together, share what they felt, break bread together, play and imagine. I want to build spaces where connection happens naturally and storytelling becomes something communal. The goal is to create spaces for people to feel, gather, and connect.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most reward aspect of being a creative is the connection. There’s something that I think is powerful about knowing a story or a character resonated deeply within someone. Maybe it moved them or maybe it told their story. That’s when you realize that the hard work put into it all has gone beyond the content and become an experience. I love knowing that someone felt the story and it stayed with them.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.twistedbuttonproductions.com and www.andrealavender.com

Image Credits

Monica Garcia-Salamon Photography
Wahid Gomes at DRSATL