We were lucky to catch up with Sabrina Twyla recently and have shared our conversation below.
Sabrina, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
Taking a risk means following your heart. There’s literally a 50% chance that the risk you take will work out. That’s what interviewing for a job is. That’s what auditioning for a role is. That’s what living is. Nobody in life knows for SURE how things are going to work out, no matter how much we plan ahead. As humans, the most I believe we can do is try our best every single day, and keep improving upon what we want to do and get out of life.
When I was around 3 years old, my mother tells me I was singing Part Of Your World from Disney’s The Little Mermaid, in the back of the car in perfect pitch while repeating every lyric word for word. After growing up a bit more, being an introverted child, I was about 8 or 9 years old when I stepped on stage for the first time and auditioned to be in a musical, getting cast as a secondary/lead role. Changing my life towards creative arts forever. When I was 16 I was on the radio for the first time promoting a local production of The Little Mermaid, where I was cast as Ariel. Some might say that was a literal full circle moment. When I was 18 I was cast as a lead in a viral YouTube horror short film that now has 37+ million views in counting. All of these were risks that I took that worked out.
Yet every single day I’m still taking risks to continue towards the path’s I want to pursue. When we’re young, we’re always asked, “What do you want to be in life? A firefighter? A doctor?” Or for some of us more girly girl types, a princess. I love all sorts of different creative fields, so I can’t just pick ONE path! When I was little I always wanted to be in movies or on Disney Channel, aka On-Camera work. yet I kept pursuing live stage musical productions. In-between all of this I was drawing and creating my own cartoon characters and developing my art skills. Now that I’m older, I have an answer. I know what I want to be in life. I want to do it all, and be as creative as I can be, in all different forms of media. Whether it be performance or art, Creativity. That’s my risk.
Sabrina, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Greetings, new friends! My name is Sabrina Twyla, and I’m a voice actress/illustrator/designer/whatever else creative field I decide to pursue next! I’m currently voicing Iris in the upcoming mobile game The End Of the Line: New Age, Gio Samitto in the animated series Sally Mountainpeak, Fiz the cat in the upcoming short film EXTRIC, Anna Rosetti in the videogame Judgment, as well as Carmelita Fox/ Beth Berkley in the upcoming fan series Sly Cooper Rise Of The Legendary Thief, and Sayori in the fan animated series Doki Doki Redux. Though, most people would probably recognize me from my work as the voice of the energetic crazy goofball Cassidy Amber from the popular videogame Project: Eden’s Garden, and my role as Savannah in the award winning 37+ million viewed short film, Don’t Look Away by Christopher Cox that went viral on both YouTube and TikTok.
While I’m probably most known for my voicework, as it’s a passion of mine that I’ve taken up over the past two years or so, I am also a digital artist/character concept designer as well looking to break into the animation industry and create characters and stories for cartoon series/movies. That parts a work in progress, but then again, aren’t we all? If there’s something new and creative out there, as a form of entertainment towards an audience of people, I am THERE. I’m on a road to creating as much as I can! Whether it be designing a doll for a toy line working at a big toy company, Streaming and performing as a secret V-tuber, or animating and creating my own animated series, I want to entertain you in some way shape or form.
As for my personality, think about that one weird way over-the-top goofball theater kid from your school, but imagine them with a really high-pitched voice, dressed in all pink. That’s me! I’m definitely categorized as one of the worlds most stereotypical “girly girl” types out there (After all my nickname in high school was literally Pinkie Pie like from my Little Pony)! I like all things fashionable, colorful, and pretty! My number one goal in life? To spread kindness, positivity, confidence, and most importantly; SMILES! Just because we all grow up, it doesn’t mean we have to lose that free-spirited spark from our childhoods! For some of us, like me, that spark cultivated from years of meeting new people, making new friends, and becoming more extroverted over time. A positive attitude can change everything, trust me!
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
I think I’d have to say the one thing on everyone’s mind, “But how will you make money off of that?” And to that I say, “Try your best.” There’s no guarantee things will work out, you’re following your heart, and you can always find a “Real Job” that pays enough to live on the side so you can pursue your dreams. Life is to short not to have fun, and do what you want (Within limits of course, don’t go crazy now, be respectful and follow the rules/laws!). A lot of people give up their dreams before even trying to pursue them, and I made a promise to myself that if I’m going to live life, I’m going to do it my way, while enjoying the ride. I don’t want to wake up one day and realize I didn’t even TRY to pursue all the things that I’m interested in. There’s NEVER going to be a perfect time for anything, or enough money to do what you want. That’s what my mother (An amazingly wise woman) always told me.
All that being said, it definitely does cost a bit to do what I’m doing. While yes I’ve gotten paid for commissioned artwork, or voice roles, I did need to spend money on a new computer and microphone/audio equipment to make sure that I am able to give the best quality I am able to give in everything I do. So if you’re someone who’s struggling to find the funds there’s plenty of ways to earn some “quick” money, even if you don’t have a paying job. You can sell items on eBay if you have any collectables you don’t mind parting with, or you can do what I mainly did which was utilizing my audience and digital art skills to do commission work for clients, as basically a freelance gig. It’s not enough for a constant living (It can be with hard work) but it was enough to get me the startup money to go after what I wanted. It’s all about NOT giving up.
Now aside from the monies (Yes that is “Sabrina slang” for Money), anything I create I’m SURE there will be haters or non-believers, but the most important thing is that I surround myself with a great circle of friends, and family who support me and my decisions. People who root for me all the way. My partner especially, he’s my number one rock and hype-man that believes in me, and helps me pursue it all the best that I can. Not a lot of people are fortunate enough to have as great a support system to pursue their dreams as I do, and in those situations it’s a bit trickier, and I wish I had some better insight on it. But for me it means working hard every single day for myself, our family, and for the people I want to entertain and make smile (Aka: THE WORLD!). Growing up the way that I did, As a bright blonde energetic child with a high pitched voice and NO sense of book/street smarts, you get bullied a lot. I was bullied CONSTANTLY (Even into adulthood) but thanks to all of that I grew a thick skin, and now nothing shakes me. I’m literally a walking confidence wall! Sometimes my confidence in myself can come off as “stuck up” because I am so sure of myself and my decisions in life (For the most part, I mean is anyone REALLY sure of anything?), But I truly don’t mean it that way.
What I mainly want people to take away from this is, “Nobody but you can tell you who you are, or how to live your life.” You make your own decisions. Nobody HAS to understand you as long as YOU know what your intentions are. I have to reiterate this because there are people in this world who will take it out of context: DON’T DO ANYTHING BAD. FOLLOW THE RULES AND LAWS. People will make mistakes, that’s called being human. Just please don’t intentionally do something you know is morally wrong. Think like a Disney Princess, not a Disney Villain (Even though they’re usually the more entertaining characters!)
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Hearing that I made an impact. Whether it be that people enjoyed my performance in a musical or film or something, or that they love a character I voice because I made them relatable, or even that they just liked my artwork or fashion! There’s no way to put this without it sounding a bit conceited but again, I don’t mean it this way: But I often get stopped on the street just because people like my outfits or my hair or something, and it always makes me smile (Not just because it’s a compliment to something I put together that makes me personally happy but also-) because I always hear them walking away talking to a friend or family member saying they want an outfit like whatever I wore, or that they want to find the shoes that I had, or they want to dye their hair like mine! And it just makes me so happy to know that I inspired someone just by putting a couple of pieces of clothing together. That in that moment, someone felt enough of that spark inside to approach a stranger just to compliment them and be kind. THAT’S why I am what I am, and why I do what I do. The true reward is making an impact just by being myself. I want everyone to feel that way.
So whoever you are! If you’re reading this, I want you to be your most authentic self! Put it out there online, or wear it out there on the streets. MAKE a difference, just by being uniquely you. If you’re like me, a creative who doesn’t want to stop at just ONE type of creative profession, then go out there and DO IT ALL. Life’s TOO SHORT. I’m not giving up on my dreams of being a voice actress, and a toy designer, and a cartoon creator. I’m taking the necessary steps to get to each point and slowly making progress towards it all. I’ve already made a difference enough considering I have a HUGE album of fanart for characters I’ve voiced, and that makes me so happy to know someone was using their creativity to show their support for MY creativity, And it doesn’t stop there! I’m learning how to animate so I can create my own cartoons, I’m constantly doing market research into the toy industry so I can apply to big toy companies and maybe eventually have my own design product out there on the shelves. It’s all about taking that next step. It’s cheesy yes, but if I’m doing it, anyone can. I’m going to do my best to at least give someone a brighter day with something I created. My hope is that you too will create a brighter day for someone else. It’s all about being kind, and supporting each other as humans, regardless of race, gender, sexual preference, etc. We’re all little alien brain blobs controlling big meat suits at the end of the day soooooooo… Be respectful to other meat suits. (What? I told ya I was a weirdo~)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sabrinatwyla.artstation.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sabrinatwyla
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrina-twyla-7204191aa
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SabrinaTwyla
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SabrinaTwyla
Image Credits
-Christopher Cox, Don’t Look Away Short Film: https://youtu.be/4f3hG-5grlw?si=-UodvLJ9OYpxT1FX -Rayan A. Kuzman, Portrait Artwork (In the middle of all of the characters Sabrina Twyla voices)