Blending Chords and Finding Harmony Narrator Christian Black
I wasn’t much of an audiobook listener before working with Tantor Audio to bring my Blind Rebels series to life in audiobook. But finally hearing my characters breathe, fracture, heal, and fall in love through the voices of incredible narrators changed that completely. Their performances added an extra layer to the stories for me and allowed me to experience my own books more like a reader would- and I absolutely loved it. I’m honored to introduce to you one of the amazing narrators for my series. I hope you like these spotlights and find a new favorite narrator!
Christian Black’s work in the Blind Rebels series reveals the quiet strength and vulnerability within my twins Callum (Blending Chords) and Killian (Finding Harmony). He brings a lived-in authentic feel to both brothers stories, letting the emotional notes of the story resonate long after the scene ends.
How long have you been narrating audiobooks? Approximately how many books have you narrated?
Since 2020, over 150 books narrated
What first sparked your interest in becoming an audiobook narrator?
I was a theater actor for a couple decades so acting/performance has always been a big part of my life. I didn’t realize I could make a career in voice over or audiobooks until my wife and frequent co-narrator had already established herself doing that when I met her. I eventually joined on for dual POV romance books with her and it took off from there.
Did you have any mentors, inspirations, or influences when starting out?
My wife who was already experienced in the industry was definitely number one. I haven’t had any real coaching so I thank her and my previous acting experience for putting me where I am today.
Has there been a moment in your career when you thought, “Yes—this is what I’m meant to be doing”?
I initially worked full-time in IT and did audiobooks part-time, but once I realized I could make it a full-time job alongside my wife, I didn’t hesitate to switch. I was good at my IT job but had a hard time imaging being happy doing it long-term. I think I always realized I wanted to act as my dream job, but instead of doing tv shows or movies it came in the form of audiobooks, which I found much more accessible while still getting to enjoy the performance aspect.
What was your very first narration experience like?
Without even knowing for sure how well I could do it or how long it would take, I narrated the majority of a dual POV romance book with my wife, so I had to the heavy lifting up front. It was trial by fire but I made it through and realized I could only improve from there, so I wanted to keep at it.
What does a typical recording session look like for you?
I don’t churn out quite as much audio as some people per day. I have to be very mindful of my schedule and vocal health to get a decent amount of work done, which isn’t always easy, especially with a toddler. I will sometimes be in the booth for several hours (with breaks of course) but more often these days I have to split it into 2-3 smaller sessions throughout the day. My work/life balance is still a struggle to manage so I don’t often have days completely off.
How do you prepare before reading? Do you mark up a manuscript before narrating?
I try to skim/speed read as much as possible and take note of character descriptions to help me define their voice and personality in my head. Also knowing overall where the plot leads and if there are any major twists I should be aware of. I don’t generally mark up a manuscript unless I’m completely responsible for the production of a duet-narrated book, in which case I’ll help highlight dialogue lines, otherwise this is usually done by a production house/publisher if I’m working with them rather than an author independently.
Do you have any pre-recording rituals or warm-ups?
I have a 5 minute vocal warm up I do religiously before each session, but usually before that I’m drinking a warm beverage and laying somewhere on my back like a couch to get everything relaxed before going in.
How do you care for your voice during long or emotionally intense recording periods?
Frequent breaks, a lot of hydration. I keep throat lozenges, lip balm and other things nearby to make sure everything is running smooth. If I need to step away for longer because my voice is tiring or I’m mentally/emotionally drained I may run an errand or do something else around the house until I’m ready to go back in.
How do you balance staying true to the text while still bringing your own performance to it?
I look for any clues in the author’s writing and get an overall feel for the book and it’s intended tone, otherwise I just try to pull what comes to me instinctively for characters based on my experiences in life and people I’ve met, that way I’m hopefully staying true to the author’s intent while also making it my own. There are many ways to interpret text while none of it being “wrong” persay, so anytime I can plug in my own personality, I like to do that.
Is there a scene or performance you’re especially proud of and why?
There’s a few for sure. Ones that pulled out deeper emotions in me, usually those that make me actually cry during the performance. I’ve had a few books pull that out of me. I know in those moments I’m fully present and feeling everything the character is feeling, making it that much more real for the reader/listener.
Has there ever been a scene in any of your narrations where you’ve had to pause recording because the emotion of the scene hit you?
Definitely. Just like the answer above if I get overly emotional I may either be able to read it and have it come out perfectly in the recording or have to stop if it became incoherent because I’m a bumbling, emotional mess.
Do you prefer to narrate dual, duet, solo? Why?
Solo allows you to perform every character and there’s something special and fun in that. Dual is similar though you might not voice every character if they don’t appear in your POV chapters. Duet is easiest if I’m not responsible for editing the project because I have to pay attention to less character voices. If time working on the book isn’t a factor, I’ll take solo or dual from an acting standpoint, but when I’m trying to churn out as much as possible, duet is definitely easiest, especially if I’m not editing it.
What’s something you wish authors understood better about audiobook narration?
Every author has an idea for their characters in their head, including voices. I would like to see more let go of the reins and allow the narrator to bring their own interpretation of it to life without the author focusing too much on the minor details. Every reader/listener will interpret their book differently and they need to let your own preferences slide a little in audio format too. The best performances come from narrators that give their own interpretation while still staying true to the author’s overall intent. You can’t please everyone and audiobook production should be true collaboration. Authors are the writers, not the directors.
What’s something you wish listeners knew about the work that goes into narration?
The sheer amount of work in terms of time and effort. Listeners only hear the end result. Not every creative choice is up to the narrator and whether or not a book is narrated dual or duet style is due to a variety of reasons, including time, budget, etc. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes that readers/listeners don’t know about. Sometimes there’s a very demanding attitude and I think both authors and narrators appreciate those that understand how much goes into audiobook production.
Are there any audiobook trends or industry changes that excite you right now?
When I first started, dual narration was prominent in romance books especially, but it’s gearing more towards duet or full cast productions these days. Most newer to audiobooks seem to be spoiled on the duet/full cast productions and can’t listen any other way. I see the draw in that but also something lost in having one or two narrators being able to fully embody characters. If everything becomes duet or full cast you may gain some immersion but you also miss out on the performance versatility narrators can bring to the table.
What was your first impression of the Blind Rebel when you started narrating your book?
I hadn’t done a true rock star romance before so that made it a unique experience already. I wasn’t sure what to expect and had nothing to compare it to. It was obvious from the beginning there was a strong focus on friends, family and bonding between the characters.
Was there anything uniquely challenging or surprising about narrating a rock star romance?
Not really. Again, I haven’t done a lot in rock star romance to compare.
Have any characters in the Blind Rebels series surprised you or grown on you as a narrator?
Watching Callum grow as a character in book 2 was one thing, but having voiced Killian as a secondary there and then primarily in book 4, I was able to delve deeper into his psyche and really peel back the layers of who he was as a human begin.
Is there a moment in the Blind Rebels book(s) you narrated that you feel truly comes alive in audio?
I’d say the interaction between Killian and his daughter Harmony in book 4, especially when he’s visiting her knowing he’s her biological father and she doesn’t know for sure he’s her father but has an inkling he is. There’s a lot of emotion in that scene that I felt on a deep level.
What do you think listeners who experience Blind Rebels in audio might pick up on that print readers might miss?
Can’t say for sure. Every reader/listener experiences things differently. Some visualize better reading vs listening and vice versa. I think the experience will differ from individual to individual.
Which part of the story would you most want listeners to experience in audio?
Any and all of it. Audio in general breathes life into a book differently than just visual reading. No particular scenes stand out. I think if someone enjoys audiobooks overall they’d benefit more from experiencing it in audio format.
One word that best describes your narration style:
I try to give a realistic performance. I act out the book as I would in other formats, probably closer to tv/movie style than live theater given the intimate nature. I’m more about characters and emotional performance than just a straight read of a book. I don’t want to go over the top with characters and voices but I don’t want to sound monotone either. There’s a balance required.
If your narration style had a theme song, what would it be?
Boy do I suck at these types of questions. I really don’t know. Every book is so different based on genre and the writing that I can’t put it into one theme.
What song do you think best fits the Blind Rebel character you narrated?
Name any rock song and it probably fits. I’d say ask several readers/listeners and they may all have different interpretations.
Has your own musical tastes influenced how you approached these characters?
Not necessarily. I enjoy a variety of music, especially in the rock/metal genres. I imagine these characters having a general hard rock vibe but beyond that nothing specific.
If you could narrate any musician’s memoir, whose would it be?
I wouldn’t touch that with a 10 foot pole. That seems too personal to approach as a narrator. If they’re alive they should tell their own story, and if they’re not, I’m nowhere near knowledgeable enough to tell their life story.
What’s your favorite song right now?
I don’t usually have favorites, though anything by Muse is a safe bet given the variety of sounds in their music. If I want a heavy hitting number that really energizes me, their song “Hystreria” is always a good one.
What’s something you always keep in your recording booth?
Water. Definitely water.
What’s one of the funniest or strangest lines you’ve ever had to say on mic?
Can’t think of one off the top of my head. I’ve had some major tongue twisters and when I’m mindful enough to remember, I’ll save my mistakes if they’re funny enough and document them in my blooper reels I share on social media.
Favorite genre(s) of music?
Metal and rock, though I’m a sucker for electronic dance music and Broadway musical hits too so plenty of variety.
Favorite genres/authors to read for fun?
I would love to say I have time to read for fun but that’s simply not true. That may change but any reading I do these days is purely work related.
I’d like to thank Christian for taking time to answer my questions but also for the passion and care he put into voicing my twin brothers in their stories. You can connect with Christian on Instagram at @christianblackaudio, on Facebook at ChristianBlackAudio, and on TikTok @christianblack_audio.
