Meet AJ DeLong

From Grunge Rock to the Recording Booth: AJ DeLong's Voice Acting Journey

Fifteen years ago, AJ DeLong didn't set out to become a voice actor. A friend had a wife who needed a narrator for her book, and he figured AJ was the perfect fit. "Turns out, he was wrong... at the time," AJ laughs. "But it set me down a path over 15 years ago that has yielded so many wonderful things for me, and I can never thank him more for pushing me into it."

That initial push, however off-target, planted a seed. What started as an awkward favor turned into a career that now spans commercial, character, videogame, corporate narration, audiobooks, and audio drama. Based out of Fort Wayne, Indiana, AJ brings a voice he describes in three words: warm, endearing, and engaging.

A Rock Singer's Foundation

Before he ever stepped into a vocal booth for a script read, AJ was a stage musician and grunge rock singer. Those years performing live built the kind of vocal control, emotional range, and comfort behind a microphone that no short course could replicate. The instincts he developed reading a crowd and feeling the energy of a room translate directly into how he approaches a script today.

He also works for a company that deals in studio equipment, a role that keeps him connected to the technical side of production. "It allows me to stay up to date with the latest tech and lets me be helpful to my peers," he says. "Plus, I get to play with all the wonderful toys!" That dual identity, part performer and part tech expert, gives him a perspective few voice actors share.

The Nine-Year-Old Test

AJ's approach to script prep is refreshingly human. When a script lands with enough lead time, he grabs it, heads to the couch with his dog, and runs through it in the living room while his nine-year-old watches TV nearby. "If what I'm saying can make her stop and listen, then I know I've nailed it," he explains.

For character work, the process gets even more personal. He turns it into a game with his daughter, letting her read opposing lines of dialogue. "She has fun with that," he says, and it gives him a real-world barometer for whether a character is landing or falling flat.

When session day arrives, his preparation shifts to the physical. Hydration starts hours in advance. The studio humidifier stays locked at 55%. An hour before recording, he fires up his rig so everything is warmed up and ready. It is a methodical routine built from years of understanding what his voice needs to perform at its best.

Projects That Define the Work

AJ is especially proud of his ongoing partnership with North Ridge Studios, where he serves as their promo voice and voices the character John Black in their graphic novel shorts. "I.S. Fergus has been fantastic to work with, and always comes back to me as soon as the next Volume is ready for release."

But the project closest to his heart is his work for Feverbee. "I did two spots for them, and I think they truly encapsulate what my energy can do for a modern commercial read." For anyone trying to understand AJ's sweet spot as a performer, those Feverbee spots are the proof of concept.

Eight Hours in the Box

Not every session goes smoothly, and AJ's most challenging project is a testament to the endurance this career demands. A game project (still under NDA) came in fast. He nailed the audition on the first take, but the live session turned into an eight-hour marathon.

"While myself, the engineer, and the producer were all thrilled with how it was all turning out, the co-director just didn't like how one line felt on delivery, and we ran it over and over, and over. For about an hour and a half." The result, though, was worth the grind. "It gave me some of my most dynamic character performance to-date." That kind of resilience, the willingness to push through frustration when the creative vision demands it, separates working professionals from hobbyists.

Beyond the Mic

AJ's life outside the booth is anything but quiet. He is a dad and husband first, but also a competitive ice curler (yes, like the Olympics), and he helps run LARP games across the United States. His "other-other job" involves dealing with band and orchestra instruments in the Northeast, making sure music directors have access to quality instruments for their programs and students.

And then there is his Patreon, where fans occasionally get to pick something wild for him to perform. One standout request: the "Battle of Wits" scene from The Princess Bride, performed as Smeagol and Gollum from Lord of the Rings. "That was fun," he says, with the understatement of someone who thrives on creative chaos.

Why the Human Voice Still Wins

AJ doesn't mince words about AI-generated voice. "Sure, AI might be able to get close and save a buck. But the uncanny valley will always scratch at the back of your brain." He points to data showing listeners don't finish audiobooks narrated by AI voices. "Whether we actually know it or not, our brains FEEL that something isn't right, and it throws us off."

For him, the argument comes down to nuance. "A pause here. A breath there. That sigh that comes from realization when the characters are arguing." Those micro-decisions, made instinctively by a skilled performer, remain beyond the reach of algorithms.

A Word to Clients

His advice for anyone hiring voice talent is simple and direct: "Take your time, find the right one. Don't compromise and pick 'just okay' because of a deadline. And don't let a rate scare you. If they're the right one, it'll be worth it. And then some."

He is equally candid about what outsiders misunderstand about the profession. "It's far more about business than having a good voice." By his estimate, natural vocal quality accounts for maybe 10 to 20 percent of the job. The rest is acting skill, audio production, self-marketing, resilience through hundreds of auditions, and the ability to deliver exactly the tone a client needs, fast.

Hear AJ for Yourself

Bring that warm, endearing, and engaging voice to your next project. Visit AJ DeLong's profile on RealVOTalent to hear his demos, or go straight to booking a session and find out what his energy can do for your brand.