A way with words

AISHA MANRIQUE has been in the private and public spaces of most everyone in TT without having to set foot in their homes, vehicles or places of business.

“I have a passion for speaking. Ask my fiancé,” the voice-over actress told Newsday.

“A passion for communicating on a whole I should say, because I enjoy preparing and delivering presentations in a unique way. I teach, I write scripts, poetry and spoken word pieces, emcee briefs but the crème de la crème for me is voicing!”

The San Fernando resident said when she started out doing voicing people advised her to get a job on radio if she wanted to be successful in the industry. She has since proven them wrong.

“I can humbly state that I challenged that notion, as I have been the voice for Digicel, KFC, HDC, Moo Milk, TTMF, NLCB, Bradford Suits, McCallum’s All Inclusive Cereal, T&TEC, TT Red Cross, CARPHA (Caribbean Public Health Agency) and many more.

“I also voiced an in-flight video for Caribbean Airlines. Who knows, you probably heard my voice whilst relaxing on your flight to the US.”

And she even hosted an episode of the television programme Caribbean Passport.

“It’s a programme I enjoyed viewing and I always said to myself, one day I will be hosting this show. The power of your thoughts and words right?”

Manrique cannot remember a day in her life when she was not preparing for when she would use her voice to take her and her audience on magical journeys.

“I’ve been performing for my family, especially my paternal grandmother and uncles on my imaginary stage as far as I can remember. You couldn’t tell me back then that I wasn’t famous,” she chuckled.

“My mother would wake me up at 5 am to prepare for the various competitions in which I took part – Sanfest and Junior Calypso Monarch. I hated getting up that hour as a child but as an adult I am very grateful to my mum for the discipline.

“I was even a Junior Calypso Monarch finalist once. Forgive me for not remembering the year, but whatever year Patrice Roberts won the title, it was that year (2001).”

She said there were times when instead of eating breakfast or lunch, she opted to pretend she was standing on a stage or behind a microphone and wowing an audience. She recalled when she was around ten she would read to the children in her neighbourhood and really get into character.

“They loved the way I would disguise my voice for the various story characters. I guess back then I was laying the foundation and preparing myself for the audio book I am currently narrating and recording for a company based in the United States."

She said an important part of taking on the role of host/emcee is engaging the audience and she smiled as she recalled hosting an awards ceremony for clothing store J&K Signature Styles.

“I had the entire audience on their feet counting and repeating my words. The counting made sense at the time, I promise.”

Unfortunately, her mum, biggest fan and best friend Cheryl Cha Cha succumbed to breast cancer three years ago, throwing her into one of the most trying periods of her life, considering that her brother and only sibling had died one year prior.

“Seeing someone you love with all your heart deteriorate right in front your eyes and all you can do is try to keep them comfortable. This was an experience I can never forget. She would keep me going whenever I questioned my endeavours. Sad but true; sometimes at a quick spur of the moment, whenever I accomplish something huge, my first reaction is ‘I have to call mummy,’ then reality hits.”

And just like her mother’s death, she has vivid recollections of the day her brother, 30, died. She was at work when the call came and the managers at the time broke the news to her. He had died of a heart attack.

“At first I thought something was wrong with my mum as she was the sick one, but when they told me it’s my brother, I felt as if my knees couldn’t support my body. The shock, the hurt, the anger, the questions, all bundled in one.”

She said losing them back-to-back was something for which she could have never been prepared.

“Some days I would be okay, other days I would cry my heart out. I would sometimes look up to the sky and ask God, ‘So you couldn’t at least leave me with one?’ But as time progressed, I started looking within and asked myself some very tough questions,” and she knew they would want her to live a happy life. In fact, she said, that huge loss created an even bigger drive and passion to perfect her craft so she could make them proud.

“I told myself the fact that I am still alive means that my purpose isn’t yet fulfilled and I can’t let their deaths go in vain. As a single parent, my mother was a very strong woman and she blessed me with a foundation that I give thanks for every single day. I always believed in the power of perspective. Ten persons can face the same tragedy but have ten completely different outcomes based on their perspective.” In their absence, she has learned to lean on her fiancé, Curtis and her uncle Victor who have been nothing but supportive.

Additionally, she said she has learned to guard her state of mind by carefully selecting what she chooses to look at and listen to.

“It’s one of my coping mechanisms. But all this can’t compare to my relationship with God. He keeps me going when I feel like I have nothing left in me.”

And although it is not her full-time job, she said her voicing passion is what keeps her going during the good and bad times.

“Today when I reflect on my voice-over career, I am truly thankful for the stride I was able to make in this competitive industry. On the days I think I should rest, my mind is still going, telling me to do something that will bring me closer to achieving my goals. It’s just the way I am programmed. I intend to continue perfecting my craft as a voice-over actress, not just locally and regionally but internationally as well. And the best thing about it all is that I don’t have one, but two angels watching over me, guiding me every step of the way. Perspective!”

Follow Aisha Manrique on Instagram @thevocalmogul and @aishamanrique. For bookings e-mail aishamanrique16@gmail.com