My day: I’m not a morning person! But it’s just as well, as in my job I tend to work very late at night, either performing, writing or recording. Thankfully my wife, Kate, is very much a morning person and possesses boundless energy.
An average day begins with one or more of our six children bouncing on top of us at some unearthly hour of the morning, and what feels like about three hours after I went to bed.
We have five children in four different schools, so getting them to school in the morning is challenging. Thankfully Kate is learning to drive, so hopefully mornings won’t be so manic in the future!
There is no such thing as average day. I work mainly in commercial radio and TV as a voiceover, producer and writer and I also run our recording studio, Aerial studios, in Wrexham, which makes commercial audio and videos for companies as well as being a recording studios for bands and musicians.
This year, we did Big Country’s latest album and the soundtrack to the movie Vinyl. On any given day a radio or film producer will call and ask me to voice a radio commercial, sing a jingle or be a character voice for animation.
One day recently, I voiced three ads for Maplin, sang a Christmas jingle as two animated bears and voiced two cartoon birds for an animation company in Utah. In between, I set up a recording session at our studios with Mike Peters (Big Country and The Alarm) and Smiley (Robbie Williams’ drummer) who are doing a new album together. I then set up a video shoot in our Green Screen studio for a pop video for a band called the 45s.
Recently I was approached by The Excellent Voice company in London who asked if they could represent me internationally. I have to say I was really flattered as they are agents for Harry Enfield, Ken Bruce, Charlotte Green, Bob Harris and Jon Briggs (the voice of Apple’s Siri). I expect it’ll get even busier from now on.
Dress: I wear headphones. A lot.
What is the favourite part of your job? I have to say, my job is a little odd, but I love it and I cannot imagine doing anything better. Standing there reading radio scripts or singing jingles, making corporate videos and pop videos, and working with some of my childhood music heroes is enormous fun, but the best thing is witnessing new music talent emerging.
What is the least favourite part of your job? People who want instant fame rather than learn their trade.
What would be your dream job if you weren’t doing what you do now? To host a TV or radio music or science/astronomy show. Basically Professor Brian Cox is living my dream life (or should I say D-Ream life).
How do you relax when you are not working? Reading science and music magazines.
What is your favourite film?Harvey with James Stewart.
What is your favourite book?Henry IV, Part One .
What is your favourite song?Once in a Lifetime , Talking Heads.
If a film was made of your life, who would you like to play you? Brian Cox.
Have you had your 15 minutes of fame? I was offered it once, a long time ago, and turned it down. I can’t imagine anything more awful than fame. One is rarely famous for what they want to be.
FACT FILE:
Name: David O’Connor
Job: Voiceover artist, producer, musician and writer.
Born: Cork city, Ireland
Education: Presentation Brothers College (Pres), Cork, Ireland.
Family life: Married to Kate with six children between us.
