To tell the story of the world is also to let its voices be heard. To present them just as they are. Not to try to make them moving, endearing, or poetic. Not to rephrase them. Beyond radio testimonials, what if our voices were given more space in the media?
Last month, HugoDécrypte collected voice memos highlighting students’ struggles during the pandemic. In its video “Our Generation’s Cry for Help,” the voices of Léann, Maxime, Grâce, and Alexis take turns against a black background. They open up about their anxiety, their loneliness, and sometimes even their desire to end it all. In these voices, we hear the distress students are feeling—a distress that words alone cannot fully describe. The format offers a freedom that allows for more powerful testimony than a telephone interview could provide—as if we ourselves were on the other end of the line.
It’s said that it wasn’t speech that was set free, but rather that we began to listen to it, to make room for it. At the start of the first lockdown, Arte Radio compiled voice messages from healthcare workers, paramedics, and cashiers. A humorous and candid glimpse into the daily lives of those who weren’t in lockdown.
The magic of voice notes for creating narrative experiences also has a place on Instagram. In its Stories titled “Stories by the Fireplace,” the adventure media outlet Les Autres shares its followers’ worst travel anecdotes. Over the course of the episodes, we rescue a man from an avalanche in Val-d’Isère, drive along the edge of a cliff in Alaska, visit a seedy clinic in Sri Lanka… and our evenings in lockdown have never felt so exotic.
Finally, this return to audio also involves interactivity. In fact, we’ve seen live audio really take off with Clubhouse. Just a year old, this social network lets you connect with strangers via voice by joining discussion rooms. François d’Estais, a project manager at Havas Paris, breaks down this new playing field in a fascinating Twitter thread. In it, he discusses the app’s “infinite potential,” ranging from musicals to conferences to discussions on entrepreneurship.
After “Zoom fatigue,” are you already tired of all the hype surrounding Clubhouse? Let’s go back to the classics. Give us a call and leave a message on our voicemail. Our number is 07 56 95 60 01.
