Helen Francesca Leahey (born 4 October 1987) is a Welsh musician and voice over artist who is notable for her deep voice.[1] She is the first Guinness World Record holder (2018) for 'Lowest Vocal Note by a Female'.[2] In 2017 she appeared on The Voice of Germany[3] and in 2022 The Voice UK.[4] In 2023, Leahey was the primary source for the demon in the movie The Exorcist: Believer.[5]
Helen Leahey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pronunciation | Leehei |
| Born | 4 October 1987 St. Asaph, Wales, UK |
| Nationality | British/German |
| Occupation | Singer/Voice Over Artist |
| Years active | 2017 - present |
| Known for | Guinness World Word Record 'Lowest Vocal Note by a Female' |
| Television | The Voice Germany (2017) The Voice UK (2022) |
| Children | 1 |
| Website | www.helenleahey.com |
Leahey owns her own music label 'Deintra' [6] and has recorded three albums to date. Train Tracks, Auf Wiedersehen and Spirits.[7]
Career edit
Supervising sound editor Rich Bologna explained the sculpting of the supernatural sound for the movie The Exorcist: Believer and Leahey's part in it:
"The demon in the film is a woman, so David (Gordon Green) found this great voice actor, a Welsh woman named Helen Leahey, who lives in Cologne, Germany. So we did a preliminary recording session with her even before there was a working cut of the film. She recorded some amazing stuff. Because she speaks Welsh, she did a version of the Welsh National Anthem backward. She transcribed it backward phonetically, and then performed it. We were all blown away. What a first impression! We used most of her performance for the demon voice, and David also hired an additional voice actor J. Moliere. But her voice is the primary source."[8]
The original demon voice for the 1973 horror film The Exorcist was recorded by Oscar winner Mercedes McCambridge.[9]
Early life and education edit
Leahey was born in St. Asaph, Wales,[10] UK to Liverpoodlian Charles Joseph Leahey and Dr. Christiane Ulmer-Leahey (née Ulmer) from Mainz, Germany. She is of English, Irish, Welsh, Scottish, Sardinian, Scandinavian and German descent. Her father was a musician and her mother is a retired school director and published author.[11]
Leahey completed her Bachelor in History and Irish Studies at the University of Liverpool (2010)[12] and her Master in International Journalism at Falmouth University (2012).[13] During her studies and afterwards, Leahey became a member of various Irish folk bands [14] and finally founded the music project DILLIGARA where she collaborates with various artists.[15] Before going into higher education Leahey studied a BTEC in Performing Arts at the former Yale College, Wrexham, Wales.[16]
References edit
- ^ AlloCine (2023-10-15). "L'Exorciste Dévotion : découvrez l'actrice qui double le démon. Elle détient un sacré record !". AlloCiné (in French). Retrieved 2023-10-27.
- ^ "Watch: Woman breaks Guinness record by singing low note - UPI.com". UPI. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ Eva Cassidy - Danny Boy | Helen Leahey | The Voice of Germany 2017 | Blind Audition, retrieved 2023-10-16
- ^ Helen Leahey's 'Where The Wild Roses Grow' | Blind Auditions | The Voice UK 2022, retrieved 2023-10-16
- ^ Walden, Jennifer (2023-10-25). "Sculpting the Supernatural Sound of 'The Exorcist: Believer' – with Rich Bologna". A Sound Effect. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
- ^ "Labelcode LC 91000 bis 91999 – Musik-Sammler.de". wiki.musik-sammler.de. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
- ^ "Helen Leahey - Songs, Events and Music Stats | Viberate.com". www.viberate.com. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
- ^ Walden, Jennifer (2023-10-25). "Sculpting the Supernatural Sound of 'The Exorcist: Believer' – with Rich Bologna". A Sound Effect. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
- ^ Slankard, Jacob (2023-10-04). "The Actor Behind the Demon's Voice in 'The Exorcist' Went to Hell and Back". Collider. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
- ^ "Former Wrexham student bidding for success on TV's The Voice… in Germany". The Leader. 2017-10-18. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ "Von Schulleiterin zur Schriftstellerin: Geschichten aus Wales und dem Wohnwagen". www.rhein-zeitung.de (in German). 2023-09-30. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ McMullin, Kate (2017-12-09). "Female Liverpool graduate claims to have deepest singing voice in the WORLD". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ "Falmouth University graduate sings lowest note ever sang by a woman". Falmouth Packet. 2019-03-23. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ "HEART MUSIC - Bilder aus dem Studio". www.heartmusic.de. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ "Helen Leahey – feat. DILLIGARA". www.boppard-stadthalle.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-27.
- ^ "This former Wrexham college pupil officially has the lowest female vocal note in the world". The Leader. 2019-03-15. Retrieved 2023-10-16.