Aleesha Bake is a mom. “It’s all I ever wanted to be,” she tells me. And five children later, at only 43 years old, make no mistake, Aleesha has arrived. “I’ve got a 7, a 13, a 15, a 19, and a 21-year-old.”
Growing up in Sylva, North Carolina, Aleesha describes her childhood as “perfect; ideal in every way.” This Thomas Kincade upbringing had an unbelievable effect on Aleesha. “Growing up, we lived at the foot of a mountain; very little TV, and my parents got along very well and are still married to this day some 46-47 years later.” The emphasis was placed on home being, as the cliché goes, where the heart is. “Mom taught me how to can fruits and vegetables and how to sew,” says Aleesha. Her mother was a stay-at-home mom, and her father was a police officer. So, the “Leave It to Beaver” homelife was close to her reality from the famous 1960s TV show.
This was as good of a home life as any child could experience. She was the kid she describes as always asking questions. “I’d always be the one in class to raise my hand to read aloud.” She had a very high energy level. She thought nothing of it. But when she reached her 40’s, she was diagnosed with ADHD. “And it’s not something to be ashamed of.”
“I’d hear, “be quiet, be quiet, be quiet” from my teachers because I was always so interested in everything,” she tells me.
“I was just a non-stop chatterer.” Her love interest showed up in her life very early on, and they got married at 20 and immediately started a family.
So, from 20 years old until 2018, Aleesha mirrored her mother, and there was no career. But a peace officer’s salary, which is her husband’s profession makes it financially difficult for a family. So, Aleesha loved to read so much that she set up a makeshift studio in her closet using her income tax refund to purchase a microphone.
She closed the door, read the audition, and got cast. “First audition. First booking. It just happened with no training and no mentor,” says Aleesha. “But it was a scam, so I googled, “How to make money with a microphone and within a month, I was making money.” And this was out of her closet. She would continue producing from inside her closet for a year and a half until she and her husband built a voice-over studio in the backyard.
As the family grew, so did the need for more space. So, Aleesha built (with her own hands, not a contractor) various areas designed for improvement or more space. And below are just a couple of examples of how she views the creative process. “To me, being creative doesn’t always involve a microphone.”
And that’s when the career went full steam. “I can use all my senses from my ADHD and become hyper-focused,” says Aleesha. “It’s very helpful.”
She developed friendships, agents, and associations that would help her become a professional voice actor. And today, Aleesha truly is a member of the tribe.
She works in commercials, corporate videos, and audiobooks. And here’s her award-winning audiobook called “Fumble.”
Doing commercial work has been very good for Aleesha. Here’s an example of what she feels is her finest commercial work.
And then, of course, Aleesha is often hired to produce corporate videos and explainer videos.
Living now in Raleigh, North Carolina…her typical day is very full and organized. She’ll be up at 6 am, get her son off to school by 8, and audition from early morning to about noon. Then comes the laundry, house cleaning, and a few posts on TikTok.
And then there’s the drywall she’s hanging or some home improvement. In fact, it’s going on right now during this writing. The woman has the mind of a construction worker and can build anything. “Although I do hire an electrician for sub-contracting.”
As wholesome as a homemade batch of biscuits, Aleesha is an example of how a strong family unit, a great attitude, and a truly God-sent partner can complete you. She’s been able to use her vocal gift to pay for her son’s college. She’s identified a profession that compliments her love of creativity and still enjoys every aspect of family life without distractions from the outside world. So, Aleesha Bake did get what she wanted from life. She became a mom. But the truth is, Aleesha is not just a mom; she’s a voiceover mom.
