He first sang in his church’s children choir. Then, he sang in the U.S. Army. Then he was discovered for having the deepesthuman vocal range, the basso profondo.

He did not even have his first singing lesson until he was 25 years old!

Oktavists are vocalists who sing in the basso profondo range. Oktavists are EXTREMELY rare: at one point, there were only 12 in the entire world! He is one of them.

Meet Eric Hollaway, aka thatbassvoice, an oktavist, YouTuber with over 726,000 subscribers, and voice actor whose has been featured in numerous films and video games, including the award winning “DOOM Eternal”.

Join Amos Vang and Eric Hollaway as they share Eric’s legendary adventures, from serving in the U.S. Army as a nuclear warhead technician while entertaining and singing in an a cappella group for German audiences, to returning back to the U.S. and being discovered by two music professors for his voice, to learning and training in the different operatic styles and traditions, and to working with the legendary Mick Gordon on providing his voice to “DOOM Eternal’s” unforgettable music. Amos and Ericalso discuss musicality, the unique characteristics of the basso profondo range, and the most important lessons that Eric has learned from his career.

Eric’s Instagram: @thatbassvoice

Eric’s YouTube channel:@thatbassvoice

Tomorrow by Scott Buckley – released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

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0:00 – Introduction

4:00 – What inspired Eric Hollaway to pursue music?

8:30 – Eric Hollaway explains his childhood musicalcommunity environment!

10:31 – What were the most important lessons that EricHollaway learned from his childhood musical community environment?

12:51 – When did Eric Hollaway discover that he could reachthe male bass vocal range?

17:13 – Eric Hollaway served in the U.S. Army and was partof an Army a cappella group!

25:07 – Eric Hollaway studied opera in college, competed inbass voice competitions, and received a voice scholarship immediately!

26:58 – Up until age 25, Eric Hollaway NEVER HAD A VOICELESSON BEFORE!

33:35 – Imperfections are beautiful!

34:04 – How did Eric Hollaway discover that he can reach thebasso profondo range?

37:44 – “I found my people”

38:59 – Discovering oktavism and Glenn Miller helped EricHollaway discover his true identity in voice!

40:08 – “Eric, come up!”

42:55 – How rare is oktavism and the basso profondo range?

45:52 – What inspired Eric Hollaway to pursue voice actingand singing full time, and to create thatbassvoice?

48:08 – Doom Eternal: Eric Hollaway was in it! How did Eric Hollaway work with Mick Gordon?

55:22 – Eric Hollaway sings that song from Doom Eternal!

56:55 – What is musicality to Eric Hollaway?

1:06:17 – If Eric Hollaway was immersed heavily into theworld of professional music making in his childhood, then he would not haveenjoyed music as much as he does now.

1:11:25 – What is the basso profondo? Is it even possible to train to become anoktavist?

1:19:31 – What are the greatest misconceptions of singingand oktavism that Eric Hollaway has seen?

1:21:24 – One must have vocal training and healthy lifestylehabits, no matter how talented they are!

1:22:55 – Chocolate and bass voices: good or bad?!

1:27:02 – Luciano Pavarotti influenced Eric Hollaway!

1:28:59 – Mario Lanza, Placido Domingo, and Thomas Hampson

1:32:42 – What are the most important lessons that EricHollaway has learned from his career?

1:34:50 – What are the most rewarding things that EricHollaway has experienced from his career? What advice would he give to people who want to pursue this career?

She just competed at the Olympics of Piano, the 2025 International Chopin Competition. Athena Deng returns to the show to share her experiences!

Join Amos Vang and Athena Deng as they revisit Athena’s Road to Warsaw, from her performance at the preliminaries to her 1st round performance, as well as her preparation and mindset going into and after the Competition. Athena also shares the most important lessons that she learned from this experience, and the unique emotions she experienced from performing on the greatest stage of piano.

See Athena's first appearance on the show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttpWfb1L1Z8

#chopin #chopinpiano #chopin2025 #piano #chopincompetition #argerich #athenadeng #dengsisters #canadianchopinsociety #royalconservatoryofmusic #rcm #chopininstitute #classicalmusic

-- CHAPTERS --

0:00 – Introduction

0:59 – Athena Deng describes her experience at the International Chopin Competition!

1:56 – Athena Deng at the Preliminaries

3:27 – How did Athena Deng prepare for the main International Chopin Competition?

6:03 – Athena Deng balanced a Masters of Music at the New England Conservatory with her preparation for the International Chopin Competition!

11:30 – Pianists have to learn and master massive amounts of music in a matter of weeks or even days!

15:02 – Athena Deng tried to use muscle memory to compete in the 1st round, which did not ultimately work out for her.

18:38 – Athena Deng talks about her experiences hearing different interpretations of the same Chopin repertoire at the Competition!

23:57 – Athena Deng felt like she was floating during her performance of Chopin’s Nocturne in G Major at the International Chopin Competition!

29:33 – Why did Athena Deng select the Yamaha for the prelims and the Kawai for the main rounds of the International Chopin Competition?

35:08 – The Shigeru Kawai piano was the 2nd most popular piano at the 2025 International Chopin Competition!

37:22 – Shigeru Kawai pianos are DIFFERENT from the K. Kawai pianos! It is good to practice on heavier pianos.

40:06 – What was Athena Deng thinking and feeling when she stepped onto the world stage and performed her 1st round programme at the International Chopin Competition?

45:27 – The competitors were very friendly and excited to be at the Chopin Competition!

46:51 – What were Athena Deng’s favorite experiences in Warsaw?

48:30 – Athena Deng thinks that the Warsaw Philharmonia felt SMALLER than Koerner Hall in Toronto, Canada!

54:23 – Pianists must know how to project to the back of the concert hall in their performances!

57:43 – Athena Deng visited Zelazowa Wola, Chopin’s birthplace!

59:51 – Dang Thai Son grew up listening to Chopin in the outdoors!

1:02:54 – Nature and wilderness focused CDs in the 2000s and early 2010s

1:05:28 – What were the most important lessons that Athena Deng has learned from the International Chopin Competition?

1:07:28 – How has the International Chopin Competition changed or help evolve Athena Deng’s understanding of Fryderyk Chopin?

1:11:14 – Justice Rosalie Abella took inspiration from Fryderyk Chopin?!

1:16:35 – Sports announcing and piano have A LOT in common. Amos Vang, who’s done both, explains why!

1:18:12 – Will Athena Deng compete in the 2030 International Chopin Competition?

1:22:39 – Athena Deng addresses her fans!