Voice actress Briana White landed the breakout role of Aerith Gainsborough in 2019’s Final Fantasy VII Remake. White also reprised her role for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth earlier this year. However, when it came time for Aerith’s show-stopping operatic song, “No Promises To Keep,” Loren Allred stepped in to provide Aerith’s singing voice. Now, White has revealed why she didn’t tackle the song herself, before sharing the relief she felt when Allred performed the scene instead.
“During recording, I remember that we recorded all of the lines before the theatrical performance, and then there was some reference in the script to singing a song, because she’s writing the lyrics in the game,” White told Deadline. “And I’m thinking to myself, ‘Are they about to make me sing? Am I ready for that?’ I don’t think I could handle that. I’d give it my best. I did musical theater growing up, but I am not a trained singer, so I was very nervous. And then it never came back up.”
“It’s such a beautiful song, and it’s so emotional,” continued White. “Of course, I’m tearing up and going; I could never have given that performance. [Allred] does an incredible job. I wouldn’t have it any other way, truly.”
While White doesn’t sing in the game, she did mention that singing is part of her routine before she attends the recording sessions.
“I warm up in the car on the way to the booth by singing Disney songs, specifically Disney princess songs,” said White. “I think that they have a sort of clarity to their vocal quality, but also a lot of highs and lows, and so that’s how I warm up for recording.”
Out of all of the Disney princesses, White believes that Aerith has a lot in common with Rapunzel, which should be interesting if they ever meet during any future Kingdom Hearts sequels.
“I think [Aerith] actually has a lot in common with Rapunzel,” explained White. “And she also has the connection of Aerith [having been] voiced by Mandy Moore in the past, and Mandy Moore voices Rapunzel. But Rapunzel spends most of her life in captivity, and her big arc is being brave enough to go outside and explore the world and see the beauty that it has to offer. She always looks on the bright side. I mean, the connections, they’re totally there. I think they would be best friends.”
