A Scots student has been picked at the voice of the nation - winning a competition which will see her becoming the first person with a Scottish accent to be featured on a Ring doorbell. Glasgow student Azkah Sardar beat off the competition to be crowned Ring's Voice of the Nation.
The 23-year-old went to auditions at Silverburn shopping centre in Glasgow, standing out amongst 300 candidates, following similar casting calls in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, and online entries - which were made via social media channels Instagram and TikTok, and the Ring app.
The Scottish accent Quick Reply is available to download from today. And Azkah also recorded a new Scots language message, just in time for Burns night. Medical student Azkah said: "It means a lot to be chosen as Ring’s Voice of the Nation. I thought it was a really cool idea as it hadn't been done before, so I thought I’d go along to the auditions and just give it a shot.
"Scotland isn't a huge place, but we have so much to offer. We're not as represented as we should be and it's amazing that Ring is making steps towards making it happen. Not many big brands go the extra mile to use regional accents in their technology, so I think this campaign has been fantastic."
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Scottish radio DJ and television presenter Edith Bowman helped judge the auditions. She said: "Azkah is a brilliant choice for Scotland's Voice of the Nation. We were looking for someone with lots of energy, enthusiasm and personality and that's exactly what we got. We received so many amazing entries – from the pop-up auditions to social media – so it was a really tough decision.
"The Glasgow accent is one of many beautiful varieties north of the border and we hope to hear it on doorbells across the UK. I've loved being a part of something so innovative and celebratory it's been great seeing this campaign come to life. Our Scottish voice is now on Ring's Quick Replies, so make sure you activate your chosen greeting in the app for Burns Night!"
Ring’s Quick Replies act as an answering machine for the door. Once activated, and someone rings the doorbell, the visitor will hear a pre-selected greeting with the option to leave a message. To celebrate the launch of the ‘Voice of the Nation’, Azkah also voiced a bespoke Scots language Quick Reply.
It says "We're no in the noo, but haud on! Afore ye go it'd be pure dead brilliant if you'd leave a wee message. Haste ye back!" The ‘Voice of the Nation’ was launched after Ring’s research found the Scottish accent to be one of the most endearing in the UK, with 44% of people agreeing it’s one of the friendliest.
A huge 78% of Scots said they are proud of how welcoming their accent sounds, and many feel the accent has a charming, humorous quality. Dave Ward, Managing Director EU & International at Ring, said: "We're delighted to feature a Scottish voice on our Ring Video Doorbell Quick replies.
"Azkah's voice captures the warmth and friendliness that Scottish accents are well known for, making her the perfect candidate to greet visitors at doorsteps across the country. Our Voice of the Nation search was a huge success, and we’re grateful to all who auditioned. We set out to celebrate regional dialects and we are thrilled to start in Scotland."
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