The Soundwave Booth Turns Spoken Words Into Lasting Visual Keepsakes
Words are powerful. Sounds evoke memories. When words and sound combine to be translated from vocal to visual, the artistic result creates an emotionally moving experience. A treasured message from a loved one can linger for years, and thanks to an inspired business called The Soundwave Booth, any words you want can be captured in the visual art of soundwaves.
Owned and run by Joel and Cindy Pendl, The Soundwave Booth translates a favorite phrase, a celebrated quote or a custom sound into the vertical lines that represent the soundwaves of that particular audible. Before you tap into your fear of hearing your own voice, the Pendls have created a line of products that are premade and ready for purchase.
Joel assures, “You don’t have to use your own voice. We do all the recording in-house.”
The phrases are spoken and then printed in the complex pattern of lines that make up the final visual art. These products have been recorded by the Pendls and translated into a printed version of the soundwaves using high-tech engineering software. With a background in radio and television, Joel uses his technical talent to morph engineering with art. The result is a carefully curated blend of popular phrases and custom prints to capture a moment in time or personal statement.
The Soundwave Booth offers one-of-a-kind artwork based on printed words and phrases, from original messages to well-known favorites within the public domain. This line of artwork and accessories is available for purchase “off the shelf,” including phrases like “It is well with my soul,” “Love you to the moon and back,” and “And so together they built a life they loved,” to name a few.
Products laser engraved with this artwork include coasters, cutting boards, baseball caps, keychains, newborn baby beanies with phrases like “You are my sunshine” engraved onto a leather patch, and more. To explore the complete product line of prints and accessories, visit thesoundwavebooth.com.
The Soundwave Booth’s American Flag series offers a selection of patriotic songs and documents displayed as a collection of soundwaves in the pattern of the stars and stripes. Each state abbreviation has been spoken to create the stars, and customers can choose from the Pledge of Allegiance, the Second Amendment, the Star-Spangled Banner and more that make up the stripes of this American Flag artwork.
In addition to preprinted and engraved items, The Soundwave Booth offers custom products. From unique words or sounds that capture moments such as a baby’s first heartbeat, a pet’s bark or meow, or a final voicemail from a loved one, the Pendls can take any audio a customer has and create a keepsake that will last a lifetime. A QR code can even be added so customers can hear a loved one’s voice any time. One option is a Memorial Card — a metal plate with the custom soundwave and QR code containing the audio clip that can be adhered to a gravesite headstone.
The ordering process is simple, and the product line offers a variety of style choices. Customers choose a print, framed option or accessory for their custom soundwave. All products are created, printed, framed or engraved by the husband-and-wife team.
As unique as each piece of artwork, so is the lifestyle the Pendls have chosen. Living entirely on the road in their camper-turned-home-on-wheels-turned-classroom, they have raised and homeschooled their children, who are now in their teens. Over the years, the couple has traveled to art shows from Florida to California — and many stops in between — creating an educational experience for their children, who have been to all 48 of the lower United States.
Together the Pendls, along with their 15-year-old son, Kaden, and 14-year-old daughter, Avril, call Bass Lake home for much of the summer. All the tools and techniques for their business are portable and travel with the family — from audio engineering software to everything required to do all of their own printing, product assembly, photography, website management and social media. The couple does everything themselves so they can literally live anywhere.
They enjoy going back on the road to southern states during the winter, where they enjoy the warmer weather while still running their business from home. In fact, they joke that “no one in our family owns winter clothes, because as the weather changes, so does our location!”
They plan to attend a select number of holiday art and craft shows to continue feeding their nomadic nature, and then after the holidays, they will spend a few months in a mid-Atlantic beach community that has sports facilities their son longs for while traveling. He plans to take a detour from the family travel plan once he turns 18 and attend college, living on campus for the social and sports aspects of student life. Avril, on the other hand, has expressed a desire to continue traveling once she finishes high school.
The Pendls are committed to creating beautiful artwork made of quality materials while maintaining reasonable prices ($16–$30) so that owning a unique, inspiring soundwave print can be accessible to anyone. Also a priority for the Pendls is creating uplifting artwork that doesn’t profess negativity — something customers notice.
“We come as a breath of fresh air to many customers, and that is something we are proud of,” notes Cindy.
Beginning in 2025, the Pendls transformed their traveling art show business into a fully online enterprise. They are in the process of building their online presence and helping people understand how the custom side of their business works — using a customer’s audio of a loved one or beloved pet, etc. — while making sure customers know they have a full line of products available and ready to ship.
If you are looking for a unique gift this Christmas season — or any time of year — visit thesoundwavebooth.com. The “Custom Soundwaves” tab on the website guides customers through ordering. As a husband-and-wife team, the Pendls are personally available to answer any questions.
Find out more by emailing thesoundwavebooth@gmail.com.
