Gabe Newell has confirmed one of the weirdest stories about Valve: he spent months throat singing in the office, and he admits he was entirely self-taught. The confirmation came in a reply to a fan who emailed him directly.
The Story From Gooseman
The tale comes from Minh “Gooseman” Le, who co-created Counter-Strike. Le spoke on the Indie Game Joe podcast about a period when Newell became obsessed with throat singing after watching a documentary.
“He would do it daily, and people would just start closing the doors and it started to become quite a closed office,” Le said. “I remember a lot of the people in the office, they were kind of annoyed with this cuz, you know, it’s kind of loud.”
Le estimated the habit lasted around five months.
The Fan’s Email
A fan then went straight to the source, emailing Newell to ask whether the story was real. In a reply shared online, sent from Newell’s Valve address, he provided more detail.
“Yeah, I had chatted with Paul Pena about it after I tried learning on my own,” he wrote. “I am entirely self taught and it shows.”
He added that he worked on the sygyt and kargyraa styles “and got to the point where I was really… annoying.”
Newell’s Own Admit
Newell also revealed that he hasn’t given up entirely. “Every once in a while, I’ll pick it back up,” he wrote, adding that it takes a couple of weeks to condition his throat.
Paul Pena’s Role
Paul Pena was an American blues musician who taught himself Tuvan throat singing. He later became the subject of the Oscar-nominated documentary Genghis Blues.
Office Doors Shut
Le said the office started closing its doors as Newell walked the halls. “He would do it daily, and people would just start closing the doors and it started to become quite a closed office,” he said.
A Pattern of Direct Answers
This is not the first time a fan has gone straight to Newell’s inbox and heard back. A Deadlock player previously got alpha access by emailing him directly.
What the Reply Shows
Newell’s email is notable for how frank it is. He simply describes his own process — trying to learn on his own, chatting with Pena afterward, and getting to the point where he was annoying.
“I am entirely self taught and it shows.”
The Takeaway
The story is amusing because it is so specific. A major figure deciding to spend months practicing throat singing in the office is the kind of detail that comes out in interviews.
Newell’s admission that he is entirely self-taught and annoying about it only adds to the charm. It shows a willingness to engage with fans directly, even on a story this strange.
Key Facts
- Story comes from Counter-Strike co-creator Minh “Gooseman” Le, speaking on the Indie Game Joe podcast
- Newell practiced throat singing for around five months, according to Le
- Newell says he is entirely self-taught and got to the point of being annoying
- Paul Pena was the American blues musician who taught himself Tuvan throat singing
- Pena later became the subject of the Oscar-nominated documentary Genghis Blues
The story is a reminder that behind the corporate facades, there are people with odd hobbies and a willingness to share them. Newell’s email confirms the story, and it does so without apology.
Source material: “Gabe Newell responds to fan asking about bizarre Valve throat singing story,” Dexerto.
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