Staff Spotlight - Emma Thorpe

Welcome to SoundLincs Staff Spotlight, where each month we shine the light on one of our incredible staff and volunteers. This month, we’re shining a spotlight on Emma, our Music Practitioner, who delivers music workshops across a wide range of SoundLincs’ programmes.

1. What is your role at SoundLincs and what does that involve?

I am a Music Practitioner at SoundLincs, working mainly on our Social Prescribing Programme. I use music, particularly songwriting, to support people's health and mental wellbeing. I work closely with healthcare professionals and local services to deliver creative music sessions for both individuals and community groups, as well as in hospital settings. My role is all about using music to help people express themselves, build confidence, make meaningful connections with others, and improve their overall wellbeing. Whether we're writing songs together or making music in other ways, I aim to create a welcoming and supportive environment where everyone feels valued, regardless of their musical experience.

2. Why is music important to you?

Music has always been a huge part of my life. My dad was a musician, so I grew up surrounded by musicians...I guess it instilled in me that it was a viable way of life. Songwriting has been incredibly important in my own life, giving me a way to express myself and work through life's challenges. I'm also lucky enough to see the impact it has on other people every day. I've seen songwriting help people find their voice, build confidence, connect with others, and discover joy again. Seeing someone light up when they create something they're proud of is such a special moment, and it's one of the reasons I love what I do. Music has a unique way of bringing people together and helping them feel seen, heard, and understood.

3. Tell us a bit about your life outside of SoundLincs.

Outside of SoundLincs, I'm usually making music in one way or another as a singer-songwriter and recording artist, proudly signed to Vicious Charm. I also love walking, and it was those walks that led to me forming the music collective, The Low Drift. We jokingly describe ourselves as a "geography band" because our songs are inspired by the landscapes and places we explore. I am passionate about photography and completed a Photography degree at the University of Lincoln a few years ago. I love days out with my family….cycling, visiting galleries and museums, exploring somewhere new by train, or just getting outdoors. Anything that means I don't have to get in the car!

4. What’s one piece of advice, insight, or inspiration you’d like to share with our community?

Make something…..Write a song, take a photograph, draw a picture, plant a seed, bake a cake... it doesn't really matter what it is. Creating something reminds us that we're capable of more than we sometimes give ourselves credit for, and it's often how we connect with other people too. 

One of the biggest things my work has taught me is that it doesn't have to be perfect. I am not afraid to be vulnerable and make mistakes. The moments that stay with me are the honest ones, a person sharing a lyric, someone finding the confidence to sing, or simply watching a room become a little lighter through making music together.

Creativity won't solve everything, but it has an incredible ability to heal, to comfort and to reconnect us with ourselves and with each other. I've been lucky enough to experience that in my own life, and even luckier to witness it in the lives of so many others.