Staff Spotlight - Jake

Welcome to SoundLincs Staff Spotlight, where each month we shine the light on one of our incredible staff and volunteers. This month we shine spotlight on Jake, our Project Development Officer, who plays a central role in coordinating and supporting delivery across a wide range of SoundLincs’ music programmes.

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

I work as the Project Development Officer. My role involves setting up and managing many of our projects across Lincolnshire, such as Memory Lane, A.M.P and some of our Bespoke sessions. This means handling all of the many moving parts that bring a project to life, from finding and contacting venues to coordinating our Music Facilitators. It’s my job to make sure everything is in place so that the sessions can run at the highest possible standard.

I also oversee our core SoundLincs Social Prescription Service, making sure every participant’s journey with us is as smooth as possible. I’m the voice on the end of the phone for each introductory call and the person working behind the scenes to match each participant with a facilitator that is right for them. It’s incredibly rewarding to see each individual’s growth and development over their time with us.

2. Why is music important to you?

Music has always been a core part of my life, ever since those early days of listening to the radio with my parents as a child - although my taste has changed a lot since then! Having now been a producer for more than ten years, I love being able to share the joy of music with others. Nothing else in life has ever compared to the level of dopamine that music gives me. It has the power to make the bad days good and the good days even better. That’s why I love that I can come into the office knowing that we are working to make people happy through music every day.

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

The music really never stops, so most of my time outside of work is spent listening to music or coming up with melodies and chord progressions for my own tracks. I love going to festivals and concerts whenever I can and being in the moment with people who love the same music as me. Aside from that, taking care of my health and fitness is super important so you’ll find me in the gym most mornings before work and on weekends, or out walking to get my steps in!

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

There is no such thing as a 'bad sound'. Music is entirely subjective. What sounds like noise to one person might be a masterpiece to another. The magic often happens when you stop trying to be perfect - don’t be afraid to hit a ‘wrong’ note, or use a sound that feels unconventional. If it expresses how you feel in that moment, it’s exactly what it needs to be. The only mistake you can make is limiting your own creativity.