Emma-Jean Thackray on Losing Her Partner, Independence & Starting Again

She’s a multi-instrumentalist, producer and one of the most boundary-pushing voices in British jazz. This week on What If People Find Out, James Barr and Kalvin Ryder are joined by Emma-Jean Thackray. Known for blending jazz, funk, soul and psychedelia into a sound entirely her own, Emma-Jean has carved out a fiercely independent path in the music industry — writing, producing and performing her work on her own terms. She has performed at Glastonbury, been nominated for a Mercury Music Prize and even directed the London Symphony Orchestra. Behind the sonic experimentation and creative control, Emma has a deeply personal story about identity, grief and mental health. In this raw and intimate conversation, Emma-Jean opens up about the devastating loss of her partner, the impact it had on her sense of self and the reality of navigating profound grief while continuing to create. James, Kalvin and Emma-Jean speak candidly about neurodivergence, isolation, depression and the fear of vulnerability — asking what it really means to let people see the parts of you that feel broken. She also opens up about how creativity can become both a lifeline and a mirror. Don’t forget to subscribe and catch new episodes of What If People Find Out every Monday! Follow Emma-Jean Thackray on Instagram Don't miss Emma-Jean's next live gig on 7th March: https://foxfirkin.com/event/show-of-hands-w-zenel-analogue-lounge-last-nubian-donsurf/ Follow What If People Find Out Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@whatifpeoplefindout⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@whatifpeoplefindout⁠⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠⁠@wipfopodcast⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠@whatifpeoplefindout⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices