Welcome to the 'This Is The North' Podcast, your source of transformative conversations. An intentional challenge to the systems holding back the North of England. Hosted by Alison Dunn, an award-winning charity chief executive and former solicitor. This podcast is supported by the Society Matters Foundation and is dedicated to curating and sharing knowledge, powering the change we need for a more equal and inclusive society.
In this episode, Alison speaks with Dr. Mark Deeks — a North East musician whose work spans atmospheric doom metal, community choirs, and wellbeing retreats. Mark shares his personal journey through loss, including the heartbreak of losing his daughter Laurie at 20 weeks, and how music became both a memorial and a tool for survival. At 3am one morning, a star chart in Lori’s name became a melody — hidden on his album as Only Three Shall Know, but known at home as Laurie’s Theme.
From early influences and teaching experiences to founding Sing United, which has raised over £48,000 for Northern causes, Deeks shows how music works as connection, healing, and community. He challenges clichés about “soothing” genres, champions intentional playlists as mental health interventions, and explains why place — from colliery sites to Holy Island — can shape the way we heal.
00:00 A Heartbreaking Beginning
01:19 Meet Dr. Mark Deeks: Musician and Healer
01:53 Early Musical Influences
03:37 The Impact of Teaching and Online Lessons
08:11 Music as a Tool for Wellbeing
11:32 The Power of Community Singing
15:22 Exploring Diverse Musical Styles
21:09 Personal Loss and Musical Tribute (Laurie’s Theme)
29:08 Future Projects and Final Reflections
Deeks reminds us that grief isn’t just private sorrow, it’s a public health crisis often left unspoken, especially for men. His story is proof that the North already holds the tools we need: community, creativity, and the courage to listen.
Host: Alison Dunn
Guest: Dr. Mark Deeks
This podcast is produced by Purpose Made.
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