Bristol Uni medic’s debut album tells the stories of the young doctor’s patients

Dr Holly Dejsupsa’s debut album Wednesday’s on-Call, includes six tracks, each telling the story of a different patient. Recorded and produced around her studies at the University of Bristol’s Medical School and NHS hospital shifts

Holly, who provides vocals, piano and guitar on the record, said: “In medicine, I can touch the patient’s abdomen, listen to their chest – but with music, I can reach people I can’t see”

Some of the most touching songs on the album include As Long As I Breathe, a song about her “absurdly kind and selfless” consultant who died fighting COVID-19 and Red Freckles, about a woman who struggles with bulimia. 

Holly went on to say: “I just hope each patient story inspires people as much as it did for me when writing them.”

The last track on the album Dawn is about a child with Angolan Syndrome, a genetic condition which means she could only ever say three or four words. The lyrical track is titled with one of the few words Holly’s patient could say as she hopes that “somewhere in the world, wherever she is, she can sing along too.”

Holly talked about her experience juggling music and medicine: “I won’t stop making music. Ultimately, what inspires me has always been, and will always be people – and that applies to being both a musician and a doctor.

“I wrote and recorded all the songs around hospital placements. At one point, it became even more stressful than medicine!”

Holly is working towards becoming a plastic surgeon with a speciality in limb reconstruction but has no plans to give up her passion for music which started with her performing in concerts and talent shows aged three. 

Credit: University of Bristol

Sarah Purdy, the University of Bristol’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Student Experience and a part-time GP, said: “Practising medicine is an art as well as a science and being able to communicate with people is a core skill for medical students and doctors.

“Holly’s amazing talents in music and medicine take this to a next level.

“These beautiful tracks really touched me as I listened – I found them haunting and thought-provoking. Thank you, Holly, for sharing them with us.”

Featured image credit via University of Bristol.

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