Challenge Champion: Suzanne Harper
At Talent Is Timeless, our monthly songwriting challenges are more than just a creative prompt — they’re an opportunity to showcase the voices, stories, and resilience of our growing community. One such voice is that of 68-year-old Suffolk-based songwriter Suzanne Harper, whose haunting and heartfelt track Jagged Edges recently earned her a winning spot.
Inspired by people she admires — “kind, generous people who have suffered heartbreak, cruelty and betrayal” — Suzanne’s song honours those who carry deep emotional scars with dignity and strength. “They haven’t allowed bitterness to overwhelm them,” she says. “They’ve become stronger, wiser, and even more loving.”
Suzanne’s songwriting journey began later in life, during the COVID lockdowns. “It never really occurred to me that I could write anything original that anyone else would want to hear,” she admits. But a walk in the woods and a first song — Blood of Another Year — changed everything. Encouraged by a local folk collective and nudged toward Talent Is Timeless, she discovered a space where her creativity could flourish.
Despite lifelong struggles with anxiety, and the challenges of balancing care responsibilities for her husband and parents, Suzanne has found solace in songwriting. “The creativity of songwriting has helped me greatly, as does my time spent in Nature,” she shares. “I walk early in the morning, and many of my songs are inspired by the peace and renewal I find in the woods near our home.”
One of Suzanne’s most touching moments came when she found out her husband had been sharing her YouTube channel with hospital staff during his stay. That led to an unexpected message from a former teaching colleague living with stage 4 breast cancer. “She and her husband had ‘binged’ on my songs and said some had touched their hearts deeply. To know my songs connect with other people is the greatest reward.”
Although she hasn’t professionally recorded or released any of her music — “It’s not a priority at the moment, but maybe one day. It would be fun to have a few songs properly produced, mixed, and mastered,” she says — Suzanne finds deep purpose in simply creating and sharing within the Talent Is Timeless community. “As a full-time carer, meet-ups and retreats aren’t possible, but the online workshops have challenged me and helped me grow. I’ve learned so much by listening and sharing.”
Her advice to songwriters over 50?
“Creativity doesn’t diminish with age. We carry a lifetime of learning and experience within us.”
You can listen to Suzanne’s winning song here: https://www.talentistimeless.com/june-25-mistakes-catalogue/?contest=video-detail&video_id=65077
And Connect with Suzanne on Talent Is Timeless here: https://www.talentistimeless.com/members/suzanne-harper/
Timeless Reacts to another one of Suzanne’s Monthly Challenge songs:
Talent Is Timeless is a global community of 29,000+ songwriters aged 50 and over, proving that creativity doesn’t come with an expiry date. Our members connect with like-minded artists, participate in monthly songwriting challenges, attend expert-led masterclasses, and compete in our annual contest—with winners recording at iconic studios like Abbey Road. Whether you’re returning to music after years away or writing the best songs of your life, you’ll find encouragement, feedback, and genuine connection here.