It might be hard to imagine a person with Parkinson’s disease playing the piano, or a person with Spinal Muscular Atrophy playing the cello. But this is all possible today with advancements in music technology.

Social enterprise I’m Soul Inc harnesses the therapeutic power of music to bring joy and rehabilitation to people of all (dis)abilities. The company uses Soundbeam 6, an assistive music technology that uses ultrasonic sensors to detect movements and translates them into sounds. A slight tap of the feet can now enable a visually impaired person to play the violin.

Since its establishment in 2013, I’m Soul Inc has touched the lives of countless beneficiaries, partnering with nursing homes, schools and many other organisations to bring music to the lives of people who need it the most.

So how did this meaningful social enterprise come about? We caught up with Michelle Lee, CEO and founder of I’m Soul Inc, at DBS Asia X where she had a sharing session as part of DAX A-List*.

Michelle Lee was at DBS Asia X to share about her social enterprise journey.

What inspired you to set up a social enterprise to promote music therapy through technology?

I wasn’t sure what the next step was in my life after my retirement. Then, my friend showed me a video of assistive music technology when I was travelling in the UK in 2013 and I realised it is my calling — it’s time for me to give back to society.

What does music mean to you? How can music help to change lives?

We are not doing music therapy but harnessing the therapeutic power of music. According to neuroscience research, listening to music stimulates and uses the entire brain.

My father was disabled by a stroke, and I wish I knew about this technology before he passed away. I could tell that he was not happy as he could not do the things that he wanted to. With this technology, we have seen clearly the positive impact it has on the people who use it, especially those who are facing certain physical or psychological challenges.

I’m Soul Inc uses Soundbeam 6, an assistive music technology that enables the translation of movements into sounds.

As a social enterprise, how do you balance profit and social responsibilities?

Unlike a charity organisation, a social enterprise must support itself through revenue, and this can be challenging. There is no formula for a social enterprise to succeed. Some recommended me to start a charity organisation simply because it is easier. However, my belief in life is empowerment.

This belief led me to set up a social enterprise rather than a charity as the services provided by a social enterprise can reach out to people from different walks of life and nurture them on a deeper level. People can learn new skills or even make a living out of it when they are empowered. It has little to do with monetary returns.

What are some highlights in your social enterprise journey?

The high for me and my organisation is seeing the happiness and joy of our clients. The delight on their faces is super! Winning awards, of course, is success for us because it helps to open more doors, but the fulfilment is priceless when you see people with disabilities trying to dance and perform.

Michelle Lee shared about the therapeutic power of music.

What are some of the lows in your social enterprise journey? How did you overcome the challenges?

We have had many down moments, and this could in part be attributed to the lack of skilled talent in Singapore. The service we provide has a high human touch — it’s not an app, nor something that can be done electronically — the equipment is only an enabler. When it comes to operation, we need people who have a musical background to create the programme — musicians to do the compositions, dancers to do the choreography, and so on.

Additionally, not all innovative ideas are immediately well-received when it is first launched. When I go to some traditional organisations to pitch, I often get asked about the KPI and clinical research of the service and the equipment. Fortunately, there are people who understand and share the same belief to go with us on this journey.

So, what’s next for I’m Soul Inc?

All companies need to grow, and social enterprises are no exception. We have just started, but we have managed to sell several sets of equipment to Hong Kong. In the near future, we will be looking for partners to distribute the equipment.

However, we don’t wish to see it viewed as solely commercial products, so we are being selective in picking those who share the same values in what we are doing — music for good.

Michelle Lee is founder and CEO of I’m Soul Inc, a social enterprise that harnesses the therapeutic power of music through technology to bring joy and rehabilitation to people of all (dis)abilities. I’m Soul Inc was one of the top 12 social enterprises in the 2016 edition of DBS-NUS Social Venture Challenge Asia (SVCA), as well as the winner of the Asia For Good Reader’s Choice Award 2016. They were also previously housed at DBS Asia X.

*DAX A-List is an alumni programme for former residents to stay connected with DAX and to continue to have access to DAX insights and programmes.